In a revealing new interview, Rihanna, the Grammy-winning singer and business mogul, has shed light on her relationship journey with rapper A$AP Rocky and their decision to start a family together during the COVID-19 pandemic. The couple, who welcomed their second son earlier this year, spoke candidly about the evolution of their bond, from close friends to lovers to parents.
Rihanna’s connection with A$AP Rocky dates back over a decade, to when they first collaborated on the remix of her 2011 hit “Cockiness (Love It).” Though their interaction at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, where Rocky infamously grabbed Rihanna’s backside on stage, raised eyebrows, the two remained on good terms. “We saw fashion the same. We saw creative the same,” Rihanna explained, recounting how they frequently crossed paths in similar circles.
However, it wasn’t until the end of 2019 that their friendship blossomed into a romantic relationship. “We’ve known each other for a long time. I’ve seen him in relationships. He’s seen me in relationships,” Rihanna told Interview magazine. “We knew what we’re capable of, and the trouble that we could bring to each other’s lives. We can make or break each other’s hearts. And so, we started dating with a lot of caution.”
Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, inadvertently accelerating the pace of their relationship. “COVID sped up our relationship, which I felt like God knew we needed because we were going to start a family,” Rihanna revealed. “Had it not been for COVID, we would’ve taken a lot more time to get comfortable with each other, to even know that we were ready.”
The decision to have children together seemed to happen naturally, without much deliberation. “We didn’t even really talk about it. There was no denying it. It was the best thing that ever happened to us,” the Fenty founder said. In May 2022, they welcomed their first son, whose name they have chosen to keep private. Earlier this year, their second son, RZA, joined the family.
Rihanna, who has long been open about her desire for a large family, expressed her willingness to continue expanding her brood. “As many as God wants me to have,” she stated. “I would try for my girl. But of course if it’s another boy, it’s another boy.”
Throughout the interview, Rihanna spoke glowingly about her partner, praising A$AP Rocky’s involvement as a father. “He’s incredible,” she gushed. “He’s one of the most versatile creators, not just in music but in fashion, in anything he does.”
The couple’s journey from friends to parents has been a whirlwind, fueled by their deep creative connection and accelerated by the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic. As Rihanna and A$AP Rocky navigate the challenges of raising a young family, their bond seems only to have strengthened, rooted in a shared vision and mutual admiration.
For the multi-talented artist and entrepreneur, her relationship with the rapper and their growing family appears to be her greatest source of joy and inspiration. With her characteristic candor, Rihanna has offered a rare glimpse into the private world she has built with A$AP Rocky, one filled with love, creativity, and an ever-expanding definition of family.
