A$AP Rocky reveals his mother urged him to date Rihanna, reflecting on their timing and the start of their relationship

American rapper A$AP Rocky revealed that his mother had long encouraged him to pursue a relationship with Barbadian singer Rihanna, during an interview with The New York Times on 14 January 2026.

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Rocky said his mother advised him to end a previous relationship to be with Rihanna, describing her as “a real one” whose presence in his life he should not overlook.

The rapper explained that at the time he and Rihanna were only friends, and neither was ready for a committed relationship or family life.

He expressed gratitude that their romance began when it did, noting the timing allowed both of them to enter the relationship fully prepared.

“Rihanna has always been my boo. I always fucked 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 and that I should go for her. I’m telling you, mothers know best,” Rocky said.

The couple first became close after Rocky joined Rihanna on her Diamond Tour in 2013.

Rumours of their romantic relationship emerged shortly after Rihanna ended her three-year relationship with billionaire businessman Hassan Jameel in January 2020.

Rocky previously dated model Kendall Jenner from 2016 to 2017.