# Don't Be Dumb
**Don't Be Dumb** is the fourth studio album by the American rapper A$AP Rocky, released on January 16, 2026, and his first album in eight years, following 2018's *Testing*[1](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb/) • [2](https://www.complex.com/music/a/dimassanfiorenzo/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-review). It was announced in 2022, developed in fits and starts through multiple delays that reached meme status among fans, and it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200[3](https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-album-review-89930/) • [4](https://theweek.com/culture-life/music/reviews-ari-lennox-asap-rocky-lucinda-williams).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Artist and number | Fourth studio album by A$AP Rocky, first since *Testing* (2018)[1](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb/) |
| Release | January 16, 2026; 17 tracks and nearly an hour long[2](https://www.complex.com/music/a/dimassanfiorenzo/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-review) • [5](https://www.metacritic.com/music/dont-be-dumb/aap-rocky/critic-reviews) |
| Labels | AWGE / ASAP Worldwide / RCA[1](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb/) |
| Artwork | Designed by Tim Burton, depicting various Rocky alter egos; Danny Elfman co-produced "Stole Ya Flow"[2](https://www.complex.com/music/a/dimassanfiorenzo/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-review) |
| Chart result | Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200[4](https://theweek.com/culture-life/music/reviews-ari-lennox-asap-rocky-lucinda-williams) |
| Critical reception | Metacritic metascore 71 (generally favorable, 9 of 13 reviews positive, none negative); Pitchfork scored it 6.8[5](https://www.metacritic.com/music/dont-be-dumb/aap-rocky/critic-reviews) • [1](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb/) |
| Guests | Tyler, the Creator, Hans Zimmer, Jessica Pratt, Damon Albarn, Doechii, will.i.am, Brent Faiyaz, Sauce Walka, Westside Gunn, and others[6](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jan/16/asap-rocky-album-dont-be-dumb-review) • [3](https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-album-review-89930/) |
## Background and rollout
The album has been discussed publicly since around 2021, and Rocky announced its title in 2022[2](https://www.complex.com/music/a/dimassanfiorenzo/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-review) • [3](https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-album-review-89930/). In the years between albums, Rocky released scattered one-off singles, including "Riot (Rowdy Pipe'n)" with [Pharrell Williams](https://www.edgepedia.org/pharrell-williams) in 2023 and "Tailor Swif" in 2024, while his public profile grew through his relationship with Rihanna, with whom he has three children, and through acting roles in *If I Had Legs I'd Kick You* and [Spike Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/spike-lee)'s *Highest 2 Lowest*[3](https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-album-review-89930/) • [6](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jan/16/asap-rocky-album-dont-be-dumb-review).
**An eventful interim.** A Los Angeles jury found Rocky not guilty in February 2025 of two charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, a felony carrying a potential sentence of over 20 years behind bars[1](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb/). The trial and the long gap between albums became organizing material for the record itself, which frequently addresses leaks, litigation, and his public image[2](https://www.complex.com/music/a/dimassanfiorenzo/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-review) • [7](https://exclaim.ca/music/article/a-ap-rocky-don-t-be-dumb-album-review).
The final tracklist diverged from what Rocky had promised. Earlier singles such as "HIGHJACK", "Tailor Swif", and "Ruby Rosary" do not appear, and producers he had hyped in the run-up, including Pharrell, Madlib, and [Metro Boomin](https://www.edgepedia.org/metro-boomin), are absent from the tracklist[2](https://www.complex.com/music/a/dimassanfiorenzo/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-review).
## Sound and themes
*Don't Be Dumb* tries two directions at once: it removes some of the ponderous avant-garde experiments of *Testing* and restores the playful, confrontational attitude of his 2013 debut *Long.Live.A$AP*, while the production is also informed by the quicker tempos that came into fashion during Rocky's hiatus[6](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jan/16/asap-rocky-album-dont-be-dumb-review) • [1](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb/). Its strongest beats, on tracks such as "Swat Team" (produced with Kelvin Krash, KayCyy, and [SpaceGhostPurrp](https://www.edgepedia.org/spaceghostpurrp)) and Rocky's own "No Trespassing" and "Air Force (Black Demarco)", are built on palpitating drums and relentless forward motion[1](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb/).
The genre range is wide. "STFU" is a hardcore track recorded with the self-described "ghetto metal" band Slay Squad; "[Punk Rocky](https://www.edgepedia.org/punk-rocky)", an emo-leaning collaboration with singer Cristoforo Donadi, served as the first single, a restrained alt-rock song built on a dream-pop riff; "The End", the closing track, pairs topical bars from Rocky and will.i.am with alt-folk vocals from [Jessica Pratt](https://www.edgepedia.org/jessica-pratt-musician)[3](https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-album-review-89930/) • [8](https://apnews.com/article/64e52a39c536afbc06c1cabc3a8eba34).
