A$AP Rocky made an impressive return on Jan. 16 with his new studio album “Don’t Be Dumb.” It consists of 19 new songs and a special collaboration with Tim Burton.
Burton served as the creative director for the album, designing the album cover and the animated characters for the music video. The characters were brought to life with the touch of Burton’s distinctive style of dark fantasy and gothic horror. Burton also made a physical appearance in the official music video for “WHISKEY/BLACK DEMARCO.”
The video was full of New York aesthetics. The characters traverse through familiar landscapes, passing subway stations, delis, the Statue of Liberty and New York gift shops.
These designs truly expressed the love A$AP Rocky has for New York City. In an interview with Apple Music, the rapper explained that these characters symbolize various stages of his alter ego from 2018 to 2024, reflecting both his past and present experiences, including his upbringing in Harlem, his life during quarantine and the influence of his new family and children with Rihanna.
Like his earlier albums, the core of his music stays heavily rooted by hip-hop and his cultural background associated with the A$AP Mob group.
However, his new album evidently shows he’s experimenting with different musical elements, incorporating various techniques, including changes in rhythm and tempo and interesting melodies and sound effects on many of the songs.
As a result, “Don’t Be Dumb” functions as a hip-hop album that fuses a wide range of styles: punk rock, jazz, R&B and even metal. This novelty brings a sense of freshness, creates layers of texture and profound musical meaning, allowing it to adapt to current music trends.
A$AP Rocky described his sources of inspiration in the new album’s direction as “ghetto expressionism.” He explained that Mr. Mayers represents his current alter ego, reflecting how the experience of fatherhood has shaped his sense of self. He described himself as a “proud father,” “a family man” and an “entrepreneur.”
This identity is reflected in the lyrics of “STOLE YA FLOW,” where he sings, “Now I’m a father, my bitch badder than my toddler. My baby mama Rihanna so we unbothered. Hip-hop is my house, welcome to mi casa.”
Rather than aiming solely to please listeners, the album has received divided reviews due to its experimental nature.
Tracks such as “PUNK ROCKY” and “STFU” have rock and metal elements, creating a highly experimental sound that challenges conventional listening expectations. Meanwhile “ROBBERY,” featuring Doechii, introduces jazz influences that contribute to strong, atmospheric grooves. The lyrics are playful along with Doechii’s background adlibs.
R&B and dream pop are partially highlighted in “STAY HERE 4 LIFE” and “DON’T BE DUMB/TRIP BABY,” offering soothing melodies and airy arousal.
In contrast, tracks like “STOP SNITCHING” return to a more traditional hip-hop rhythm, paying attention to the genre’s roots.
Listeners have argued that “Don’t Be Dumb” is A$AP Rocky’s best work since his debut album, saying it has successfully carried out its experimental concept while clearly standing for his artistic ambition.
However, critics argue that some of his stylistic experiments sometimes appear forced and lack naturalness compared to his earlier works. It appears as he deliberately pursues differences in his style, striving to stand out and highlighting his uniqueness.
Overall, “Don’t Be Dumb” highlights A$AP Rocky’s passions and contributions to music in the hip-hop world. This album emphasizes exploration and expression, combining music and visual art rather than simple replications of his past successes.
