Rapper A$AP ⁤Rocky has announced his upcoming album, Don’t Be Dumb, slated for release later ⁣this year. The announcement, made during a recent interview, marks his first⁢ full-length project since 2019’s Testing.

Rocky revealed the album’s title and details in a Vanity Fair video interview. He shared‍ that the project is a deeply personal⁣ one, conceived during a period of significant global upheaval, specifically referencing the⁤ Russian invasion of Ukraine, which ‍began ⁣in February ⁢2022.

Musical Collaborations and Influences

A notable collaborator on Don’t ⁢Be Dumb is composer Danny elfman,known for his long-standing work with director Tim Burton. Rocky stated that Elfman “scored a ⁢bunch of the songs” on the album. This collaboration represents a significant stylistic departure for Rocky, blending hip-hop with Elfman’s signature ⁣orchestral and gothic sound.

Rocky also discussed his artistic ⁢influences,⁢ highlighting his admiration for Burton’s visual style, especially⁣ Burton’s use of “matte painting and German expressionism.” This suggests ‍a potential visual component to ⁢the album’s rollout, possibly influencing music videos or album artwork.

Background on A$AP Rocky’s Career

A$AP Rocky, born Rakim Athelaston Mayers on October 3, ⁢1988, in Harlem, New York City, rose to prominence in ‍the early 2010s with ⁢his mixtape Live.Love.⁢ A$AP ⁣ (2011).⁣ He is known for his innovative fashion sense and genre-bending⁣ musical style, blending elements of hip-hop, cloud rap, and psychedelic music.

His previous albums, Long. Live. ⁢A$AP (2013)‍ and At. ‍Long.Last. A$AP (2015), were both critically acclaimed and commercially prosperous. Testing ⁣ (2019) continued this trend, showcasing his ⁣experimental approach to music⁤ production.