A Timeline of Rihanna & Drake’s Complicated Relationship

When Drake stood earlier than the group on the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards, he started his speech by speaking in regards to the first time he ever met Rihanna. Rihanna was capturing the music video for “Pon De Replay” at a restaurant in Toronto and was launched to Drake, who “performed background music on the restaurant as individuals ate their dinner.” Historical past has a method of repeating itself as a result of the identical director, Director X, who labored on Rihanna’s “Pon De Replay” video, additionally directed Drake and Rihanna’s “Work” video years later.

Shortly after Rihanna’s very public break up from Chris Brown in 2009 after Brown’s assault of the singer, Web page Six reported that Drake and Rihanna have been noticed at Fortunate Strike in New York Metropolis. Sources advised the outlet that Rihanna was “making out with him all night time.” 

Rihanna stopped by Angie Martinez’s radio present to debate her headline-grabbing breakup with Chris Brown and deal with the rumors that she was relationship then-90210 star Tristan Wilds and Drake. Chatting with Martinez, Rih shut down the rumors and revealed that she likes “sizzling and older” males and insisted that she and Drake have been “nonetheless buddies.” Martinez continued to press Rihanna a few attainable romantic relationship brewing between the 2 artists, however Rihanna continued to disclaim there ever being a romance.

Whereas Rihanna believed her relationship with Drake was strictly platonic, Drake appeared to have believed in any other case. In his Thank Me Later lower “Fireworks,” Drake involves the belief that his emotions for her have been far stronger than her emotions for him. “I may inform it wasn’t love, I simply thought you’d f— with me/ Who may of predicted Fortunate Strike would have you ever caught with me/ Rattling, I saved my wits about me fortunately/ What occurred between us that night time? It all the time appears to hassle me.”

At one level within the verse, Drake implies that their relationship began heading downhill as a result of Rihanna believed he was utilizing her for clout. “Now abruptly, these gossip blogs need to cowl me,” he raps. “And also you making it appear that it occurred that method due to me.”

In an interview with The New York Instances, Drake admitted that he felt utilized by Rihanna. “I used to be a pawn,” Drake stated. “You recognize what she was doing to me? She was doing precisely what I’ve executed to so many ladies all through my life, which is present them high quality time, then disappear. I used to be like, ‘Wow, this feels horrible.’” 

Nevertheless, Drake addressed his NYT interview in one other interview with MTV Information as a result of he didn’t need it to come back off “unfavorable.”

“I’m at one of many biggest locations in my life — I’m on prime of the world. I’m extraordinarily assured, so it’s very uncommon that anyone, not to mention a lady that I like, makes me really feel nervous or makes me really feel small,” he stated, including that Rihanna is an “overwhelming and unbelievable particular person.”

Drake and Rihanna seemingly put any variations apart once they joined forces for Rih’s infectious “What’s My Title?,” which soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Sizzling 100. Within the video for “What’s My Title?” Rihanna and Drake are seen flirting in an area grocery retailer then cozying up in an residence, reigniting rumors of a romantic relationship.

As “What’s My Title?” began heating up the charts, the connection between the 2 seemingly grew stronger. Rihanna carried out the Drake-assisted hit on the 2011 Grammy Awards and seductively danced on the rapper as she sang, “Not all people is aware of how you can work my physique/ Is aware of how you can make me need it/ However boy you keep up on it.” Shortly after the Grammys efficiency, Rihanna and Drake gave one other steamy efficiency of “What’s My Title?” on the NBA All-Star Sport halftime present.

With a star collaboration with Rihanna below his belt, Drake was continually reminded of her in his interviews. Drizzy opened up to ELLE in regards to the inspiration behind “Fireworks” and admitted that he was “harm” as a result of he didn’t count on his relationship with Rihanna to go down like that. “On the time it harm, however she didn’t imply to. I’ll by no means put that on her,” he stated. “I used to be harm as a result of I began to slowly notice what it was. I assume I assumed it was extra. That was the primary woman with any fame that paid me any thoughts.”

The tandem’s “Take Care” team-up wasn’t as steamy as “What’s My Title?,” however that didn’t cease the rumors from swirling. In April 2012, Drizzy launched the visuals for “Take Care,” through which the duo are seen hugging and caressing one another all through the video.

TMZ reported that Drake and Chris Brown have been concerned in a scuffle at an NYC nightclub. In line with the preliminary report, the lads started yelling at one another and, ultimately, a bottle was thrown, however Drake later denied being concerned within the combat.

Rihanna apparently wasn’t feeling Drake through the 2012 MTV VMAs. When Drake gained an award for greatest hip-hop video, the group erupted with reward, however Rihanna remained unbothered and as a substitute whispered one thing to her greatest pal Melissa that many believed was an insult to Drake.

Drake and Chris Brown’s rumored beef didn’t appear to be dying down and Drake added gas to the hearth when he sat down with Elliott Wilson for the Maintain It Thoro podcast. “Don’t ask me sh– about that man once I come up there, and depart that man alone. Cease preying on his insecurities, man,” Drake advised Wilson. “His insecurities are the truth that I make higher music than him, that I’m extra popping than him and that at one level in life, the lady that he loves fell into my lap. I did what an actual n—a would do and handled her with respect.”

