A$AP Rocky’s ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ Review: A Pretty Boy’s Reckoning
- A$AP Rocky's new album, Don't Be Dumb, feels like a direct result of trusting his instincts - for better and for worse.
- Rocky intentionally resists definition, and Don't Be Dumb reflects that.
- The album's most vulnerable moments come in the form of odes to his partner, Rihanna."Stay Here 4 Life" and "Playa" are remarkably honest, and while the last-minute beat...
A$AP Rocky’s new album, Don’t Be Dumb, feels like a direct result of trusting his instincts – for better and for worse. Since 2018’s TESTING, his first project following the death of A$AP Yams, Rocky has leaned into his own creative impulses. This latest effort, after years of anticipation, is a sprawling and frequently enough chaotic expression of that approach, but one that ultimately feels deeply personal.
Rocky intentionally resists definition, and Don’t Be Dumb reflects that. The hour-long album is energetic and, at times, rambling. “No Trespassing,” with its subtle bass and echoing production, serves as a strong introduction too Rocky’s signature style. Even tracks that seem simultaneously overambitious and underdeveloped, like the opening song “Order of Protection,” manage to capture the listener’s attention.
The album’s most vulnerable moments come in the form of odes to his partner, Rihanna.”Stay Here 4 Life” and “Playa” are remarkably honest, and while the last-minute beat switches initially feel jarring, they contribute to the album’s overall dynamic sound. “Air Force (Black DeMarco)” further showcases Rocky’s unwillingness to be categorized, shifting between a high-energy rap style and a dream-pop atmosphere.
ultimately, strict definitions might not serve Rocky well. He’s always been a polarizing figure, and Don’t Be Dumb embraces that complexity.