After a seven-year hiatus, artist A$AP Rocky has released his highly anticipated album, Don’t Be Dumb. A$AP Rocky, known for his charisma, experimental fashion, and leadership in the hip-hop collective group, ASAP Mob, is also a pioneer in the avant-garde, “Cloud Rap” music scene. His music debut in 2011 was monumental, giving listeners a new mix of Trap, Hip-Hop, 90’s throwbacks, and psychedelic rap all wrapped up into one album. Since his first release, A$AP Rocky has consistently been making music, but has taken a break to focus on his budding family with artist and entrepreneur Rihanna.
While Don’t Be Dumb shares the same experimental and alternative feel of rap as his past albums, his latest release ventures into even more new genres, including classic rock and indie music. The aesthetic of his album has also shifted from his previous work. Even the title conveys a different vibe, with his past albums all sharing similar names: LIVE.LOVE.A$AP, LONG.LIVE.A$AP, AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP, and TESTING. The use of capital letters in all his past albums expresses a more urgent and excited theme to his album, whereas Don’t Be Dumb is a more toned-down and mature album name. The album art is also vastly different, including colorful and trippy designs drawn by iconic director Tim Burton, differing from his past covers, which are black and white and include imagery of the American flag or A$AP Rocky himself. These different stylistic choices all aid in telling listeners to expect something different, brighter, and more experienced with Don’t Be Dumb.
As for the music within the album, A$AP Rocky included Disc 1 and Disc 2, separating the album. Disc 1 contains the majority of the album, with fifteen songs total. The album starts with the song “ORDER OF PROTECTION,” which touches on his hiatus, his previous legal issues, and his overall assertion that he is back in the music industry. The vibe of the song feels moody, with a heavy synth beat and a confident tone. A$AP Rocky’s first track was good, but it didn’t stick out to me. While I appreciated some of his lyrics, the song itself felt like something I’ve heard before.
As the album goes on, A$AP Rocky carries a consistent vibe of maturity due to his fatherhood, as well as musical experimentation, mixing rap with R&B and psychedelic tracks. While his previous album touches on more youthful experiences, Don’t Be Dumb feels more mature and sophisticated, while keeping his experimental and moody flair.
My favorite song from the new release was “DON’T BE DUMB/TRIP BABY.” This song reminded me of his previous signature moody rap, which I love. The song is split into 2 parts, with the first one being a bit slower and more aligned with his “Cloud Rap” style. The song talks about A$AP Rocky wishing he could see his partner, Rihanna, while dealing with difficult charges and court trials. The second portion of the song ends on an upbeat note.
Overall, I enjoyed the album and new sounds A$AP Rocky experimented with, but I prefer his older work. He has created a distinct sound throughout the years, and while I appreciate his ventures into different genres, nothing can top some of his iconic past work.