A$AP Rocky - DON’T BE DUMB
One of the most stylish rappers of our generation is back with his first album in eight years. DON’T BE DUMB proves that A$AP Rocky hasn’t lost an ounce of his signature swagger.
A$AP Rocky hasn’t dropped a full-length since 2018, and in the intervening eight years, the musical landscape, cultural climate, and collective mood have shifted dramatically. Yet somehow, DON’T BE DUMB, his fourth studio effort, finally arrives.
The rollout was… peculiar. It was marked by delays, a string of singles that never quite found a home, and relentless fan trolling. Still, it would be unfair to say Rocky wasted that time: DON’T BE DUMB manages to sound eclectic, adding fresh experimentation to his discography while nodding back to familiar sonic motifs. The two singles that preceded the album — “PUNK ROCKY” and “HELICOPTER” — offered only a glimpse of what listeners can expect in full. The first leaned experimental, grabbing the attention of a broader audience, while the second targeted the streaming charts. In the end, it’s reassuring that the album offers far more breadth than standard trap bangers.
The album’s true strength lies in Rocky asserting his creative sovereignty. Take the bone-crunching highlight “STFU”, a brash, aggressive, and utterly compelling homage to Death Grips. It serves as a fearless rejoinder to the rumors that have dogged him in recent years. With support from the Slay Squad, Rocky reaches a zenith where the refrain “Shut the fuck up” becomes the definitive response to the media noise. And, of course, Rocky never shies away from calling out his peers. “STOLE YA FLOW” is a shameless Drake diss, with Rakim openly boasting about snatching Rihanna from his rival—a claim he later clarifies as stemming from personal betrayal.
Musical variety becomes the album’s secret weapon. The double-track “DON’T BE DUMB / TRIP BABY” samples Clairo, shifting from a languid, melodic first half to a high-octane trap frenzy reminiscent of Rocky’s mid-2010s peak. On “WHISKEY (RELEASE ME)”, he ventures into techno before segueing into “ROBBERY”, a jazz-inflected dialogue with the exceptionally talented Doechii, delivering one of the album’s standout performances.
Tracks like “STOP SNITCHING”, “AIR FORCE (BLACK DEMARCO)”, and “NO TRESPASSING” sustain the album’s relentless flexing. Rocky glides across beats with confidence and freshness, his unstoppable energy eliciting literal chills. While DON’T BE DUMB may not boast groundbreaking songwriting, and some thematic elements feel familiar, the production and delivery elevate the work — this is a release that begs to be replayed.
The album closes with the epic “THE END”, a collaboration with American folk artist Jessica Pratt. It marks their second pairing, both of which hit an exceptional level. Rocky has long expressed a love for alternative music, and his collaborations with Florence Welch, Tame Impala, Lana Del Rey, and FKA twigs demonstrate a refined approach that can rejuvenate any partnership.
Eight years on, A$AP Rocky still surprises. DON’T BE DUMB may not be his magnum opus, but it remains an unforgettable experience, blending daring experimentation with the lush, familiar sound fans adore. It reaffirms that Rocky’s signature swagger remains intact—every second of the wait was worth it.
8.1/10
