Rihanna Returns to the Recording Studio

Rihanna has been doing more than strutting down red carpets this summer. She's also been recording a new album.

A source working on it says, "it will be the album to really give her an identity musically." While no release date has been set, fans won't have to wait to hear from the artist, who is also making a guest appearance on Jay-Z's new record Blueprint 3 – the final chapter in his Blueprint trilogy. That album is due September 11th.

Rihanna, 21, lends her voice to the catchy hook in Jay-Z's "Run This Town." The song also features Kanye West.

As for Rihanna's solo project, "It's very techno-based this time around," says the source. "She's not that far into her album yet, but it's sounding great."