A$AP Rocky Reflects on "Being emotionally available" as a Father
The Harlem rapper shares sons RZA, Riot and Rocki with Rihanna and explained why he wants to “keep them humble.”
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 27: ASAP Rocky and Rihanna attend the Dior Homme Menswear Spring/Summer 2026 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 27, 2025 in Paris, France.
Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images.
A$AP Rocky is sharing his take on fatherhood, opening up about peace, family and his approach to raising his boys. The Grammy-nominated emcee shares three boys, RZA, Riot and Rocki, with superstar Rihanna. In a cover story for VIBE, Rocky talked about why he wants his children to be disciplined and not take anything for granted, while he also emphasized how he approaches fatherhood from an emotional standpoint.
Rocky said that he’s focused on being present for his children–and not just in the physical sense.
“Being emotionally present, emotionally available,” the Harlem rapper shared. “Receptive, still endearing, but not only that, loving. That’s easy. That’s me all day. That’s just me.”
Rihanna spoke last July about how her late father, Ronald Fenty, influences her decisions as a parent. At the time, she explained that she wanted her children to be free and adventurous. “I want them to be outside and be in nature,” she said of her two boys at the time. “No tablet babies.” Rocki was born about two months later. Now, A$AP Rocky adds that he wants to make sure his boys don’t ever feel entitled.
“I want to make sure that I teach my boys discipline and keep them grounded, keep them humble as much as possible,” Rocky says. “Because they could be considered nepo babies,” he continued. “I got to make sure they chill with their cousins, the rough cousins; that’s going keep them on their toes.”
Back in March, shots were fired outside Rihanna and Rocky’s Los Angeles home. 35-year old Ivanna Lisette Ortiz was arrested and charged with attempted murder and additional charges, including 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Authorities alleged she fired shots outside the home where Rocky, Rihanna, their children, and several family members and staff were present. No one was injured in the incident, but Rocky says that the experience left him rattled.
“It was f**ked up,” he said. “Somebody attempted at [harming] me and my family.” The violent incident reminded him that his world could be shattered in an instant. “It took away a lot of peace and happiness of being able to just be free,” he explained. “I don’t want to be robbed of my peace and joy.”
