Who is Naomi Osaka’s Ex-Boyfriend: Everything to Know About the Rapper and Dad to Her Daughter

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Cordae, Naomi Osaka’s ex-boyfriend and the father of her daughter, is more than just a name once linked to the tennis champion. He’s a Grammy-nominated rapper, an Emmy recipient, a man who once flew across the country to support Osaka in a lonely bubble, and someone who treasured quiet love over social validation.

Their bond started with a Clippers game, grew through shared workouts, late-night cooking, and mutual respect, and eventually brought their daughter Shai into the world in 2023. Despite a public breakup in January 2025, Osaka holds no bitterness, calling Cordae part of her growth.

He’s performed with H.E.R., toured Europe, designed Met Gala looks, and even received personal praise from Barack and Michelle Obama. Reserved, reflective, and intensely private, Cordae remains a crucial chapter in Osaka’s personal story.

From Courtside to Connection: How Their Story Began

Cordae and Osaka met privately and dated quietly. Their first date was at a Clippers game in 2019, and the rapper later revealed their first kiss happened in Indian Wells, California. “We were dating for almost a year before people even knew,” Cordae once said (via PEOPLE), explaining their shared value for privacy. Their connection wasn’t performative. It was real, contained, and theirs alone.

In 2020, when Osaka called him from the US Open bubble saying she felt “sad and lonely,” Cordae didn’t just respond with comfort—he flew out immediately and quarantined in a hotel to be with her. She hadn’t asked him to come, but he came anyway. That moment defined how he showed love: quietly, and with full presence.

Music, Growth, and Praise from Obama

Cordae’s artistry stretches beyond rap. He’s worked with H.E.R., Anderson .Paak, and Young Thug. His sophomore album Bird’s Eye View drew public admiration from Osaka herself. “Getting closer to someone and seeing how much love and dedication they put into their craft is truly inspiring,” she wrote on Instagram. He’s also an Emmy winner for his work on We the People, a project supported by Barack and Michelle Obama, who personally wrote to commend his efforts.

Life With Osaka: A Daughter, Shared Workouts, and Homemade Biscuits

In January 2023, Osaka announced they were expecting. Their daughter Shai was born in July, her name meaning “God’s gift.” They raised her with mutual intention. “We just respect each other’s opinions,” Osaka said in December 2023 (via InStyle). Cordae loved her cooking, especially her fried chicken and mac and cheese, and worked out with her regularly. In 2021, he even posted before-and-after gym progress photos, saying the album-making process had made him “more self-aware than ever.”

A Met Gala, A Tour, and A Quiet Goodbye

Cordae isn’t just a musician; he’s fashion-forward and introspective. He attended Dior’s Spring/Summer 2023 show and the Met Gala in custom Coach, saying (via PEOPLE) he was “really happy with the final product.” He wrapped up his first European tour in October 2022, thanking fans with understated gratitude.

By October 2023, fans noticed Osaka had deleted photos of him from Instagram Story. In January 2025, she confirmed the breakup: “Cordae and I are no longer in a relationship.” She made it clear there’s no resentment. “Honestly really glad our paths crossed… my daughter is my biggest blessing.”Cordae admitted he wasn’t into tennis before meeting Osaka. “If you asked me about tennis, I could only give you Venus and Serena,” he said. His first match was the US Open in 2019. In 2020, even after staying in the bubble with Osaka, she joked, “He still doesn’t understand the rules.”

Cordae’s story, in relation to Osaka, wasn’t centered on headlines. It was built on subtlety, quiet support, and meaningful choices. Their paths may have parted, but his role in that chapter of her life was deeply imprinted.