The singer opens up about how her relationship with the rapper began during the COVID pandemic and expanding their family of four.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are already parents to two boys, but the GRAMMY winner says she wouldn't mind adding to their happy family of four! In an interview for Interview's spring issue, the Fenty Beauty founder opens up about how her relationship with the rapper began during the COVID pandemic and how they could expand their growing family.
Rihanna, 36, and Rocky, 35, welcomed their first son, RZA, in 2022. The proud parents then welcomed their second child, a baby boy named Riot, in August 2023 -- after she revealed her pregnancy during the Super Bowl halftime show that year.
But before they became parents, the pair were longtime friends.
"We saw fashion the same. We saw creative the same. We ended up in the same circles a lot," the mother of two explains to the outlet about their relationship before becoming lovers. As she recalls, the pair linked up for their first professional collaboration at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2012, where they performed a remix of Rihanna's "Cockiness (Love It)."
Throughout the years, the two continued to support each other's various ventures. In 2013, A$AP joined Rihanna as an opening act on her Diamonds World Tour from March to May and again for a handful of dates in October and November. In September of that year, Rihanna also appeared in A$AP's "Fashion Killa" music video, playing his girlfriend in the foreshadowing video. The song includes the line, "Her attitude Rihanna, she get it from her mama."
Rihanna explains how their close friendship meant that they both had a front seat to each other's headline-making relationships with other people.
The "Lift Me Up" singer was publicly linked to Chris Brown, Drake -- whom she reportedly dated off and on from 2009 to 2016 -- and Saudi businessman Hassan Jameel. Meanwhile, A$AP was previously linked to Kendall Jenner, Chanel Iman, Iggy Azalea and Teyana Taylor.
"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," she tells Interview. "I just let whatever was supposed to happen, happen... COVID sped up our relationship, which I felt like God knew we needed because we were going to start a family. And 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."
Rihanna mentions how she "tried and tried my best" in previous relationships, but has been able to let go by letting "God lead" in her partnership with Rocky.
"When someone sees you completely, and believes in you, and thinks you're worthy of being the mother of their kids, it's a great feeling," she gushes about the rapper. "I felt the same about him. I knew he would be a great dad."
The two have certainly taken to being parents with palpable joy. In December 2023, the "Work" singer spoke with ET about her life with a house full of boys and how RZA was already opening his heart up to his new little brother.
"They're the best though. Having a house full of boys, I thought I was a girl mom, but I'm a boy mom. I love this. I love it," she gushed.
"[RZA] struggled in the beginning, but he loves his little brother," Rihanna said of her eldest child. "Every time he thinks we're not looking at him, he'll come over and touch him. If the baby's crying, he'll just hold his hands. It hurts him if the baby's crying. He'll wake up in the morning just saying, 'Baby, baby, baby.' He loves him. It took a while, but he got there, and I'm proud of him."
Around the same time, Rocky sat down with Complex and told the outlet that of all of the collaborations with Rihanna, ranging from fashion to music, throughout their decade-long friendship and relationship, his favorite joint effort is by far their boys.
"I think we do a real great job at collaborating, making children," the "Fashion Killa" rapper said. "I think that's our best creation so far. Nothing's better than that out there, any design."
And the "Consideration" singer is looking to do more collaborating with her significant other. Rihanna tells Interview that she wouldn't mind having more children, saying, "I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl."
Although Rihanna jokes that she's feeling rough with two kids under two, a source shared with ET in February that the couple enjoys making things work together.
"Rihanna and A$AP are doing so well," the source noted. "They both love being parents and balance each other out. A$AP is very outgoing and playful and Rihanna is chill and fun."
For those who know them, ET's source explained, their relationship is easy as they enjoy every facet of life together. "They make each other laugh and are also interested in the same things, like music, fashion, business ideas, art, and more, so they have fun together no matter what they’re doing," the source added.