Was A$AP Rocky’s “Don’t Be Dumb” Worth the Wait?
Image Courtesy of Rolling Stone
By Joey Brasco
Nearly eight years have passed between A$AP Rocky’s last album, 2018’s Testing, and his latest album, Don’t Be Dumb. In that time, sporadic singles and his highly publicized relationship with Rihanna have kept him in the limelight, yet fans were left waiting for a new album statement from Pretty Flacko. Confoundingly, the rollout for this record has seemingly stemmed all the way back to 2019, with the cover art of the single “Babushka Boi” featuring the character of the same name, who is also featured on Don’t Be Dumb’s Tim Burton-designed cover.
An abrupt announcement at the end of 2025, followed quickly by singles “PUNK ROCKY” and “HELICOPTER,” made the long-sought-after release tangible, and this past Friday, January 16th, the album was finally released. The record follows in the eclectic, experimental footsteps of the aptly-named Testing, and showcases Rocky’s diverse taste in styles and vibes. This is reflected by the alter-egos featured on the album art. GR1M, equipped with pink hair rollers and a microphone, has been the character leading Rocky’s aesthetics for the immediate album rollout, with Rocky donning the curls for his recent SNL musical performance. Hardcore fans will likely pick apart which album is responsible for each song on the tracklist, but as a general rule of thumb, listeners can expect an album unencumbered by genre and free to explore all of Rocky’s artistic whims.
The lead single, “PUNK ROCKY,” will remind longtime fans of the indie-rock aesthetics of “Sundress,” which is similarly fashioned with washed-out, ethereal melodies and driving percussion. It’s a simple formula, but Rocky’s charisma and sticky melodies carry the song enough for it to stand out as one of the best on the record.
Fans of Rocky’s harder tunes will be pleased to hear the aggressive trap thump of “HELICOPTER” and “STOLE YA FLOW.” The latter will undoubtedly propel much of the discourse surrounding this album, as it has clear allusions to a former friend turned foe, Drake. Many people will remember Rocky as a satellite combatant in the infamous Kendrick and Drake rap battle from 2024, and he has seemingly dipped his toes back into those treacherous waters once more. Flacko has denied the track being a direct shot at Drizzy, stating, “It’s for whoever thinks it’s about them,” in an interview he did with the New York Times. That is all well and good; however, the provocative chorus definitely will have listeners’ minds drift toward Drake, who was rumoured to be a paramour of Rihanna before A$AP. Rocky claims “My baby mama Rihanna, so we unbothered,” on the track, but tensions seemingly have not died down in the aftermath of 2024’s rap schism.
Thankfully, the deeper cuts on Don’t Be Dumb exist beyond rap drama and showcase Rocky’s ability to lend his charisma and artistic vision across multiple styles. “STAY HERE 4 LIFE,” a surefire hit, is an easy-going love anthem assisted by an excellent feature from Brent Faiyaz. Not one to get too bogged down in the lovey-dovey, Rocky pads out the tracklist with the back-to-back bangers of “NO TRESPASSING” and “STOP SNITCHING.” Both feature heavy production and smooth flows from Rocky, filled with bravado and catchy bars.
The second half of the record is where the experimentation truly takes form, for better and for worse. “STFU”, for example, is truly out of control! With pummeling production and disjointed vocals, this track will likely emerge as the most divisive on the album. The hilariously titled “AIR FORCE (BLACK DEMARCO)” is equally frenetic, as the verses find Rocky rapping over glitchy production before an abrupt transition where Rocky is crooning over softer and smoother production. Both moments are enjoyable on their own, but fail to come together cohesively.
With help from some musical guests, the latter experiments on this record make for some of the most exciting moments in the tracklist. “WHISKEY (RELEASE ME)’s” hazy atmosphere is boosted by the melancholic croon of Damon Albarn (Gorillaz), as well as the unmistakable “BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!” adlibs courtesy of Griselda’s Westside Gunn. On “ROBBERY,” Rocky and Doechii trade bars over elegant jazz instrumentation while spinning a narrative of lust and larceny. It is a moment on the album that is as cinematic as it is surprising, and would have made for a truly impactful final statement in the tracklist. Reminiscent of the free jazz pieces on Kendrick Lamar’s classic To Pimp a Butterfly, this track showcases the versatile talent and immense charisma of both Rocky and Doechii.
While the final moments of Don’t Be Dumb are not bad by any means, they lack the impact of previous tracks. The first half of “DON’T BE DUMB / TRIP BABY” is another washed-out alternative jam, but it lacks a tight song structure and is bookended by a meandering rap verse. The fittingly titled “THE END” serves as a mildly ominous end to the record, with the droning “this is the way the world ends,” a vocal sample that seems a bit on the nose. Oddly, the album also features two bonus tracks, “SWAT TEAM” and “FISH N STEAK (WHAT IT IS),” the former featuring Tyler, the Creator. While it’s nice to get a collab from the two friends, any of the loosie singles released in the years leading up to this album would have made for better bonus track inclusions.
Don’t Be Dumb is an intentionally mixed bag. The classic, aggressive rap tracks go over as well as one would expect from a rapper of A$AP’s talent level, and the moments where he experiments with genre and style go over well most of the time. However, a shaky end and arduous rollout will likely leave many asking, “Is this it?” Hopefully, the follow-up will not take as long to materialize, and we can move forward with the exciting new experimental grounds covered on this release.
