LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA) – American rapper A$AP Rocky has offered a rare glimpse into the personal advice that quietly shaped his love story with Rihanna, revealing that his mother once urged him to leave a former relationship to pursue the global superstar long before they became a couple.
The rapper shared the revelation in a recent interview with The New York Times, reflecting on his long-standing friendship with Rihanna and how it later evolved into one of pop culture’s most celebrated romances.
According to Rocky, his mother was convinced early on that Rihanna was a “real one” and the right person for him, even when he insisted they were nothing more than friends.
“Rihanna has always been my boo. I always f*cked with her. My mother used to say, ‘I know you like this girl that you are with right now, but I want you with Riri.’ And I would tell her that Rihanna is just a friend. But my mother insisted that Rihanna is a real one. Mothers know best,” Rocky said.
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Despite the encouragement, Rocky explained that timing ultimately worked in their favor. Looking back, he believes neither he nor Rihanna was ready for the level of commitment their relationship would eventually demand.
“I am thankful that my relationship with Rihanna started when it did. Because at any time prior to that, I don’t think I was ready for something like that. I don’t think she was either,” he added.
Their bond began years earlier when Rocky joined Rihanna on her Diamond World Tour in 2013, cementing a close friendship that later fueled romance rumors. Speculation intensified in 2020 following Rihanna’s split from Saudi billionaire Hassan Jameel, before the pair officially confirmed their relationship.
Since going public, the couple has built a family together, welcoming two sons, RZA Athelston Mayers, born in 2022, and Riot Rose Mayers, born in 2023, followed by a daughter, Rocki Irish Mayers, born in 2025. The children have since become a central part of their shared life, often referenced by both artists as a grounding force.
Before his relationship with Rihanna, Rocky was previously linked to model Kendall Jenner between 2016 and 2017.
Today, his reflections suggest that patience, timing, and a mother’s intuition ultimately aligned to shape a relationship that has grown from friendship to devoted partners and finally, parents.
