Rihanna might be music’s most iconic hiatus queen, but her house is anything but quiet these days. In a rare, radiant interview with Harper’s Bazaar, the billionaire mogul and mom of two revealed that her sons — RZA, 2, and Riot, 18 months — are already carving out their roles as the family’s resident chaos coordinators. And yes, one of them is definitely the vocalist.
“When Riot wakes up, he doesn’t cry — he sings,” Rihanna laughed, describing her youngest as a pint-sized frontman who greets mornings with squeals, screams, and a refusal to take “nap time” for an answer. “He’s my alarm clock. Trust me, this kid’s got pipes. I’m like, ‘Okay, vocals first, breakfast later!’” Meanwhile, big brother RZA, named after the Wu-Tang legend, is the “empath” of the crew, vibing to melodies, splashing through bath times, and devouring books like his mom devours Met Gala looks. “He’s pure magic,” she said. “But don’t let that fool you — he’s still the CEO of this operation.”
The Badgal, who shares her boys with partner A$AP Rocky, admitted RZA initially side-eyed his new role as “big bro” when Riot arrived in August 2023. “Classic sibling drama,” she shrugged. “But now? RZA’s running the show. Boss mode: activated.”
As for how Riot got his name? Thank (or blame) Pharrell Williams, the other genius behind some of her greatest hits. The producer, who collabed with Rocky on 2013’s “Fashion Killa,” originally pitched “Riot” for a girl. “Pharrell doesn’t just give names — he hands you a prophecy,” Rihanna said. “He’s like, ‘Here’s the energy, the history, the zodiac sign…’” Turns out, it fit her son’s “hilarious” rebel spirit perfectly. “I still don’t know where he got it from,” she joked. “Definitely not me. Nope.”
Though RiRi’s kept her family life fiercely private, she’s previously gushed to British Vogue that motherhood rewired her entirely. “It’s legendary. You forget who you were before,” she said — a sentiment that’s only deepened since Riot’s arrival. A source close to the star confirms to PEOPLE that she’s “done” expanding the squad for now: “Her world is full.”
Of course, fans still beg for that mythical ninth album, but Rihanna’s clearly composing a new kind of masterpiece these days. Between diaper changes and lullabies, she’s raising a future rap scholar and a shower-riffing diva — and if those tiny troublemakers ever start a band? Drop the album, please. Until then, the only “Work” she’s focused on is keeping up with two boys who’ve already inherited her flair for drama, melody, and living life loud enough to shake the chandeliers.
Rocky, start rehearsing your backup harmonies.
