Rihanna and A$AP Rocky have welcomed their first child together, and they chose a very special name for him: RZA. The name is a homage to the legendary rapper, producer and leader of the Wu-Tang Clan, who has influenced both of them as artists.
RZA, whose real name is Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, was thrilled to hear the news. He told CNN that he felt honored and inspired by their choice. “RZA is only a name, it’s a title, so it’s an honour and I salute her and A$AP and their family. All the blessings in the world from me,” he said.
The name RZA has a deep meaning for the hip hop icon, who created it after studying Islam and learning about the significance of the letter Z. According to his biography, The Tao of Wu, the name stands for “Ruler, Zi-Zag-Zig, Allah,” which translates into “Ruler, Knowledge-Wisdom-Understanding, Allah.”
A$AP Rocky revealed his son’s name on Instagram earlier this year, with a series of photos and the caption: “WU TANG IZ 4 DA CHUREN’ HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY TO MY 1st BORN . RZA.” The Daily Mail reported that the baby boy’s full name is RZA Athelston Mayers.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are reportedly expecting their second child together. The couple has been dating since 2019, after being friends for years. They have collaborated on several songs, such as Fashion Killa and Cockiness (Love It).
RZA is one of the most influential figures in hip hop history, having produced most albums for the Wu-Tang Clan and its members. He is also a successful actor, filmmaker and author, who has worked with directors like Quentin Tarantino and Jim Jarmusch. He is currently working on a new album with the Wu-Tang Clan, titled Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.
About RZA
- Born on July 5, 1969 in Brownsville, Brooklyn
- Cousin of two other original Wu-Tang Clan members: GZA and Ol’ Dirty Bastard
- Has released solo albums under the alter-ego Bobby Digital
- Was a founding member of the horrorcore group Gravediggaz
- Has scored films like Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Kill Bill: Volume 2
- Has written and directed films like The Man with the Iron Fists and Cut Throat City
- Has acted in films like American Gangster and Brick Mansions
- Has written books like The Tao of Wu and The Wu-Tang Manual