A$AP Rocky Gushes Over Newborn Daughter Rocki Irish: ‘My Favorite Thing I Created This Year’

A$AP Rocky is trading rhymes for lullabies, and his latest “hit” is stealing hearts far beyond the charts. The 37-year-old rapper, born Rakim Mayers, opened up about his newborn daughter Rocki Irish Mayers in a candid chat with Complex, calling her his “favorite thing” he’s created in 2025. The sweet shoutout, dropped during a promo for his Puma fall capsule collection, marks the first time Rocky has publicly gushed over the baby girl he welcomed with longtime partner Rihanna on September 13, 2025. “My daughter. That’s my favorite thing I created this year. Shout-out to Rocki Irish, man,” Rocky said simply, brushing aside questions about his music drops and fashion lines. It’s a rare peek into the private world of the Harlem native and the Fenty mogul, whose blended family now includes three kids under 4, proving their greatest collabs happen off-mic.

Rocky and Rihanna, both 37, have kept their romance low-key since going public in 2020 after years as friends. The couple, often spotted in coordinated streetwear strolls through New York or Barbados getaways, announced Rocki’s arrival on September 24 via Rihanna’s Instagram—a carousel of tender shots showing the singer cradling her pink-clad bundle, complete with ribbon-laced gloves and a “Mom” ring glinting on her finger. “Rocki Irish Mayers Sept 13 2025 🎀,” she captioned the post, tagging Rocky and sparking a flood of congrats from celebs like A$AP Ferg and Travis Scott. Insiders tell People the pair is “so happy” to finally welcome a girl after two boys—RZA Athelston, 3, born May 2022, and Riot Rose, 2, born August 2023. “They’ve wanted this for a while and can’t believe it actually happened,” a source close to the family shared. “Ri’s always wanted a big family, and she’s excited to do all the girl stuff. Rocky’s just been saying he feels lucky.”

The sentiment echoes Rocky’s earlier quips about their parenting dynamic. In a 2023 GQ profile, he joked that their best “collaboration” is making kids, adding, “I think we do a real great job at collaborating and making children. I think that’s our best creation so far.” During Rihanna’s third pregnancy, revealed at the 2025 Met Gala in a custom Valentino gown that showcased her bump, Rocky doubled down on his hopes for a daughter. “I hope it’s a girl. I really do. We’re praying for a girl,” he told Elle just weeks before Rocki’s birth. The couple kept the gender a surprise this time, unlike with RZA and Riot, building anticipation amid Rihanna’s low-key bump sightings at Fenty events and Rocky’s Puma shoots.

Rocky’s Complex interview, published October 9, 2025, comes amid a banner year for the rapper-designer. He dropped his Puma x A$AP Rocky capsule in September—oversized hoodies, track pants, and sneakers blending Harlem grit with luxury streetwear—while teasing a long-awaited album, Don’t Be Mad, his first since 2015’s At. Long. Last. A$AP. The line, inspired by his “evolving style,” features nods to fatherhood: A baby-blue hoodie emblazoned with “Lucky” and silver chain motifs echoing Rocki’s name. “I’ve done a whole lot this year,” Rocky admitted, but when pressed on his top creation, it was all about the newborn. “Shout-out to Rocki Irish, man.” The interview, part of Complex’s fall fashion issue, also touched on his Met Gala co-chair role in May, where he and Rihanna stunned in gender-fluid looks—hers a sheer beaded gown, his a feathered cape—celebrating the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” theme.

Rihanna, ever the multitasking maven, balanced pregnancy with Fenty empire expansions: The Fenty Skin line added a holiday collection in November, and Savage X Fenty’s menswear collab with Rocky sold out in hours. She’s been vocal about embracing motherhood’s chaos, telling Harper’s Bazaar in 2025 that the “greatest thing” about Rocky is watching him dad. “Our sons live for him more than they live for me,” she laughed, crediting him for bedtime stories and braid sessions that honor their heritage. “This is a form of protection by our ancestors,” she explained of the boys’ styles, a nod to her Barbadian roots and Rocky’s Harlem upbringing.

The couple’s low-drama approach to parenting contrasts their high-profile lives. They shunned traditional baby moons for quiet family hikes in the Hudson Valley, with Rocky spotted pushing strollers in oversized sunglasses. Sources say Rocki’s arrival has deepened their bond: “They’re thrilled about the sibling dynamic—RZA and Riot are already protective big bros.” Rocky, who once quipped about expanding “like the Wayans,” hinted at more to come: “We’re building a squad.”

Public reactions poured in post-interview. Fans flooded Rocky’s Instagram (3.5 million followers) with pink heart emojis and “Girl Dad Rocky” memes, while Rihanna’s post garnered 12 million likes. Celeb pals chimed in: Drake commented “Uncle duties activated” on Rihanna’s announcement, and Ferg shared a throwback of Rocky with RZA, captioned “Squad grows stronger.” The moment aligns with a wave of A-list dad glow-ups—Drake’s For All the Dogs tracks about his son Adonis, and Travis Scott’s fatherhood nods in Utopia.

Rocky’s vulnerability here feels like a mic drop. From Live. Love. ASAP mixtapes to Puma partnerships, he’s built an empire on cool detachment, but fatherhood cracks that facade. “Seeing him be a dad is everything,” Rihanna reiterated in a June 2025 Vogue cover. As 2025 winds down, with Rocki’s first Christmas on the horizon—likely a Fenty-festooned affair—the rapper’s words land like a lullaby: Family over fame.

Leave a comment