A$AP Rocky – Don’t Be Dumb

Following a strong start with 2013’s LONG.LIVE.A$AP and 2015’s AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP, New York rapper A$AP Rocky has endured a difficult decade, beset by legal problems—an assault conviction in Sweden and a shooting trial in Los Angeles—and diminishing interest in his music.

Don’t Be Dumb is Rocky’s first full-length release since 2018’s lacklustre Testing, and even if the peaks are slightly higher, it soon becomes apparent that the record is plagued by the same issues that hampered its predecessor. Chief among these is a general sense of bloat. The digital release features seventeen tracks, totalling just shy of 60 minutes. At least five of these seem entirely unnecessary. 

Stylistically, Don’t Be Dumb is all over the place. Nauseating trap beats are fairly ubiquitous, but there are detours into hazy R&B (“STAY HERE 4 LIFE”), jazz-inflected rap-pop (“ROBBERY,” featuring Doechii) and something approximating indie rock (“PUNK ROCKY”). Some of these work better than others, but the clear standouts, from my perspective, are buried at the tail end of the album, perhaps as a reward for endurance. 

“THE END” features will.i.am and—amazingly—Jessica Pratt, whose ghostly vocals lend it a haunting quality akin to that of her wonderful 2024 effort Here in the Pitch. Meanwhile, the Tyler, The Creator collaboration “FISH N STEAK (WHAT IT IS)” fizzes with the raucous energy of his earlier releases, reminding us that Rocky can still deliver when the mood strikes.

Quality control has never been A$AP Rocky’s strong suit, but he remains a highly capable rapper, with a smooth, easy-to-appreciate flow. Sadly, while the relatively strong finish suggests he’s not a spent force, it is ultimately insufficient for me to recommend Don’t Be Dumb as a whole album. Rescue the highlights and move on.

Don’t Be Dumb is out now via AWGE / ASAP Worldwide / RCA.