Naomi Osaka is at the top of her game. She is a four-time Grand Slam winner, a two-time Australian Open champion, and in January 2023, she announced that she was expecting her first child with her boyfriend of nearly four years, Grammy-nominated rapper Cordae. The couple would go on to welcome their new daughter Shai that July. The new parents effortlessly serve serious couple goals, and Cordae is impressive in his own right. So, if you're obsessing over Naomi RN, you'll probably want to learn more about her SO, too. Here's everything you need to know about Cordae.
Naomi shared the most adorable picture of her and Cordae's new daughter, Shai.
The tennis champion took to Instagram with an adorable postpartum photo dump, and baby girl Shai was the star of the show. While her face was hidden in Naomi's first pic, the newborn sported an adorable white outfit with a black, green, and pink tennis racket with adorable green tennis balls. The new mom captioned her post, "Well that was a cool little intermission, now back to your regularly scheduled program 🎾✌🏾💕.
He revealed their new daughter's name during a concert.
A proud new dad, Cordae graced the stage as part of his NF-HOPE tour and dedicated his performance to his new baby girl. A concertgoer tweeted a video of the rapper as he gushed, "My daughter Shai was born just a few days ago." Before Cordae began his next song, he said that he would be dedicating his performance to "my baby girl Shai.” Awww!
Cordae and Naomi are new parents to a baby girl.
Congrats are in order for this superstar couple. According to People, Naomi and Cordae welcomed a baby girl in Los Angeles. Reps for the couple confirmed that both Naomi and her newborn daughter "are doing well."
The couple first announced that they were expecting their first child together in January and revealed that they were having a baby girl at their princess-themed baby shower in June.
He's supportive.
Naomi announced ahead of the 2021 French Open that she would not be participating in any press during the tournament. "I've often felt that people have no regard for athletes' mental health and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one," she wrote in an Instagram post. "I hope the considerable amount that I get fined for this will go towards a mental health charity."
Cordae, of course, was extremely supportive of this decision. He reposted Naomi's message to his Instagram Stories, writing "THE ONE!" above it.
A few days later, after being fined $15,000 for missing her first press appearance, Naomi announced she would be withdrawing from the tournament.
"The best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris," she said in a statement posted to Instagram. "I never wanted to be a distraction and accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer. More importantly, I would never trivialize mental health or use the term lightly."
Cordae was right there, as always, ready to support her. "No need to apologize to ANYBODY!" he commented on the post.
He dropped everything to help her.
Naomi revealed in an "appreciation post" for Cordae that he is as supportive as a partner should be. According to Naomi, while quarantining during the US Open last year, she FaceTimed Cordae and told him she was feeling "sad and lonely."
"I later found out that he hopped on a plane shortly after that call and then quarantined himself for a couple days in a hotel to see me and support," she wrote. O
Naomi also included a video of Cordae's reaction when she won the tournament and his pride for his GF is so evident. If you need me, I'll be watching this vid over and over again.
He's from Maryland.
Cordae was born Cordae Dunston and grew up in Suitland, Maryland. He actually used to work at TGI Fridays in Baltimore, though he said in an interview that he didn't like it and knew he was "meant to do something bigger."
He's a Grammy-nominated rapper.
Cordae has come a long way from TGI Fridays. In 2019, he was nominated for two Grammys, one for Best Rap Album for his debut album The Lost Boy and one for Best Rap Song for, "Bad Idea."
He was in the YBN Crew.
Up until recently, Cordae was actually part of the YBN Collective, which he joined in 2018 when he was 21. While in the group, Cordae went by the name, YBN Cordae. The group, which was formed by YBN Nahmir released YBN: The Mixtape together, before disbanding in 2020 to work on solo projects.
He wasn't always a tennis fan.
Cordae revealed to Ebro in the Morning that he met Naomi at a Los Angeles Clippers game. "I didn't even know who she was," he admitted. "I know Serena Williams. When you think about tennis, I just know Serena Williams." Of course, one of the hosts of the radio show pointed out that Naomi has beaten Serena.
According to TMZ Sports, Naomi and Cordae got together around April 2019, though they didn't make a public appearance together until December 2019 when they returned to a Clippers game, this time as a couple.
But now he is so supportive of her.
It's safe to say that Cordae probably considers himself to be a tennis fan these days, or at least a Naomi fan. The rapper is super supportive of his GF and is constantly posting about her. When she won the 2020 US Open, he was right be her side.
He could also be seen flashing Naomi's three Grand Slam wins after her victory.
They love showing off their love on Insta.
These days, Noami and Cordae are always posting about each other on social media and they are seriously too cute.
For Cordae's 23rd birthday in August, Naomi wrote the sweetest message. "I always feel so lucky to be in your life and to be continuously learning from you." she said. "I‘m so grateful that I can talk to you about anything and ask for advice (cause you know I need all the help I can get lol). I love that you lay down and wait for me to go to sleep before you go record. Etc because the list goes on forever... I hope you’re having the best birthday, I’m sad I can’t be there but I’ll make it up to you 😖 happy 23rd, I love you @cordae ❤️."
He's an activist.
Naomi has been known to use her platform to support the Black Lives Matter movement, and he boyfriend is no different. Back in July, following the killing of Breonna Taylor, Cordae traveled to Louisville, Kentucky to join protestors in a demonstration outside of the Kentucky Attorney General's home. While there, he was arrested, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal, along with 86 other people.
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Carolyn Twersky is an associate editor for Seventeen covering celebrities, entertainment, politics, trends, and health. On her off time, she's probably watching Ru Paul's Drag Race, traversing NYC for the best donuts, or, most likely, enjoying time in her favorite place in the world: her bed.
Jasmine Washington is an Assistant Editor at Seventeen, where she covers celebrity news, beauty, lifestyle, and more. For the past decade, she has worked for media outlets, including BET, MadameNoire, VH1, and many others, where she used her voice to tell stories across various verticals. Follow her on Instagram.
