Rapper A$AP Rocky released his long-awaited fourth studio album “Don’t Be Dumb,” on Jan. 16, brimming with unconventional beats and a mix of genres. Since his last project, “Testing,” in 2018, Rocky has had a busy eight years, managing his kids with Rihanna, dealing with internal conflicts in his gang and facing accusations that he shot former A$AP Mob member, A$AP Relli. Although Rocky claims that “Don’t Be Dumb” was finished in 2022, these complications pushed the release date back years, killing the anticipation for the album.
This album was a chance for Rocky to experiment with both his beats and his use of features. “PUNK ROCKY” features rock beats mixed with rap and vocals with a distinct reverb effect, the instrumental reminiscent of Rocky’s 2018 single “Sundress.” Similar to his previous album, Rocky continues to diverge from traditional rap songs, with the track “ROBBERY” mixing jazzy piano with rap. The song, featuring rapper Doechii, shows the two artists acting as robbers. Their natural chemistry along with witty dialogue, clever sexual innuendos and environmental noise, like people screaming in the background and guns loading, creates a unique and enjoyable song reminiscing of an old-fashioned heist.
The featured artists continue to add to the album’s diversity on the fifth track, “STAY HERE 4 LIFE.” Rocky, who dominates many of his rap songs in the album, takes a backseat to the catchy and melodic voice of R&B singer Brent Faiyaz, so much so that Rocky seems like the feature. Instead of closing the song with a chorus, Rocky includes a voice message to the public, countering the backlash against his marriage with Rihanna saying, “Seems to feel that you’re disappointed / ‘Cause I’m takin’ this latest relationship step that I’ve taken.” Along with “INTERROGATION,” this is the second song on the album to adopt a closing voicemail where Rocky expresses his feelings directly to the audience about his love life and the quality of his music. Ironically, this song then leads into “PLAYA,” subverting expectations and contrasting with his previous statement that he isn’t a player. He utilizes this song to redefine what player behavior is, breaking social norms around how rappers should treat their love life. Connecting this message to his relationship with Rihanna, he emphasizes the importance of taking care of your kids and rejecting detachment.
Even though a lot of Rocky’s experimental tracks work well in the album, some fail in their execution. The song “STFU” has a party disco beat that tries to cooperate with Slay Squad screaming into the microphone, resulting in a near unlistenable track. “AIR FORCE (BLACK DEMARCO)” has fast-paced, paranormal beats that sound closer to a Geometry Dash song. The track also lacks unique elements, joining “STFU” as forgettable and unnecessary. Rocky tries to put two songs into one on “DON’T BE DUMB/TRIP BABY,” with the second part of the song a complete downgrade from the first’s melodies, which stand out for their dreamlike tone. However, unlike the underwhelming skips, the awkward instrumental and the abrupt beat switch make this song regrettably memorable.
“Don’t Be Dumb” is filled with experimental songs, most of them enjoyable. Even though the album isn’t Rocky’s best work, the project marks the artist’s comeback into the music industry after years of anticipation. The tracks reaffirm Rocky’s versatile nature seen in previous albums and mark a potential change in his future projects as he embraces his role as a family man. With his return to the music industry, listeners can expect him to produce more refined songs while continuing to push the boundaries of traditional rap music.
Rating: 3.5/5
