The Return of Lord Flacko; A$AP Rocky Releases Experimental Don’t Be Dumb After Eight Year Hiatus

(image courtesy of RollingStone)

After nearly a decade on hiatus, rap star A$AP Rocky has returned to the limelight with Don’t Be Dumb. Released on January 16, the album marks a highly experimental change in his career, much to critical acclaim. Here’s what two members of VIRIDIAN’s entertainment staff thought of the album:
by Beckett DeWitt and Emery Brown

​Beckett DeWitt - 6.5-7/10
This is my first listen of any A$AP Rocky project, and for a starter album, it was pretty decent. However, I would understand if a longtime A$AP Rocky fan would find this album extremely underwhelming after almost 8 years of potential time to make music, because this album is no 10/10. Rocky blended songs of many different genres together to make this album, including trap, jazz rap, industrial, and his signature cloud rap, the latter which I preferred to the rest. There were several highlights, such as “STAY HERE 4 LIFE,” “PUNK ROCKY,” and the titular track, “DON’T BE DUMB / TRIP BABY,” which reflected his iconic dreamy, cloud rap sound, which I thought were excellent songs, and some of the best on the album. Don’t Be Dumb is a rollercoaster of an album, and not because it was super thrilling, but because it had its definite highs and lows. Some songs could have been much better and could have definitely been improved with the amount of time he had to work on it. And a Drake diss? It’s been over for nearly 2 years. All in all, I give this album a 6.5-7/10.

Emery Brown - 8/10
On the contrary, as a longtime fan of A$AP Rocky, I find Don’t Be Dumb to be an interesting pivot in his career, blending a multitude of genres in a nicely-wrapped package. Throughout the hour-long runtime, Rocky manages to combine elements of indie rock, jazz, soul, slam poetry, old school hip-hop, new school trap, and of course, cloud rap. Despite the wild variety of influences, they all seamlessly flow together in creative ways, only amplified by the unique, sample-filled instrumentals.

The album definitely has its peaks and valleys, and while it isn’t a perfect project, I believe it fits nicely into A$AP Rocky’s discography. It has been eight years since his previous project, and I do understand that he was plagued with legal issues during that period, which undoubtedly hindered its production. 
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While “STAY HERE 4 LIFE” and “PUNK ROCKY” are undoubtedly my highlights for the album, I believe every song adds to the album in some way. Here, Rocky is at his most versatile, bouncing between punchy and boisterous flows to vulnerable and soulful melodies, combined with incredible features from artists such as Gorillaz, Thundercat, and Tyler the Creator. All together, I believe Don’t Be Dumb is a solid addition to Rocky’s catalogue, an undoubtedly unique yet fun experience that I give an 8/10.



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Don’t Be Dumb is available for listening on all streaming platforms.