**Family and fame.** Several songs reflect Rocky's life as a father and partner. "Stay Here 4 Life", produced with Hit-Boy, flips [Brent Faiyaz](https://www.edgepedia.org/brent-faiyaz)'s recent single "Full Moon" as its hook and reaffirms his happiness as a parent; "Playa" is about being a family man[2](https://www.complex.com/music/a/dimassanfiorenzo/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-review) • [9](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/culture/article/2026/01/18/new-york-rapper-a-ap-rocky-makes-comeback-in-new-album-balancing-fury-and-serenity_6749545_30.html). "Don't Be Dumb/Trip Baby" reconnects him with Clams Casino, the producer closely associated with his early rise, and the title track's claim to be dropping a classic, echoed on "SWAT TEAM", frames the album's ambitions[2](https://www.complex.com/music/a/dimassanfiorenzo/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-review) • [7](https://exclaim.ca/music/article/a-ap-rocky-don-t-be-dumb-album-review).
## Feuds and responses
The album includes "Stole Ya Flow", a diss aimed at Drake without naming him, rapping "First you stole my flow, so I stole yo' bitch" and mocking Drake's alleged cosmetic surgery. Rocky confirmed the intended target in a New York Times Popcast interview, answering "I think we all know" when his relationship with Drake came up[2](https://www.complex.com/music/a/dimassanfiorenzo/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-review). It is mostly a response to Drake's "Family Matters" bar taunting Rocky's output gap[1](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb/). On "Stop Snitching", Rocky references his trial and acquittal, and the track features a standout verse from Houston rapper Sauce Walka[3](https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-album-review-89930/) • [1](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb/).
## Reception
Reviewers broadly agreed on the album's shape: ambitious and enjoyable but overstuffed. The Guardian called it Rocky's strongest album since his debut, despite "plenty of flab"[6](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jan/16/asap-rocky-album-dont-be-dumb-review). Pitchfork judged it flawed but sharp, poorly sequenced and littered with duds, while arguing its ingenuity keeps Rocky an essential part of the rap ecosystem[1](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb/). Rolling Stone described it as slick and overstuffed yet a lot of fun, comparing Rocky's priorities to [Travis Scott](https://www.edgepedia.org/travis-scott)'s emphasis on vibe over lyrical exegesis[3](https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-album-review-89930/). Metacritic's aggregation of 13 critic reviews produced a metascore of 71, with nine positive and four mixed reviews[5](https://www.metacritic.com/music/dont-be-dumb/aap-rocky/critic-reviews).
After release, Rocky began expanding the album's "Disc 2" on streaming services, adding bonus tracks such as "SWAT TEAM" and continuing to tease further additions[7](https://exclaim.ca/music/article/a-ap-rocky-don-t-be-dumb-album-review).
## References
1. [A$AP Rocky: Don't Be Dumb Album Review, Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork (January 20, 2026)](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb/)
2. [ASAP Rocky's 'Don't Be Dumb' Serves in Unexpected Ways, Complex (January 17, 2026)](https://www.complex.com/music/a/dimassanfiorenzo/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-review)
3. [A$AP Rocky's 'Don't Be Dumb' Is Overstuffed. It's Also a Lot of Fun, Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone (January 20, 2026)](https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/asap-rocky-dont-be-dumb-album-review-89930/)
4. [Music reviews: Ari Lennox, Lucinda Williams, and A$AP Rocky, The Week](https://theweek.com/culture-life/music/reviews-ari-lennox-asap-rocky-lucinda-williams)
5. [Don't Be Dumb by A$AP Rocky, Metacritic critic reviews](https://www.metacritic.com/music/dont-be-dumb/aap-rocky/critic-reviews)
6. [A$AP Rocky: Don't Be Dumb review, Shaad D'Souza, The Guardian (January 16, 2026)](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jan/16/asap-rocky-album-dont-be-dumb-review)
7. ['Don't Be Dumb' Is as Messy and Interesting as A$AP Rocky's Last Eight Years, Exclaim!](https://exclaim.ca/music/article/a-ap-rocky-don-t-be-dumb-album-review)
8. [What to Stream: A$AP Rocky, Madison Beer, Will Smith, 'Ponies', AP News](https://apnews.com/article/64e52a39c536afbc06c1cabc3a8eba34)
9. [A$AP Rocky makes comeback in new album, balancing fury and serenity, Le Monde (January 18, 2026)](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/culture/article/2026/01/18/new-york-rapper-a-ap-rocky-makes-comeback-in-new-album-balancing-fury-and-serenity_6749545_30.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musical works and recordings › Albums and recorded releases › Studio albums › Hip hop albums › East Coast hip hop albums*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license