A lifetime later…

A$AP Rocky’s fourth studio album opens up with the line, “It’s been a lil’ while since I been in the league,” and it couldn’t ring any truer. Since the release of his last album, TESTING, eight years ago, a lot has happened in the Harlem rapper’s personal life. From being involved in a high-profile assault case – the widely known Sweden incident – to becoming a father of three with longtime partner Rihanna. Pair that with multiple song leaks, and it explains the many delays and setbacks this project has faced.

Some context on the album’s rollout – the project was tentatively rumored to be titled ALL SMILES. In a 2021 GQ interview, A$AP Rocky described the album as a “ghetto love tale” that would take a “way more mature” direction. The following year, “D.M.B” dropped alongside a music video starring both Rocky and Rihanna, parading their love throughout New York City. All signs pointed to the album rollout having fully commenced – but that wasn’t the case, it appears the project went through major conceptual changes judging from what we now have with Don’t Be Dumb, though it isn’t entirely removed from what was originally planned.

Don’t Be Dumb feels like a tale of two halves. The first half leans toward a more traditional Hip-Hop sound, while the second half takes a more experimental route, all while not losing itself in it’s course. I bring this up because A$AP Rocky’s 2018 TESTING is literally what it’s title suggests – an experimental record that was received with mixed reviews. Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with that album. TESTING‘s biggest issue is it’s inconsistency in the tracklist and lack of identity, riddled with odd features. Don’t Be Dumb already seems to learn from those past shortcomings, presenting a more organized tracklist with consistent pacing, even when the record leaps into it’s more experimental counterpart.

A$AP Rocky’s newest record opens up with the eerie “ORDER OF PROTECTION,” a solid intro where Rocky announces his return while acknowledging the setbacks he’s faced along the way – while also reminding people he’s still got it. I describe the track as eerie because of the background vocals that fade in and out. They feel straight out of something like The Nightmare Before Christmas, which is in no coincidence. American filmmaker Tim Burton had a heavy hand in this project as creative director, helping with the album art and influencing the sonic direction of the record. That influence is further proven on songs like “STOLE YA FLOW” and “THE END.” A$AP Rocky and Tim Burton is a random collaboration, but it’s one that makes sense.

Moving further down the tracklist, we get more solid cuts like the fiery “STOLE YA FLOW,” which seemingly serves as a Drake diss. When A$AP Rocky was asked whether the song was directed at Drake, there was no denial. As much as I’m enjoying Drake getting a taste of his own medicine, it’s starting to feel a bit overplayed. Are we all just going to diss Drake now? Still, it’s a great track with hard-hitting bars over an industrial-sounding beat. The momentum carries on to the fan-favorite “STAY HERE 4 LIFE” featuring Maryland’s own Brent Faiyaz. There’s no bigger guarantee in life than a catchy, hypnotic Brent Faiyaz feature. On this track, Rocky taps back into his Pretty Flacko alter ego, leaning into one of his greatest strengths: charisma. It feels different this time – more mature and heartfelt. Where Rocky once boasted about experiences with multiple women, this song now serves as a love letter and tribute to his current partner

These tracks all tap into the formula of A$AP Rocky’s biggest hits, but now delivered from a new perspective. You have to keep in mind that his life has drastically changed since his last record, so the lyrics and messaging are bound to shift with it – that’s just the nature of growth and art.

I will say that “NO TRESPASSING” is personally the most disappointing cut in Don’t Be Dumb. The first twenty seconds had me excited, opening with a back-and-forth between Rocky and his former alter-ego reminiscent of the LONG.LIVE.A$AP era. Unfortunately, the song never reaches that moment of hype it hints at. Instead it becomes a song that hints to this bigger moment which never arrives. Rocky’s flow remains stagnant throughout, making it one of those tracks that could’ve benefitted heavily from a feature at least to spice things up.

