A$AP Rocky reveals the surprising thing his mom told him before dating Rihanna
Sometimes, parents’ perspectives come from years of observation and learning.
A$AP Rocky and Rihanna are global music and fashion figures whose influence extends well beyond their music careers. A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is a rapper, producer, actor, and fashion designer. Rihanna, who was born Robyn Fenty in the same year as A$AP Rocky, has enjoyed a successful career that includes hit songs, movies, and major business ventures.
While fans spent years wishing they would get together, the couple didn’t officially start their relationship until late 2020. Since then, they have welcomed three children: sons RZA Athelston, 3, and Riot Rose, 2, along with their four-month-old daughter, Rocki Irish.
While continuing to manage high-profile careers, Rocky and Rihanna have prioritized privacy around their children, keeping their family life largely out of the public eye.
The story
A$AP Rocky opened up about the early times of his relationship with Rihanna during an appearance on the Thursday episode of The New York Times’ “Popcast”. In the interview, he revealed that his mother, Renee Black, had been encouraging him to pursue Rihanna long before the two officially became a couple.
“My mother used to say s–t like, “I know you like this girl that you with right now. I ain’t going to say no names, but I want you with Riri.” Rocky said.
At the time, he admitted, he pushed back against the idea. “It’s like, ‘Ma, why you keep saying that? That girl doesn’t even want me like that,” he recalled. According to Rocky, he was not receptive to his mother’s advice then, largely because he did not see the relationship as a possibility.
Looking back, Rocky shared how his views have shifted over time. “Mothers know best,” Rocky said, reflecting on how his mother recognized something he did not. He also talked about the importance of timing in his relationship. “I’m thankful that [Rihanna] was put in my life at that time because any time prior to that I don’t think I was ready for something like that,” he said. “I don’t think she was either.”
Rocky shared that he and Rihanna had a connection even before they started dating. They were both born in the same year, and Rocky’s father is from Barbados, where Rihanna was born. These shared experiences helped strengthen their bond as a couple as well as parents. “We were on the same page. Born the same year. My dad is from her country,” he said.
“When I go back, I get to see both sides of my family. It’s so many similarities, it’s just funny. We laugh about it a lot”, A$AP further added.
When you share the same culture, it’s easier to connect on many different levels, from the food you eat to the values you want to pass down to your children. For Rocky and Rihanna, having that shared history made their relationship feel very natural from the start. It gave them a strong base to build a world that feels familiar and safe for their three children to grow up in.
Why it resonates
Rocky’s comments resonate with many people in a similar boat. As in most cases, parents often understand relationships well and speculate about things that we have no idea about. When high-profile figures like Rocky and Rihanna reflect this common experience, it bridges the gap between their global status and the everyday lives of their audience.
Typically, media coverage of celebrity relationships focuses on conflict, especially when family members are involved. Public narratives often prioritize stories of disapproval or “in-law” interference, which reinforces the stereotype that family input is a source of stress in a relationship. In these stories, mothers-in-law are frequently portrayed as obstacles to a couple’s happiness.
One of the most visible examples is the Beckham family drama, where ongoing speculation has suggested tension between Victoria Beckham and her daughter-in-law, Nicola Peltz. Whether these reports are accurate, they contribute to a social perception that family involvement in a couple’s life is inherently negative.
Against this social norm, Rocky’s story offers a much more positive perspective. His mother’s preference for Rihanna was not an attempt to control his life, but a belief in a shared cultural and personal compatibility that eventually proved correct.
In the end, not all advice or assumptions are meant to limit personal choice. In Rocky’s situation, his mother’s belief in the bond he had with Rihanna only became obvious as he grew older and reached a stage in life where everything fell into place, just as it was meant to be.
