Girl, we’ve been waiting for that album for like five years now. So, what really happened? Did Normani quit music? How could someone so talented just stop making songs? At this point, I’m starting to think Normani got blackballed because something just doesn’t add up. But what has she said about possibly being forced to quit music?
She once said, “I was always so safe being in a girl group. I remember my mom, when I was little, she was like, ‘Why do you want to be in a girl group so bad?’ She’s like, ‘Is it so you can hide?’ And I think that was pretty much the answer.”
Normani got her start when Fifth Harmony was formed on The X Factor US in 2012. They signed a joint record deal with Simon Cowell’s label, Syco Records, and LA Reid’s label, Epic Records.
While they were together, Normani, Camila, Lauren, Dinah, and Ally gave us some of the greatest hits. However, in 2018, Fifth Harmony announced on Twitter that they would be taking an indefinite hiatus.
We’re all thrilled and grateful for this chance to learn, grow creatively, and really find our footing as individuals. By doing this, we’re gaining new experiences, strengths, and perspectives that we’ll bring back to our Fifth Harmony family.
After the group split, Normani went on to release hits like “Love Lies” with Khalid, earning her first top 10 single as a solo artist. She continued to shine with tracks like “Dancing with a Stranger” with Sam Smith, “Diamonds” with Megan Thee Stallion in 2020, and “Wild Side” with Cardi B in 2021. But then, she seemed to step away from the music scene, leaving fans puzzled. Her potential was undeniable.
In August 2022, fans began flooding Normani with questions about why she had seemingly quit music. One person posted, “No idea where Normani’s motivation (no pun intended) has gone, but I just don’t see the same passion from her as I used to. Before y’all start, it’s not depression, so don’t even go there.” Some even made jokes, like one Twitter user who wrote, “What happens when you’ve gotten comfortable and you’re not hungry anymore?” Normani fired back in the thread, telling people to “shut the f**k up.” It’s hard for fans to stay quiet, though, when they’ve been waiting for an album for years.
If you’re still wondering why it’s taken so long, Normani herself has explained that one big reason is how tough it is to transition from being in a group to going solo.
“People really underestimate how challenging it is and how much work goes into a single project. Coming out of a girl group, I had a lot to figure out about myself and face my fears head-on,” she said.
In an interview with Genius, she echoed these thoughts when asked why her album’s been delayed.
“Everyone keeps asking, ‘Where’s the album? Where’s the album?’ and saying I should have released it right after ‘Motivation.’ But I wasn’t ready. I had just come out of a girl group I’d been in for five to six years, which is a long time.”
So it’s clear the shift from a group to a solo career wasn’t easy. On top of that, there’s been talk that Beyoncé might be holding Normani back to give her protégé, Chloe Bailey, a better shot. Some fans even suggest that Normani’s career is being sidelined so Chloe can take over the spotlight. Seriously, though, give it a rest, people.
I can’t say for sure if Beyoncé is behind Normani’s career struggles, but given what’s happened in the past, it wouldn’t be surprising. Look at what allegedly went down with Keri Hilson. Hilson even had to publicly admit that she was coerced into feuding with Beyoncé, which set her career back years.
“When you’re just starting out, you feel like you have to play along. If you push back, they push back harder and make serious threats. You don’t really feel like you have a choice. I truly felt like I had no choice.”
While we can’t confirm Beyoncé’s involvement in Normani’s career stall, it’s definitely a possibility. Normani has also spoken openly about facing racial discrimination in the music industry. In her September 2021 Allure magazine cover interview, she shared how being belittled during her time with Fifth Harmony impacted her self-image. She dealt with offensive online comments about her skin color, which really affected her confidence and perception of herself.
Even though she’s no longer with the group, Normani still faces similar issues as a solo artist. The pressure to maintain a certain image as a Black woman in pop music has been heavy on her, influencing her career and the music she makes.
“For a long time, I was stressed out trying to meet expectations like, ‘Is this black enough? Is this pop enough?'”
Let’s be real—Normani probably still feels the effects of her time with Fifth Harmony. Her former bandmates have hinted that the experience was tough on her.
“I hate to say it, but I didn’t enjoy my time in Fifth Harmony. It was hard because there was so much going on behind the scenes and a lot of toxicity.”
In 2016, Fifth Harmony shared with Billboard just how tough the industry was on them. Lauren admitted that she lost touch with who she really was and even turned to drugs to feel normal. Dinah spoke about how the demanding schedule traumatized her, including missing her great-grandmother’s funeral via FaceTime.
Camila once left the stage mid-performance due to anxiety, and Lauren broke down while performing “No Way,” later explaining that the lyrics made her emotional. In reality, she was overwhelmed. There was even leaked audio where Lauren complained about their treatment, saying they were being treated like “literal slaves.”
Normani’s solo career hasn’t been without its own challenges. She’s faced personal struggles, including her mother’s battle with breast cancer, which required her to take a step back and focus on family. This has understandably affected her music career.
If Normani does release new music, she’s promised to focus on quality over quantity while adapting to how people consume music today. She’s grateful for her fans’ patience and asks them to continue trusting her.
So, are you still waiting for her album? Do you think she’s done with music for good, or is there something else going on, like industry politics or personal struggles? I’d love to hear your thoughts on what might be behind her break from music. Share your opinions in the comments below!
