Background
“DON’T BE DUMB,” A$AP Rocky’s new album, was released on Jan. 16 and it marks Rocky’s return to the music scene after six years without a solo album due to accusations of gun assault, of which he was found not guilty of. Known for mixing fashion, experimental rap and confident vocals, Rocky uses this album to reflect on his fame, maturity and staying authentic in a world full of trends. The production throughout the album is very experimental and diverse. It blends jazz, hip-hop, R&B, trap and rock.
A standout about this album is the collaboration with the gothic film director Tim Burton. Burton is a filmmaker known for his dark, gothic and imaginative style. Best known for movies like “Edward Scissorhands,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Corpse Bride,” Burton played a significant part in the inspiration as well as the art style of the album, as he created the cover art.
How the Songs Are Rated
Like other reviews I have done, I rated the songs by focusing on the lyrics, production, flow and the impact on the album. I paid attention to how each song fit on the album, matching the themes of individuality, awareness and authenticity. Production plays one of the biggest parts in my rating because this album is very experimental and it really tries to push boundaries. With that, I also considered how memorable and replayable the songs are.
- ORDER OF PROTECTION
“ORDER OF PROTECTION” works well as an intro song. It starts the album off with a tense and serious tone. In this track, Rocky sounds focused and cautious about what he is saying. This fits perfectly with the album’s theme about thinking before acting. The production sounds cinematic, and a little unsettling, which caught my attention immediately. Overall, this song is a strong opener and really sets the course for the rest of the album. Production-wise, it is very well mixed and really matches the album.
8.5/10 *Added to playlist
- HELICOPTER
“HELICOPTER” is a very fast-paced and intense song with production that gives it constant motion. Lyrically, Rocky focuses more on the pressure and the attention that comes with fame. While the energy is strong, this song can get overwhelming at times. Still, the track actually adds to the momentum established at the start of the album. Overall, I love the production of this song, and although overwhelming, I like the style because it gives me a lot of different places to shift my attention to. Additionally, I also really appreciate the groove and flow to this song.
7/10 *added to playlist
- STOLE YA FLOW
“STOLE YA FLOW” is very confident and confrontational, with Rocky addressing Drake stealing his style, and Rocky getting back at him by referencing his past relationship with singer Rihanna.
The production on this song is aggressive and bold, matching the overall message. I enjoyed this song and the lyrics are catchy and vibey.
8/10 *Added to playlist
- STAY HERE 4 LIFE (Feat. Brent Faiyaz)
In “STAY HERE 4 LIFE,” Brent Faiyaz performs a very smooth and emotional contrast to Rocky’s delivery in the song. This song has a more reflective and melodic tone, giving a good break to the upbeat and aggressive production of the first couple songs. Lyrically, this one focuses on relationships and emotional attachment. This song really stands out to me especially because it was originally an unreleased Brent Faiyaz song. Overall, this might be in my top three on the album, and Faiyaz definitely carried this song.
9/10 *Added to playlist
- PLAYA
”PLAYA” starts to transition back to that confident rapping style with themes of lifestyle. In this song, Rocky sounds relaxed and charismatic. The beat is smooth and stylish, suitable for the singer. A lot of the production on this song has to do with Thundercat, who is a RNB, soul and jazz artist, which is where a lot of the funk comes from. Since this song does not add a whole lot to the album, it is more of a vibey track than a meaningful one. I love the vibe of this song and I can see myself playing this over and over.
9.5/10 *Added to playlist
- NO TRESPASSING
“NO TRESPASSING” is a song that focuses on boundaries, respect and protecting your personal space. The production is dark, sharp and very experimental. Rocky’s delivery is very pointed and controlled, matching the beat perfectly. Overall this song is very enjoyable and adds a lot to the album, although this song is not very replayable due to the fact it really pushes the boundaries of rap. It’s just very different and it’s hard to listen to on repeat.
