A$AP Rocky releases first album in nearly 8 years.
Elliott Musser
Opinion Editor
A$AP Rocky has never been ordinary, whether it comes to making Billboard charting music, being a fashion icon, or acting in successful movies; his new album Don’t Be Dumb is no different. A fifteen song project, Rocky’s new album justifies the wait from his last album with an electrifying track list. The album has something for everyone as Rocky explained the album was meant to capture the different sounds you might hear moving through a city. These genres include Jazz, Hip-Hop, Metal, Indie, and R&B. Rocky described the album as “each track capturing a different block, mood, or moment.”
The Album rollout began with the release of lead single “PUNK ROCKY” on January 5, 2026 garnering 306,000 streams in its first four hours after release. Following its release the song reached number 10 on the USA Spotify chart. The song marks Rocky’s diversity as an artist, as he manages to lean into a rock vibe outside of his usual style. The single propelled the album to become the most pre-saved in Spotify history showcasing the hype behind the release.
Another song dropped before the album “HELICOPTER” received mixed emotions from fans. The song itself was well received, but a previously leaked snippet featuring Playboi Carti was snipped from the final release, disappointing some fans. Another potential controversy rose when fans accused Rocky of using AI in the music video for HELICOPTER, however Rocky dismissed the claims, instead describing the music video as “JUST GENERATIONAL”.
On January 16th after several delays, (including a court case), the album dropped. Standout tracks include the energetic Drake diss “STOLE YA FLOW”, “AIR FORCE (BLACK DEMARCO)” and “FISH N STEAK (WHAT IT IS) featuring Tyler The Creator. Other features on the album include Gorillaz, Westside Gunn and Doechii.
Overall the album represents how Rocky is changing as a person, feeling like multiple versions of himself frequently. Don’t Be Dumb is a great listen regardless of your taste in music, uniting many genres together.
