During a live broadcast celebrating Apple Music’s 10th anniversary, Mariah Carey confirmed she has completed work on her long-awaited 16th studio album. The announcement came during a conversation with Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden at the newly opened Apple Music Studios in Culver City, where Carey reflected on her new single “Type Dangerous” and offered a glimpse of what’s next.

“I don’t want to reveal the whole thing,” Carey said when asked what fans can expect. “But the album is finished.” She kept further details close to the chest, though she did hint that the full-length project features 11 or 12 songs and includes what she called “some Mariah ballads.” A second single is on the way, she added, describing it as “very summery” with a beat she’s excited about.

Released earlier this year via Gamma, the company founded by former Apple Music executive Larry Jackson, “Type Dangerous” marked Carey’s 50th entry on the Billboard Hot 100. The track, which samples Eric B. & Rakim’s 1986 “Eric B. Is President,” also reached the top 10 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. She performed it live with Rakim at the 2025 BET Awards, where she received the Ultimate Icon Award and her first BET Award to date.

Speaking with Lowe and Darden, Carey explained how the song came together. “We were in a restaurant in Aspen and they played ‘Eric B. Is President’,” she recalled. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I love this song.’ We ended up in the studio a couple of months later and we did it.” Carey’s decision to sample one of hip-hop’s foundational tracks feels deliberate. Though often labeled a pop singer, she’s long operated in the space between genres, with collaborations with artists like Ol’ Dirty Bastard, The Lox, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony solidifying her early role in pop-rap crossovers, and the new single keeps that lineage intact.

The Apple Music celebration was more than a launch party for its new studio, serving as a snapshot of where the platform and artists like Carey stand in today’s industry. The night brought together a range of performers, including Chance the Rapper, who previewed his upcoming album I’m the Star, due Thursday, along with Ciara, Dominic Fike, Fuerza Regida, FLO, Hit Boy, Kamasi Washington, Kevin Abstract, kwn, Teezo Touchdown, Tommy Richman, Vince Staples, and more.

Carey’s appearance at the event was a quiet reminder of her staying power in an industry that’s constantly shifting. She’s one of the few artists who has moved through every major change in how we experience music, from cassettes and CDs to digital downloads and streaming, without losing her voice or relevance. With a new album finished and recent recognition highlighting her influence, she continues to be one of the best artists we’ve ever had to date.

No release date has been announced yet, but based on the energy surrounding “Type Dangerous,” her next chapter is already in motion.