7/10
- STOP SNITCHING (Feat. BossMan Dlow & Sauce Walka)
“STOP SNITCHING” is a song about loyalty and street codes, and questioning if those values still exist. This song is very confrontational and direct with simple production that allows Rocky’s vocals to stand out. I think it is very possible that this song was supposed to be on 21 Savage’s album “WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STREETS?” but did not make the final cut. Overall, I like this song although it is very repetitive.
7.5/10
- STFU (Feat. Slay Squad)
“STFU” is a very loud, aggressive and chaotic song. Overall, I think it sounds very overcrowded and could use a bit of simplifying. This song is definitely more about the attitude and energy of it rather than meaning. Slay Squad is a ghetto metal brand from California which really explains the style change of the song.
5/10
- PUNK ROCKY
“PUNK ROCKY” is a very experimental track for Rocky. This track is similar to “Sundress,” which is one of my favorite songs by him. The production is very dreamy and it is reminiscent of psychedelic/indie rock. This is definitely in my top three on this album and I love everything about this song.
9.5/10 *Added to playlist
- AIR FORCE (BLACK DEMARCO)
“AIR FORCE” starts out as a very fast-paced, aggressive song. Following the initial impression, though, is a dreamy and melodic change of pace; making a great contrast to the first part of the song. Throughout the song this change of pace is very back-and-forth. I do not really like the fast paced part of the song because there is just so much going on at once, but I really enjoy the slow, melodic part. Overall the production is solid and the background singer just adds so much to the song.
7/10
- WHISKEY (RELEASE ME) (Feat. Gorillaz & Westside Gunn)
“WHISKEY” is one of the most unique songs on the album. Gorillaz brings a very eerie sound, while Westside Gunn adds contrast to that. This song overall is very creative and I love what Gorillaz added to it. I love this feature so much, and it is such a good addition to the album.
8/10 *Added to playlist
- ROBBERY (Feat. Doechii)
“ROBBERY” is probably the most experimental song on the album due to the fact that this is such a different genre from the rest of the album. The production is heavily jazz-influenced, with plenty of jazz-like instruments like upright bass and piano. This is a very unique song, and it fits perfectly with Rocky’s and Doechii’s back-and-forth vocals.
8/10 *Added to playlist
- DON’T BE DUMB/TRIP BABY
“DONT BE DUMB/TRIP BABY”, is a two-part track that highlights Rocky’s versatility. The first half of this song is melodic and reflective and focuses on mood and atmosphere. The second half shifts more into traditional rap, allowing Rocky to use strong lyricism and confidence in his flow. I absolutely love the sample on this song and both parts fit very well. Overall, the two parts keep this track exciting as there is a lot of contrast.
9/10 *Added to playlist
- THE END (Feat. Will.i.am & Jessica Pratt)
“THE END” creates a dramatic moment towards the final songs on the album. The production is layered and cinematic, focusing more on buildup rather than a hard-hitting rap beat. I think this song is a good rally song to prepare for the final tracks. This being said, I personally do not really like this song, and I just cannot see myself playing it a lot.
6/10
- SWAT TEAM
“SWAT TEAM” brings the energy back with an aggressive tone and fast pace. Rocky’s delivery is confident, dark and direct which makes this song feel focused and intense. To add on, the production really adds to that intensity without making it complex. This song really helps keep the momentum in the album to bring it to the end.
7.5/10
- FISH N STEAK (WHAT IT IS) (Feat. Tyler, The Creator)
“FISH N STEAK” works perfectly as the final track, especially because of the chemistry between Rocky and Tyler. The production is very dynamic and changes a lot throughout the song, keeping my attention and adding variety instead of being too repetitive. I really like this song; the dynamic between Rocky and Tyler is what makes it so good. The fact that its best friends reuniting for a great song just makes it so much more special.
9/10 *Added to playlist
Final Thoughts
Overall, “DON’T BE DUMB” is a confident and creative return for Rocky. This album blends multiple genres together and that is what I really like about it. The experimental production mixed with the Tim Burton influence give this project a dark yet imaginative feel that is very consistent. While the tracks are not all equally strong, the variety, features and attention to detail make this album so engaging. Overall I give this album a 8.5/10.
