A$AP Rocky: Don't Be Dumb review – a charismatic, playful return, but it's no slam dunk

A$AP Rocky's fourth studio album 'Don't Be Dumb' finally arrives after an eight-year hiatus, and it's a return that exudes charisma and playfulness, but ultimately falls short of being a true masterpiece.

Rocky has been keeping himself busy in the meantime, acting in films like 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You', starring alongside Rose Byrne, and even dodging prison time after a highly publicized shooting incident. Despite his prolific output as an actor, he's been relatively quiet on the music front, releasing only a few singles over the years.

His third album 'Testing' was met with lukewarm reception from critics and fans alike, with many feeling that it lacked the dynamism and swagger of his earlier work. It seemed to leave Rocky at a crossroads, with some questioning whether he should stick to his experimental sound or try to tap back into the mainstream success of his early days.

'Don't Be Dumb' attempts to do both, but ultimately feels like two disparate entities stitched together. The album is brash and fleet-footed, shedding the more avant-garde elements of 'Testing' in favour of a more straightforward approach. It's clear that Rocky is having fun, and his charisma shines through on tracks like "Stole Ya Flow" and "Playa", which showcase his effortless cool.

However, not everything works as smoothly. Some lyrics feel lazily phoned-in, while others are overstuffed with production elements, making them feel bloated and unnecessary. The album's runtime is also a bit of an issue, feeling more like an extended playlist than a cohesive work of art.

Despite these missteps, 'Don't Be Dumb' remains Rocky's strongest album since his debut 'Long.Live.A$AP'. It's clear that he's still got it, and fans who were left underwhelmed by 'Testing' can breathe easy. The record is fun to listen to, with a guest list that includes everyone from Hans Zimmer to Tyler, the Creator.

Ultimately, while 'Don't Be Dumb' falls short of being a true masterpiece, it's still a compelling listen, and Rocky's star power is undeniable. It may not be a slam dunk, but it's a solid return from an artist who's clearly been working on his craft in between acting gigs.

I'm loving the new A$AP Rocky album "Don't Be Dumb" ! He's still got that charisma and playfulness that I've always loved about him, but yeah, it's not quite a masterpiece... yet . It feels like he's trying to balance his experimental side with something more mainstream, which is cool, but some tracks feel a bit disjointed. Still, "Stole Ya Flow" is EVERYTHING and the guest list is fire ! Maybe I'm just a sucker for Rocky's energy, but this album has got me vibin' .

I feel like 'Don't Be Dumb' is all about embracing your growth and evolution as an artist. A$AP Rocky didn't just stick to one formula for his fourth album, he experimented and tried new things... but sometimes those experiments don't quite land . It's like when you're cooking a recipe and you add too much of something – it might taste good at first but then it becomes overpowering . You gotta find that balance and trust your instincts. Rocky's still got his swag, but it feels like he's trying to please everyone instead of being true to himself . Still, I think the fact that he released this album is a testament to his dedication to his craft – even if it's not perfect, it's a solid effort

A$AP Rocky's back with some fun beats, but it's like he phoned in the lyrics - still his best album since the debut tho

omg i'm so hyped for A$AP Rocky's new album 'Don't Be Dumb'!!! he's been away for so long and it's great to see him back with a new sound that's still got that signature swagger but yeah, some parts of the album feel a bit lazy, like "phoned-in" lyrics. don't get me wrong tho, the guest list is fire and tracks like 'Stole Ya Flow' and 'Playa' are straight flames ! i loved his earlier work too, like 'Long.Live.A$AP', so it's cool to see him experimenting with new sounds without sacrificing that A$AP charm . overall, i'd say this album is a solid comeback from Rocky and fans who were meh on 'Testing' can definitely give it another listen

so like when A$AP Rocky drops this new album after 8 years, it's like he's trying to prove to himself and the world that he still got bars, you know? but at the same time, it feels like he's trying too hard to fit back into his old spot. like he's playing catch-up with his own sound, instead of just owning it. and honestly, I think that's what makes the album feel kinda disjointed. it's like two different vibes colliding, but not really meshing together. still, you can tell he's having fun, and that energy is infectious . maybe we shouldn't be so hard on him, maybe 'Don Be Dumb' is just a stepping stone to something even better?

