All About Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s Older Son RZA

PHOTO: RICH FURY/GETTY ; RIHANNA/TIKTOK

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky might be the coolest parents ever.

The singer and her rapper boyfriend, who welcomed their first son, RZA Athelston Mayers, on May 13, 2022, in Los Angeles, weren’t initially prepared to expand their family. “Planning? I wouldn’t say planning. But certainly not planning against it,” Rihanna told Vogue in April 2022. “I always thought it would be marriage first, then a baby, but who the f— says it has to be that way. I’m certainly not gonna let that get in the way of me being a mom.”

A source told PEOPLE in January 2023 that Rocky and Rihanna “are very happy and focused on their baby boy.”

The insider added that “Rihanna loves being a mom [and] is obsessed with her baby boy,” while the rapper is “very involved and a great dad.”

Rihanna also used her 2023 Super Bowl Halftime performance to share that she was pregnant for the second time. The “Umbrella” singer debuted her baby bump during the opening moments of her show on Feb. 12, 2023, and her rep confirmed the pregnancy news to PEOPLE the same evening.

Rihanna and Rocky welcomed their second child, son Riot Rose Mayers, in August 2023.

Here’s everything to know about Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s son RZA.

 

His name has a special meaning

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For the first 11 months of RZA’s life, the couple avoided sharing their son’s name publicly.

“We just didn’t get around to it yet really,” Rihanna told the Associated Press in November 2022. “We’ve just been living. But I guess there’s a certain freedom that comes with kind of just, like, getting it out there.”

In May 2023, the boy’s name was revealed to be RZA Athelston Mayers, which pays homage to the producer and rapper RZA, leader of the Wu-Tang Clan, whose real name is Robert Fitzgerald Diggs.

Two months later, the famed rapper told CNN that he was flattered by Rihanna and Rocky’s name choice. “[It’s] a great honor to know that there’s another generation that’s not even of my own household that feels the strength and the inspiration of that name,” RZA said, adding: “All the blessings in the world from me.”

 

He’s a “happy” baby

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At the premiere of Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4, Rihanna shared an update on RZA’s budding personality. “He’s amazing, he’s a happy baby,” she told Entertainment Tonight.

The “Love on the Brain” singer also shared one of her favorite motherhood moments. “Oh my God, the mornings, like, seeing his morning face!” she said. “Seeing a baby with, like, little bags and waking up and they’re just, like, startled. They’re trying to figure out where they’re at. It’s the cutest, it’s my favorite part of the day.”

 

He has a great wardrobe

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Even as a baby, Rihanna and Rocky’s son has an enviable wardrobe. In March 2022, the fashionable couple were spotted shopping at Baby Dior in Paris; Rihanna was later seen shopping at Couture Kids in L.A.

In April, the then-expectant mother told Vogue that the very first clothing item she bought her son was a tiny bathrobe, before joking that she’ll “have a problem” if he’s not interested in fashion.

In November, Rihanna revealed to ET that she’d been inspired to create baby clothes for Fenty. “You know, I always thought doing kid stuff would be cliché and the obvious thing to do when you have a baby. It’s, like, the obvious next step,” she said. “But when I went shopping, that’s when I realized like, okay, maybe I need to start making the stuff that I want my kids to wear because it’s hard! I got my own ideas.”

 

Rocky wants him to be “open-minded”

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In summer 2022, Rocky opened up about what kind of father he wanted to be. “I will always remind my children to never lose their imagination, even as adults, no matter what,” he told Dazed magazine. “I hope to raise open-minded children. Not people who discriminate.”

Rocky also added that he just wants “a cool child with cool parents” — and that seems to be the case already, given both his and Rihanna’s influence on popular culture.

 

Rihanna is in “awe” of him

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After giving birth, Rihanna fell into motherhood naturally, according to a source. “Being a new parent is of course an adjustment, but they are doing great,” the source said of Rihanna and Rocky in May 2022. “Their baby boy is healthy and Rihanna is just in awe of him.”

The source also told PEOPLE that the singer spent a lot of time bonding with RZA outside. “Rihanna barely leaves his side. She is a fantastic mom,” they added. “[She] very much enjoys spending quiet time with her baby.”

 

He’s in a “cuddly stage”

In November 2022, Rihanna told PEOPLE that her 6-month-old was very affectionate. “He is funny, he’s happy — and he’s fat!” she said. “He’s amazing. It’s a real cuddly stage right now.”

The new mom noted that Savage X Fenty Vol. 4 was the first work project she took on after giving birth. In the outdoor fashion show, Rihanna was aptly featured in the “Mother Nature” portion.

A few months later, in April 2023, Rihanna confirmed that RZA is still very cuddly.

“Look who doesn’t want mommy to workout,” she tweeted alongside a video of the little boy smiling as he sits in his mom’s lap.

 

Rihanna is protective of him

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In March 2022, Rihanna shared with Elle that she thought she would be as protective over her kids as Teresa Giudice from the Real Housewives of New Jersey.

“She will flatten you about those kids,” the singer said of Giudice’s parenting style. “And that resonates with me a lot because I feel like that’s the type of mom I’m going to be. Psycho about it.”

 

Rihanna waited more than six months to share a photo of RZA

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The “Stay” singer kept her son’s image a mystery until December 2022 when she shared the first video of her seven-month-old baby boy on TikTok. RZA was seen cooing and smiling at Rihanna as he wiggled around in his car seat.

 

He’s a big brother

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On Feb. 12, 2023, Rihanna revealed that she was expecting her second baby with Rocky. The singer debuted her baby bump while on stage during the Super Bowl Halftime show. She is the first pregnant woman to headline the prestigious event.

Following the performance, her manicurist, Kimmie Kyees, shared a post on Instagram of the singer’s style preparations. In one photo, Rihanna was cradling her baby bump while wearing her all-red form-fitting outfit.

In August 2023, RZA officially became a big brother when Rihanna gave birth to her and Rocky’s second child, Riot.

The following month, the proud parents released adorable pictures of their family of four. The snaps marked the first time Rihanna and A$AP shared photos of Riot.

 

He appeared on the cover of British Vogue

In February 2023, RZA was featured on the cover of British Vogue along with his superstar parents. In the cover shot, Rihanna, Rocky and their son wore black as they posed on a beach. Another picture showed Rihanna looking at the camera as she holds RZA, who is wrapped in a blanket.

In the corresponding interview, Rihanna opened up about how her life has changed since becoming a parent. “Oh, my God, it’s legendary,” she said of her first months as a mother. “It’s everything. You really don’t remember life before, that’s the craziest thing ever.”

“You literally try to remember it — and there are photos of my life before — but the feeling, the desires, the things that you enjoy, everything, you just don’t identify with it because you don’t even allow yourself mentally to get that far, because…” she said. “Because it doesn’t matter.”

The “Umbrella” singer also spoke about the importance of protecting her son’s privacy, recalling an emotional moment when paparazzi tried to take photos of her baby during their Vogue photoshoot on the beach.

“Throw me to the wolves. Do what you want with me. But he doesn’t have a say in any of this,” she explained. “We’ve been protecting him thus far and you don’t have any consent to be posting photos or selling photos of my child, a minor. Get the hell out of here with that.”