Moving into the second half of Don’t Be Dumb, we’re met with a more experimental run of songs. A highlight here is the albums first single, “PUNK ROCKY,” released alongside a dystopian music video starring Winona Ryder. When “PUNK ROCKY” first dropped, I wasn’t particularly moved – the excitement mostly came from the fact that Rocky was finally gearing up to release the album. Sitting with it in the context of the full record, though, I think I finally get it. “PUNK ROCKY” draws inspiration from one of Rocky’s biggest hits, “Sundress,” an interpolation of Tame Impala’s “Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind?” Sonically, it isn’t a huge leak from Rocky’s cloud rap beginnings, with it’s psychedelic textures and guitar plucks. That said, “PUNK ROCKY” ends up being the most experimental track on the album, which is slightly disappointing considering Don’t Be Dumb was marketed as leaning heavily in that direction.

Before “PUNK ROCKY,” we’re hit with “STFU” featuring Slay Squad – a clear rage cut that’s almost guaranteed to be a mosh pit staple on Rocky’s upcoming tour. The song draws inspiration from the punk-rap movement represented by artists like Paris Texas, Zelooperz, and Jean Dawson. One lyric that stands out goes, “They say Haitians eatin’ cats, I make sure my dogs eat,” clearly referencing the 2024 hoax pushed by far-right activists claiming Haitian immigrants in Springfield were eating cats. That line alone takes me out of the song every time.

My favorite track on the album by far is the cozy “WHISKEY (RELEASE ME)” featuring Westside Gunn and 2-D from virtual band Gorillaz. The song moves through multiple phases, starting with a woozy deliver before transitioning into an upbeat Rocky with a hypnotic flow. It all builds up to an outro made up almost entirely of ad-libs from Westside Gunn and 2-D harmonizing over the instrumental. It might sound like a mess on paper, but it’s an incredibly immersive listen. “ROBBERY” sees A$AP Rocky and Doechii run through a heist montage on this jazz-inspired cut. Both artists deliver seductive flows, piggybacking off each other’s verses with clear chemistry. It feels like a redemption of sorts for “Brotha Man” from TESTING, which featured French Montana – both songs using jazz elements and presenting themselves with these elegant, rich flows. Although, this time executed far better. A$AP Rocky seems intent on refining his craft.

An observation I had with the second half of this record is how formulaic some of the tracks tend to be. On songs like “AIR FORCE (BLACK DEMARCO),” “STAY HERE 4 LIFE,” and “DON’T BE DUMB,” we hear similar transitions into moments of psychedelic bliss where Rocky delivers a melodic flow. While I enjoyed these moments, the pattern becomes noticeable. Hopefully, future releases won’t see Rocky leaning on this same approach every time he decides to go that direction sonically.

We finally arrive at the closer, “THE END,” which features rare appearances from will.i.am and Jessica Pratt. The track addresses ongoing global issues like global warming before shifting into a daunting minute-and-a-half verse from Jessica Pratt. Unfortunately, the messaging feels abrupt and somewhat out of place in the larger scale of the project’s messaging. The song’s final stretch only features Jessica Pratt, with Rocky nowhere to be found. I was hoping for a strong final statement, but instead we’re left with Pratt repeatedly singing “This is the way the world ends.” “DON’T BE DUMB/TRIP BABY” could’ve served as a stronger closer, or if the goal was to end on a Jessica Pratt-led outro, Rocky could’ve used his single “HIGHJACK,” which is a simply stronger and a more heartfelt song overall.

Verdict: Overall, Don’t Be Dumb is a return to form for the Harlem rapper. While the record doesn’t fully capitalize on it’s experimental promise, it does correct many of the inconsistencies that plagued TESTING. The album shines brightest when risks are being taken. Ultimately, some songs never quite hit their stride, making the album feel far from perfect. Still, it’s reassuring to hear A$AP Rocky sound this confident again, proving he hasn’t missed a beat after all these years.

Score: 6.5/10