Inside Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s Beautiful Love Story

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Rihanna and A$AP Rocky found love in what’s usually a pretty hopeless place.

Okay, so Rihanna basically told Vogue in 2022 that getting out of the friend zone with *me* is… tough. She was talking about A$AP Rocky, and she admitted it took her a long time to move past just knowing him as a friend. Honestly, she said we both *know* how easily we can get into trouble together, and that was a big part of it! It’s like, we have this history, and it made things complicated, but also… amazing. I just *get* it, you know?

Oh my gosh, you guys, it was SO worth the wait! Rihanna and A$AP Rocky – seriously, Rocky, aka Rakim Mayers, is the coolest – are now parents *again*! They welcomed their little boy, Rocki Irish Mayers, on September 13th, and I’m absolutely losing it! He’s joining big brothers RZA, who’s three, and Riot Rose, who’s two. This family is just… perfection. I can’t even handle the cuteness!

And it turns out that the friend zone can contain multitudes.

Rihanna, 35, shared in a March 2023 interview with British Vogue that she and her partner are best friends and now parents. She explained that having a baby requires even more teamwork, but it’s actually brought them even closer together. She said, ‘Everything changes when you have a baby, but it’s only made us closer.’

Yet how did the couple go from flirtatious friends to S.O.s?

A$AP Rocky and Rihanna first collaborated in 2012 on a remix of her song “Cockiness (Love It).” They performed the remix together at the MTV Video Music Awards that September as part of a medley that also included her hit, “We Found Love.”

Fans would’ve been forgiven for thinking something was up between them.

In a 2012 interview with Complex, A$AP Rocky explained that he didn’t intend for the incident involving touching her rear to become the main focus. He emphasized that he wasn’t seeking attention or manufactured publicity.

Rihanna calmly separated herself from someone at the VMAs, and immediately people wondered if it was a pre-planned move or a genuine reaction – and if she was alright.

I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflection lately, and I realized I connected with someone on a really deep level. It was a special, almost spiritual experience, and I’m incredibly grateful for the connection we shared. I honestly believe she allowed me to be vulnerable and open up in a way I hadn’t before, and I’m thankful for that.

Or she at least didn’t hate it.

During a performance, someone unexpectedly grabbed my backside on stage,” Rihanna explained to Vogue in 2022. “It hadn’t been planned at all during rehearsals, and my immediate reaction was, ‘What are you doing?!’

She also recalled her manager jokingly suggesting she must have some fondness for A$AP, since she hadn’t reprimanded him for his boldness. In reality, she ended up giving him a job.

The rapper, known for his song “Fkin’ Problems,” toured with Rihanna as her opening act for three months in early 2013 as part of her Diamonds World Tour.

A$AP explained on Power 106 that getting asked to tour with her was a unique opportunity, before the conversation shifted to lighthearted banter.

Even before his tour began, the artist known as “L$D” started a relationship with Chanel Iman, and they were briefly engaged for a few months before splitting up in 2014.

In a 2015 interview with MTV, A$AP Rocky explained his sadness stemmed from believing his ex-girlfriend deserved someone better than him. He stated this was simply the truth, and many people agreed.

Rihanna promised to remain friends and even appeared in the music video for Drake’s song “Fashion Killa” in November 2013.

A$AP Rocky has said that the Mercer Hotel in New York is where he believes Rihanna first fell in love with him, as they filmed a video there with director Virgil Abloh.

He explained to *W* magazine in 2024 that they’d always had a connection. “We both felt it even when we were younger,” he said. “So, it felt natural to reconnect when we were older.”

And by then they had more to bond over.

Rihanna told stylist Mel Ottenberg for *Interview* magazine in spring 2024 that they shared a similar vision for fashion and creativity. They often moved in the same social circles, and as they both grew in their careers, they consistently supported each other’s work-Rihanna wearing Ottenberg’s designs and him attending her product launches. However, their close collaboration really solidified towards the end of 2019.

In December, A$AP Rocky and Rihanna, who had previously been in a three-year relationship with Hassan Jameel, made a stylish appearance together at the British Fashion Awards. Then, in January 2020, they were seen looking friendly and close backstage at the Yams Day Benefit Concert.

In an interview with British Vogue in early 2020, Rihanna shared her vision for the future. When asked about where she saw herself in ten years, she joked, “I’ll be 42-ancient!” She also expressed her desire to have a large family, saying she hoped to have three or four children.

And would she be up for starting a family herself if Mr. Right didn’t come along?

She enthusiastically agreed, explaining that society often judges mothers who don’t have partners, making them feel inadequate. But she believes a child’s happiness is all that truly matters, and a loving relationship is the most important thing for raising a healthy, well-adjusted child. Ultimately, love is what helps a child thrive.

Rihanna has been thinking a lot about how quickly life passes. She says you don’t have time for things that bother you, especially when you’re already busy. She’s realized she needs to simplify her life and is starting to focus on what’s most important, moving away from complicated situations and decisions. She describes it as a shift from shades of gray to a more clear-cut, black-and-white perspective.

In the end, she realized she’s always been looking for things she can truly trust and rely on – things that are genuine and honest.

