A$AP Rocky’s love story with Rihanna didn’t just surprise fans; it turns out his mother saw it coming long before the rest of the world did. In a recent conversation, the Harlem rapper opened up about how his mom always believed Rihanna was the right woman for him, even when he was dating other people.
The moment came during an excerpt from The New York Times’ Popcast, shared on Wednesday night (Jan. 14). Rocky reflected on how much perspective changes once the right partner enters your life. His comments felt honest, reflective, and deeply personal, giving fans a rare look into how family, love, and timing all played a role in where he is today.
Now a father of three with Rihanna, Rocky made it clear that their relationship didn’t just happen overnight. It grew out of shared experiences, mutual understanding, and, apparently, a little maternal intuition.
A$AP Rocky on love, growth, and perspective
During the discussion, Rocky explained how being with the right woman can completely shift how you see the world.
“A woman will change your whole life, especially if it’s a companion,” he said. “Before I had my children, it was like being with my girl [would take] a blindfold off. As soon as you get with a girl, she’ll tell you, like, ‘That’s not your friend. That’s, that’s your friend. But that one? Nah.’”
Co-host Joe Coscarelli jokingly noted that Rocky “didn’t just get with any girl,” which led to a simple but meaningful response: “I got with a very special woman.”
Rocky also spoke about how closely aligned their lives are, from family roots to shared timelines. “We were on the same page. Born the same year. My dad is from her country … 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 mother’s advice that aged perfectly
Perhaps the most touching part of the story was Rocky’s reflection on his mother’s early encouragement.
“She was always my boo, you know what I’m saying? Like, I always f***** with her.”
He then revealed how his mom used to push him toward Rihanna even when he was involved with other women.
“My mother used to say s**t like, ‘I know you like this girl that you [are] with right now’ I ain’t gon’ say no names ‘but I want you with RiRi.’ It’s like, ‘Ma, why you keep saying that? That girl don’t even want me like that.’” Looking back, Rocky admitted his mom was right all along. “Mothers know best.”
A$AP Rocky’s new era
Rocky also touched on timing, saying he’s grateful Rihanna came into his life when she did because earlier, neither of them would have been ready. That sense of growth carries into his music as well.
He recently released his long-awaited fourth album, Don’t Be Dumb, a 15-track project with features from Doechii, Brent Faiyaz, BossMan Dlow, and Tyler, The Creator. The album has already sparked conversation in hip-hop circles, especially with fans pointing out what appear to be shots at Drake on multiple tracks.
Between family, music, and reflection, A$AP Rocky seems fully settled into his next chapter, one his mother clearly predicted long ago.