When Drake paid Ellen DeGeneres a go to, Ellen persuaded the rapper to play a recreation the place he opened up in regards to the girls he’s dated. Rihanna was the primary image and Drizzy had nothing however good issues to say in regards to the songstress. “Yeah, nice woman. We had our second and [I’ll] all the time assist and have love for her.”

Although they weren’t collectively, Drake nonetheless thought-about Rihanna his dream woman. “She’s the final word fantasy,” he stated to Rolling Stone. “I imply, I give it some thought. Like, ‘Man, that may be good.’ We have now enjoyable collectively, she’s cool and sh–. However we’re simply buddies. That’s my canine for all times.”

Regardless of continually denying a romantic relationship, paparazzi noticed Rih and Drizzy out in London holding palms and getting right into a automobile collectively. 

Sorry, Drake: In line with Rihanna’s Vainness Honest interview, the singer stated her final “official” boyfriend was Chris Brown.

It took the world a very long time to get well from the wonderful video Rihanna and Drake unleashed for his or her PARTYNEXTDOOR-written “Work” collaboration, primarily as a result of the music stayed atop the Sizzling 100 for 9 weeks.

Following the steamy video for “Work,” Rihanna tells Ellen that she’s nonetheless single. However the pair’s sultry dancing whereas performing “Work” on the 2016 Brit Awards and Rih’s Anti tour cease in Toronto hold the rumors of their rumored relationship alive and nicely.

The lyrics of “Too Good” counsel the music may very well be about Rihanna despite the fact that she’s featured on the observe. “I’m too good to you, I’m method too good to you/ You’re taking my love with no consideration/ I simply don’t perceive it.”

Forward of presenting Rihanna with the MTV Video Vanguard Award, Drake stunned Rih with a billboard congratulating her on her award. She posted the picture of the billboard on Instagram, writing, “When he additional ?–!!!”

As soon as once more, Drake professed his love for Rihanna and reminisced about assembly the singer again when she was capturing the video for “Pon De Replay.”

“We love the movies, which change their inventive imaginative and prescient from yr to yr,” he stated. “However most of all, we love the lady who hasn’t modified since day one. … She’s somebody I’ve been in love with since I used to be 22 years outdated, she’s one in all my greatest buddies on the planet. All my grownup life, I’ve appeared as much as her despite the fact that she’s youthful than me. She’s a residing, respiratory legend in our business.”

Sparks apparently began to fly after Drake’s speech, as AubRih have been noticed out after the VMAs. After which they kissed onstage throughout Drake’s Miami live performance.

“It’s anyone’s birthday at present — anyone I’ve quite a lot of love for and quite a lot of respect for,” Drake advised the group. As followers clapped and screamed, Drake continued, saying, “So, as a substitute of singing ‘Joyful birthday,’ although, we simply going to do that in Dublin. As a substitute of singing ‘Joyful Birthday,’ we’re gonna set it off identical to this…” Drake then carried out “Work.”

Drake and Rih’s romance seemingly died all the way down to the purpose the place it was awkward for them to be in a room collectively. The pair ended up at a child’s birthday celebration collectively months after Drake was rumored to be relationship Jennifer Lopez. In a video, Drake is seated on a chair whereas Rih is seen enjoying with a few of the youngsters.

In an interview with Vogue, Rihanna briefly spoke about her relationship with Drake. Vogue author Chioma Nnadi stated Rih “winced” when Drake’s title was introduced up. “Ready by means of that speech was in all probability essentially the most uncomfortable half. I don’t like too many compliments; I don’t wish to be placed on blast,” Rih stated. Rihanna was requested in regards to the present standing of her friendship with the 6 God, to which she responded, “We don’t have a friendship now, however we’re not enemies both. It’s what it’s.”

When Drake launched For All of the Canines on Oct. 6, followers began dissecting the lyrics and located attainable references to Rihanna and her relationship with A$AP Rocky. Within the “Concern of Heights” intro, Drake repeatedly says the phrase “Anti,” aka the title of Rih’s Billboard 200 No. 1 2016 album. Then, after lamenting how individuals “make it sound like [he’s] nonetheless hung up on” his ex, Drake goes on to seemingly diss Rocky with “That man, he nonetheless with you, he can’t depart you/ Y’all go on trip, I guess it’s Antilles.” (Barbados — Rihanna’s residence nation and frequent trip spot — is positioned in Lesser Antilles within the Caribbean.)

On “Virginia Seaside,” Drake spits, “Drawin’ conclusions such as you obtained a Parsons diploma or somethin’/ I coulda handled you higher, that’s loopy.” Rihanna has an honorary diploma from the Parsons Faculty of Design.

On “One other Late Evening,” Drake appears to take goal once more at A$AP Rocky. “I ain’t Fairly Flacko,” he raps, nodding to Rocky’s nickname, “Bi— this sh– get actually Rocky.”