Rating: 7/10
Eight years after his last full-length studio album, “TESTING,” A$AP Rocky makes a bold return, reigniting the rap industry with “Don’t Be Dumb.”
The project was teased in early 2024, but has since suffered many delays. An arrest in Sweden, the birth of his three children and track leaks halted the planned release dates for the album.
“All of these instances gave me new material to talk about, COVID, quarantine, trials and tribulations,” Rocky said in an interview on the Popcast podcast. “Your taste level changes as you evolve and as the days go by, for me it was about what represents me in this form today.”
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The album features many artists, including Brent Faiyaz, Doechii, will.i.am and Tyler, The Creator.
“ORDER OF PROTECTION” opens the album with a bang, welcoming Rocky back to the rap game. The rapper’s flow slides smoothly on the twinkling, kaleidoscopic beat, easily grabbing the listener’s attention.
Bringing lots of buzz to the album is “STOLE YA FLOW,” a track speculated to be taking shots at and dissing old collaborator and friend, Drake. On the track, Rocky raps about another rapper stealing his flow, so he “stole his girl.” Rocky’s wife, Rihanna, previously had an on-and-off relationship with Drake.
“I started just seeing people who started out as friends and just became foes, seemed like they were unhappy for you and started sending shots,” Rocky said about the track in the Popcast interview. “It’s for whoever feels like it’s about them.”
The track is rather explosive with a drill-ish beat. The composition of the track is capturing, inducing and exploratory, allowing for an energetic vibe throughout the track. An album standout, not only for the buzz surrounding the song’s lyrics, but also for reigniting the disses and feuds towards Drake previously popularized by rapper Kendrick Lamar.
“STAY HERE 4 LIFE” and “PLAYA” are the chill R&B-ish tracks on the album. “STAY HERE 4 LIFE” features Brent Faiyaz and samples Ken Carson’s “mewtwo.” Faiyaz glides through the chorus, settling into a mellow verse. The feature doesn’t add much to the song itself, but Faiyaz’s vocals are enjoyable and warm to the ears.
“PLAYA,” featuring Thundercat, is a flaunting love song. Rocky raps and compliments a girl’s beauty and features throughout the track using basketball references such as “balling” and “shoot my shot.” The song is reminiscent of Rocky’s older tracks and style; the entrancing beat, along with the gentle raps and vocals evoke the hazy, dreamlike sound that first defined his rise to stardom.
A standout track on the album, “STFU,” was previously featured in the music video for “PUNK ROCKY.” “STFU” features Slay Squad and is an electric-metal rap song. It’s electrifying, loud and chaotic, perfect for a rave.
“STFU” is different from anything Rocky has released, and Slay Squad’s feature aids in building the hype throughout the song. With lyrics addressing rumors and media inserting themselves into both his personal and professional life, Rocky sounds less reactive and more self-aware and accepting. By turning noise and scrutiny into almost emotional raps, he can release and declare his emotions.
“ROBBERY” features Doechii and dives into jazzy, blues rap similar to the rapstress’s work and sound on her Grammy-winning mixtape, “Alligator Bites Never Heal.” It is especially reminiscent of her recent viral track, “Denial Is A River.”
The track finds the two artists in a Bonnie and Clyde situation, using the idea of a robbery to assert their dominance as individuals in the rap scene. It is fun and experimental, contributing to the maturity in sound and experimentation Rocky does on the album. Doechii’s verse, however, has been controversial and scrutinized since the album’s release, as many fans and listeners have felt it wasn’t needed on the track and “ruined” the album.
Not every moment on the album has been divisive, though. “DON’T BE DUMB / TRIP BABY” stands out for its thoughtful sampling of Clairo’s “Sinking.” The sample is seamlessly executed and was even praised by the singer herself. The first half of the song, “DON’T BE DUMB,” produced by Clams Casino, marks a 10-year gap since their last collaboration.
The transition between “DON’T BE DUMB” to “TRIP BABY” is flawless. Sounds don’t layer on top of one another, and the composition flows smoothly along with Rocky’s verses. It’s definitely the highlight of the album due to its chill, lo-fi-ish instrumentals.
On physical versions, “THE END” closes the album and ties the album together smoothly and effectively. It reflects on the current state of the world with empowering verses by Rocky and whispery vocals by Jessica Pratt. It’s a song that stops and makes you think, bringing a call to action to global issues.
“It’s hard to sing ‘sunshine, good morning’ with global warming/ Newsflash, we at war, a global warning,” Rocky raps on the track. “I don’t know if public schools servin’ real food to the students/ S— taste like institution/ How many school shootings happen in the hood?/ You’ve been serviced, ain’t inconclusive/ Ain’t plantin’ trees no more, ain’t plantin’ seeds no more/ Ain’t no birds and the bees no more, I guess it’s just me.”
Without being provocative or sounding like a social charity song, the track is enjoyable on its own, with or without the pressures of the weighty subjects and matters discussed in the song.
Digital platform editions of the album include two extra songs, “SWAT TEAM” and “FISH N STEAK (WHAT IT IS)” featuring Tyler, The Creator and Jozzy. Both tracks aren’t necessarily standouts but fit within the album’s themes and sound. Sounding familiar to his previous work, both tracks are evocative of Rocky’s previous albums and could easily fit on their track lists.
“DON’T BE DUMB” is a psychedelic body of work exploring Rocky’s life and the eight years since his last album release. The album isn’t mind-blowing or a cultural reset; the track list could’ve been cut with some of the tracks that fell flat, but it sustains Rocky’s place in the rap industry as a hit-maker and rap star.
The album cover’s artwork was done by Tim Burton and fits the album’s concept well. It’s different, weird, but eclectic and whimsical, able to captivate and bring attention to the return of the rapper and his legacy.
After an eight-year wait, “Don’t Be Dumb” proves that A$AP Rocky hasn’t lost his touch. The album balances experimentation with familiarity, blending chaotic energy, dreamy melodies and reflective moments that highlight his growth as an artist. While it may not redefine rap or shake pop culture to its core, it solidifies Rocky’s place as a creative force capable of navigating both personal reflection and the spotlight with style and maturity.
From standout collaborations to introspective tracks like “THE END,” the project is a reminder that Rocky’s evolution is just as compelling as his artistry. Even after nearly a decade, he still knows how to command attention.