The pandemic actually gave her and A$AP Rocky more quality time together than they usually had due to their busy schedules.

That summer, Rihanna chose A$AP Rocky as a spokesperson for her Fenty Skin line, and the two clearly enjoyed working together to promote it. They playfully interviewed each other – Rihanna for a GQ video called “Face to Face,” and A$AP Rocky returning the favor with 15 questions for Vogue. When asked about the biggest challenge of working with Rihanna, A$AP Rocky joked that it was simply trying to stay focused and not have too much fun – they laughed so much, it was hard to get work done!

They became very close after a cross-country road trip from Los Angeles to New York. They traveled in a comfortable tour bus, stopping to explore national parks and experience the culture of cities like Memphis.

A$AP Rocky described his recent road trip to GQ as a chance to reconnect with himself. He explained that driving and touring without the pressure of work felt uniquely freeing and unlike any other experience.

He admitted his current music was heavily inspired by his relationship, explaining that having someone to share ideas with is crucial for creativity.

Everyone knows creating something great takes time, and A$AP Rocky’s fourth studio album, *Don’t Be Dumb*, is still highly anticipated after years in the making.

A$AP Rocky said his life has significantly improved since he started dating Rihanna. He told GQ that she’s unlike anyone else he’s ever met, and he feels certain she’s the one for him.

Oh my god, when Rihanna talked about her road trip with A$AP Rocky, it just melted my heart! She told *Vogue* about how he basically became her family right then and there. She was pregnant, and they were just…normal! She was cooking for them on this little, beat-up grill she got from Walmart – can you even imagine?! She still *has* it, and says it works perfectly! She loves both the little, everyday things *and* big adventures, and she said there’s none of that fake, image-obsessed stuff with them, just them living their life. She just feels like she can handle anything as long as she’s with him. It’s so perfect, I’m obsessed!

That soon included parenting, RZA arriving on May 13, 2022.

Just months after welcoming her first child, Rihanna surprised everyone during her 2023 Super Bowl halftime show by revealing she was pregnant again. She cleverly concealed and then highlighted her baby bump with a specially designed outfit featuring a Loewe jumpsuit, a unique bra, and a custom Alaïa coat.

Riot Rose was born Aug. 1.

Rihanna shared with TopMob News in December that she hopes to have a girl next time, suggesting she and A$AP Rocky plan to have more children. However, she also told TopMob in April 2024 that she loves being a mom to a boy. She feels it allows her to be comfortable and relaxed, but also helps her fully appreciate and embrace her femininity.

Rihanna shared that both RZA and Riot were excited about having another sibling, telling *Extra* at the *Smurfs* premiere in Los Angeles that she didn’t mind if it was a boy or a girl, saying, “God knows best!” She also expressed her love for her sons.

Throughout everything, she and A$AP have remained a united couple. Continue reading to see photos of their heartwarming love story.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s performance of “Cockiness” at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards was a standout, and many felt it deserved an award. The pair continued to collaborate, sharing the stage again on tour in 2013.

After Rihanna and A$AP Rocky released the “Fashion Killa” music video in 2013, fans couldn’t stop listening to the song.

They stayed friends over the years. In 2018, they went to the Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring/Summer 2019 show during Paris Fashion Week and looked fantastic.

In 2019, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky both attended The Fashion Awards. Rihanna stood out in a stunning mint green Fenty dress, while A$AP Rocky looked stylish in a black suit.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky made a stylish appearance together at the 2021 Met Gala. Rihanna wore a black Balenciaga gown, while A$AP Rocky sported a unique look with an ERL quilt layered over a tuxedo.

Rihanna recently shared how difficult it was to hide her pregnancy, especially from her close friends. She explained to Justin Sylvester that because her friends knew her so well – her routines and habits – they quickly noticed changes. They questioned why she wasn’t drinking or smoking, and were surprised to see her suddenly craving sweets like cookies and donuts, something she usually avoids. Eventually, she told them, and they were just as shocked as the rest of the world.

Oh my goodness, these photos are adorable! As Rihanna and A$AP Rocky got ready for their baby, she didn’t miss a beat with her amazing maternity fashion.

After A$AP Rocky’s “D.M.B.” music video featured the phrases “Marry me?” and “I do” on his and Rihanna’s teeth, many fans speculated about an engagement. However, sources close to the couple told TMZ in May 2022 that they were not engaged at that time.

And baby makes three! Multiple outlets report that the couple welcomed a baby in Los Angeles.

She debuted her second pregnancy during the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show.

The pair take the 2023 Met Gala together in honor of Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld. 

Rihanna accompanied A$AP Rocky during his performance at a Spotify party in Cannes, France.

The couple recently had a baby boy named Riot, and a month later, they shared some family photos for the first time, showing all four of them together.

Rihanna confirmed her romance with A$AP began at the end of 2019. 

She shared that they were both familiar with each other’s romantic lives. ‘We understood how strong a connection we could have, and the potential for heartbreak,’ she told *Interview* magazine on April 9th. ‘Knowing we could really hurt each other, we approached dating very carefully.’

Rihanna is expecting her third child! She announced the news just before attending the 2025 Met Gala.

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2025-09-25 00:48