come on rocky, we all knew you weren't gonna drop a magnum opus after 8 years of hiatus lololol what were u doing meanwhile btw? making movies and dodging jail time sounds like a pretty chill way to spend ur life anyway, i feel u on tryin to tap back into the mainstream success but like, why not just lean into ur experimental sound from 'testing'? it's still fire and we don't need all that extra production

idk about this album, i mean A$AP Rocky is back and all but its like he's trying to do two things at once - make a hit single for the mainstream and keep it weird for his fans? its not bad, its fun to listen to, especially with those guest features but sometimes the production gets in the way of the lyrics, feels like they're phoning it in. and that runtime is kinda long, feels like an extended playlist rather than a cohesive album. still, i'll give him props for making music again after all those years, he's got charisma, no doubt about it

I'm hyped that A$AP Rocky dropped 'Don't Be Dumb' after such a long hiatus! The album is fire and Rocky's charisma is still on point . I love how he blended different vibes, from the brash to the experimental, it's like he's playing with his sonic toys . My fave tracks are "Stole Ya Flow" and "Playa", they're so effortless and fun! However, I gotta say that some of the lyrics felt a bit lazy and the production got too cluttered at times . Still, it's an awesome listen and Rocky's growth as an artist is real . Fans who were underwhelmed by 'Testing' will be stoked to see him back on form . Don't @ me, but A$AP Rocky might just be the real MVP of hip hop right now #AmapRocky #DonBeDumb #HipHop

idk why ppl need to wait 8 yrs for a new album lol asap rocky's back & he's still got that charm dont get me wrong 'don't be dumb' is fun, but its like he's tryin to do it all again - rockstar vibes + experimental vibes? idk man. personally think he should've just stuck w/ the first 2 albums, they were fire

I'm so hyped that A$AP Rocky finally dropped 'Don't Be Dumb' after 8 years ! The album has some serious charisma and playfulness to it, and you can definitely tell he's having a blast making music again . I mean, "Stole Ya Flow" is straight fire ! But, for me, the album feels like two different vibes mashed together - it's not quite cohesive, but that doesn't stop it from being super fun to listen to . The guest list is sick too, especially Hans Zimmer on one of the tracks . Rocky still got it, and fans who were meh on 'Testing' will love this one . Not perfect, but still a solid return after all that time away .

A$AP Rocky just dropped his new album 'Don't Be Dumb' after 8 years and I'm loving the charisma and playfulness he brings to the table . He's definitely having fun with this one, and it shows on tracks like "Stole Ya Flow" and "Playa", which are straight fire . The guest list is also on point, from Hans Zimmer to Tyler, the Creator. However, I gotta say, some of the lyrics feel a bit lazy and the production can be overwhelming at times . The runtime feels a bit too long, like an extended playlist rather than a cohesive work of art. Still, it's a solid return for Rocky after his experimental album 'Testing' left fans underwhelmed . I'm loving the mix of old and new vibes on this one .

I don’t usually comment but A$AP Rocky’s new album feels like a mixed bag to me... some tracks are straight fire like "Stole Ya Flow" and I love how he's still got that effortless cool , but others feel like they're just phoning it in and the production can get a bit too extra . Still, it’s a solid return from him after all those years away and fans of his older work should be stoked . I don’t think it’s a masterpiece or anything, but it's definitely fun to listen to .

omg i'm so hyped for this album drop!! A$AP Rocky's charisma is still infectious and he's had enough time to perfect his sound. the production on "Stole Ya Flow" tho is EVERYTHING, that beat is fire ! and having Hans Zimmer on the track is a genius move . the only thing that keeps me from giving it 10/10 is that some tracks feel like they're missing that extra oomph but overall, this album is a solid return for Rocky and i'm all about it

I love how A$AP Rocky is back with 'Don't Be Dumb'!! he's still got that charisma and swag, it's so infectious! i mean, some of the tracks like "Stole Ya Flow" and "Playa" are straight fire . and even though it's not perfect, it's a solid return from him after an 8 year hiatus. fans who were left underwhelmed by 'Testing' can finally breathe easy . and that guest list? wow! Hans Zimmer and Tyler, the Creator on one track alone is like, what's next?!

I gotta say, A$AP Rocky is back with another album , and while it's not perfect, it's definitely more fun than 'Testing' . I love how he's still got that charisma and playfulness going on, especially on tracks like "Stole Ya Flow" and "Playa". The production's more straightforward this time around, which is cool, but some of the lyrics feel a bit lazy . Still, it's a solid return from an artist who's clearly been working hard between acting gigs . It may not be a masterpiece, but it's definitely a fun listen !