Rakim Athelaston Mayers, best known as A$AP Rocky, was once a spoiled kid who often found himself enmired in trouble.

Thanks to his partner and love of his life, Rihanna – and with the arrival of their now 20-month-old son (RZA Athelston Mayers, named to honor Wu-Tang Clan member RZA), and four-month-old daughter, Riot Rose Mayers – A$AP Rocky is now a devoted family man.

On April 20th 2022 – less than a month before Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s first child, RZA, was born on May 13th 2022 – A$AP Rocky was in jail, arrested for allegedly shooting former childhood friend Terrel Ephron (also known as A$AP Relli) in November 2021.

Ephron asserted that he and Rocky were involved in a heated argument, and that A$AP withdrew a handgun, firing multiple shots, one of which grazed his fingers.

Although Rocky was released on bond after spending three hours in jail, after this incident, there were few public feuds or controversies involving Mayers following the birth of his first child.

But this charge has been like a thorn in A$AP Rocky’s side; in November 2023, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge M.L. Villar ruled that “sufficient evidence [existed] to allow the case against Mayers to proceed to trial.”

If found guilty, he could face at least nine years in prison. In November 2023, Relli testified, claiming the incident was an “ambush,” adding:

“But I would never be scared of Rocky … We knew each other for years. I’m not scared of him.”

That incident was not the first time A$AP Rocky found himself in trouble. He was arrested in 2019 after a sprawling altercation in Stockholm, Sweden.

In court, he asserted he had acted in the interests of self-defense, but he was found guilty, and he faced one month in a detention center.

In 2015, a brawl with his manager became news, and in 2013, he made headlines for allegedly slapping a woman at a music festival in Sydney, Australia.

However, the alleged victim of the music festival incident (Lisamarie Wade) failed to appear in court for a hearing, electing to file a subsequent lawsuit – which was settled out of court in 2015.

A$AP Rocky was allegedly involved in incidents of larceny, as well as several minor instances of misconduct in 2012 and 2013.

But now, this once reckless young star is now a father of two young children, and the world is witnessing his potential and newfound maturity.

Rihanna is also considered to be a driving positive force behind her partner’s drastic change.

Rihanna acknowledged the evolution of A$AP Rocky while talking to Access Hollywood, and said of Rocky:

“I love him differently as a dad. This is major, major … it’s a turn on. It’s just like, wow. What a leader, what a great, patient, loving, and my kids are obsessed with him.”

Melodies Of Love: Rihanna And A$AP Rocky’s Harmonious Connection

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were friends at first, before romantic love developed between them.

In 2011, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky collaborated on the super-hit song “Cockiness.

During that time, A$AP Rocky was dating Iggy Azalea, while Rihanna, who had broken up with Matt Kemp in 2010, was single.

At this point, they had no idea they would eventually fall in love with one another, and bring two adorable babies into the world together.

In 2013, their paths crossed again for the song “Fashion Killa”:

Due to their tangible chemistry, rumors that they were dating followed like clockwork, spreading on the internet and gossip sites.

But A$AP Rocky was officially dating Victoria’s Secret model Chanel Iman – and he would go on to engage in a few more relationships before getting together with Rihanna.

After a split with Tahiry Rose, who dated A$AP Rocky from 2014 to 2017, he had a brief relationship with Sophie Brussaux, who is now mother to Drake’s son Adonis.

Rocky then dated Kardashian-Jenner sister Kendall Jenner for a year.

In 2020, a new spate of rumors started, suggesting once more that Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were seeing each other.

Updated, April 2024: On April 9th, Interview Magazine published a sprawling interview with Rihanna, in which the Fenty maven clarified when and how she and Rocky officially became a couple. Rihanna described their years of friendship, and recalled that neither she nor Rocky made the decision lightly:

“We saw fashion the same. We saw creative the same. We ended up in the same circles a lot … But it wasn’t until the end of 2019 … We’ve known each other for a long time. I’ve seen him in relationships. He’s seen me in relationships. We’ve seen each other outside of relationships.

“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 … I just let whatever was supposed to happen, happen. It was just, ‘This is a flower. It’s either going to die or blossom. But I’m going to let it decide itself.'”

At that time, Rihanna was dating billionaire Saudi businessman Hassan Jameel, but they called it quits in 2020.

In 2021, Grammy nominee A$AP Rocky openly admitted that Rihanna was “The One,” and he called her his “lady,” and the love of his life.

In July 2021, Rocky gushed about their relationship in a candid interview with GQ, and the magazine’s coverage suggested the outcome was worth the wait for the couple:

“Rocky knows he probably shouldn’t talk about Rihanna, the triple-A-list pop star, wildly successful fashion and beauty entrepreneur, and Category 5 cultural hurricane, but he can’t help himself.

“As soon as I bring her up, he starts beaming like a teenager whose crush just accepted his prom invite. I could practically hear the angels singing. ‘The love of my life,’ he calls her. ‘My lady.'”

Now, they are settled, creating their own love nest, and their two young children are strengthening their bond even more.