At long last, A$AP Rocky has returned. His fourth outing ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ is an album that many hip hop fans will have had listed as one of their most hotly anticipated albums of 2024, but a string of leaks and sample clearance issues kept pushing the project back. Now, Rocky shows that the wait was worth it.
The chorus of album opener Order of Protection addresses the delays immediately. Rocky isn't stupid, and he sure as hell hasn’t been off grid, so he’s likely hyper aware of the backlash he’s been receiving — almost feels like an admission of guilt, paired with reassurances that he’s not missed a step. He raps: “It’s been a lil’ while since I been in the league / A couple lil’ trials, couple of leaks / Still in the field like I’m runnin’ in cleats / Last time I checked, we still in the lead.”
As ever, it's Rocky’s charm and charisma that makes ‘Don't Be Dumb’ so enjoyable, whether he’s taking retaliatory potshots at Drake on Stole Ya Flow, or gloating about his happy life as a married father on Playa, his style is immaculate.
His ability to switch flows is as sharp as ever and he turns in some of his best performances to date.
The other feather in the LP’s cap is in its stylistic shifts. There’s the trap-infused modern hip hop that he feels like such a crucial part of, but there are also jazz motifs towards the back half of the record. There are indie rock jams, there’s R&B smoothness. While the sequencing can feel a bit blocky, it’s all cohesive enough in its Rocky-ness.
But this isn’t a strictly solo venture and most of the highlights come from the features. Doechii further cements the hype around the year she’s going to have with an elastic verse on Robbery, while Brent Faiyaz makes Stay Here 4 Life utterly irresistible. Gorillaz help Whiskey (Release Me) soar to genre-busting heights, although Westside Gunn’s feature being limited only to adlibs feels like a missed opportunity.
The wait was frustrating, but ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ makes up for it by comfortably being A$AP Rocky’s most complete album since his debut 13 years ago. More than that, it feels like the culmination of a career spent searching for different sounds and approaches to hip hop, showing that fortune really does favour the brave.
A$AP Rocky Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sun August 30 2026 - LONDON O2 Arena
Wed September 02 2026 - DUBLIN 3Arena
Fri September 04 2026 - GLASGOW OVO Hydro
Sat September 05 2026 - MANCHESTER Co-op Live
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