The wait is finally over as A$AP Rocky has officially ended the eight-year album hiatus with DON’T BE DUMB. The highly anticipated album broke records before even hitting the charts, with more than 130k vinyls sold ahead of release and over one million Spotify pre-saves, claiming the top spot on Spotify for hip-hop pre-saves.
DON’T BE DUMB is the culmination of various genres, styles, and artists coming together to create music, as the tracklist boasts notable collaborators such as BossMan Dlow, Brent Faiyaz, Doechii, Gorillaz, Jon Batiste, Jessica Pratt, Slay Squad, Tyler, The Creator, Westside Gunn, will.i.am, and more.
The pre-release singles 'Punk Rocky' and 'Helicopter' gave fans a captivating glimpse into what the rest of the album would be like. 'Punk Rocky' introduced the six alter egos that DON’T BE DUMB would feature, including GR1M, MR. MAYERS, RUGAHAND, BABUSHKA BOI, DUMMY, and SHIRTHEAD, setting the stage for the overarching narrative that each song aligned with. The music video for the track featured appearances from Danny Elfman, Thundercat, and even Winona Ryder. The six alter egos also make an appearance on the remarkable album cover that was created by the legendary Tim Burton.
'Helicopter', on the other hand, strays away from the alternative rap style that 'Punk Rocky' has, going in a more classic hip-hop route instead. Sticking with the overall bizarre and surreal direction the background story of the album created, the visuals that accompanied the track played out like a retro video game. With lyrics like, “Take my white tee off, spin it like a helicopter,” the track definitely created buzz among fans for what lay ahead with DON’T BE DUMB.
Partnering with Quince and Bilt, Rocky releases exclusive DON’T BE DUMB vinyls that extend the album’s creative vision, blending music, design, and culture, cementing his identity as a multi-faceted artist, entrepreneur, actor, and fashion icon.
With DON’T BE DUMB, A$AP Rocky not only ends his eight-year album drought but also delivers a genre-defying, visually rich, and culturally immersive experience. From record-breaking vinyl sales and Spotify pre-saves to collaborations with an eclectic mix of artists and visionary creatives, the album cements Rocky’s reputation as a boundary-pushing artist whose influence extends far beyond music.
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