It is really cool for me when I finally talk about an artist I love on this blog who has not dropped any music while I have been doing this. A$AP Rocky was one of my favorite rappers when I was a teenager, and my admiration for his music has carried over into adulthood. Unfortunately, though, he has never dropped an album since this blog has been in operation. For context, Eastside Vibes was started in 2020; meaning, it’s been at least 8 years since he dropped a project. It’s actually been way longer than that, though. A$AP Rocky’s last record, Testing, came out back in 2018. A$AP Rocky has made such an impact over the course of his career. Not only has he been a Hip Hop icon throughout the 2010s, but he has also been a Pop Culture and fashion icon. He may be just as famous for his life outside of music as he is for his music. I have always been a massive fan of Rocky’s music, dating back to before his first album LIVE.LOVE.A$AP in 2011. He is someone who has always pushed boundaries in his music, and has been willing to go in so many different directions. After many years of anticipation and teasing, Rocky’s new album, DON’T BE DUMB is finally here. This album definitely has a ton of expectations surrounding it. DON’T BE DUMB has been teased and delayed for years. A$AP Rocky has set a high bar for himself in the past, and fans want the absolute most out of this record. Below, I wanted to talk about some of my favorite songs from DON’T BE DUMB, as well as give some overall thoughts. Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs and overall thoughts are about DON’T BE DUMB as well!

HELICOPTER

‘Helicopter’ was the second single released in anticipation of the record, having come out a week before its release. This track has had me so hyped up to listen to it, and had been on rotation for me until we got the whole record. ‘Helicopter’ feels like a classic A$AP Rocky turn-up song. It has similarities to hits like ‘Goldie’ or ‘Praise The Lord’ in its production style and feeling. The melody has a menacing and cold tone to it, provided by synths that sound like horns. The beat for this track has. Pretty typical but hard Trap sound, pairing very well with the melody. A$AP Rocky’s cadence and overall delivery are actually pretty calm compared to the instrumental, which weirdly makes the song feel more bold. ‘Helicopter’ is a braggadocious track where Rocky asserts he is still the same person he has always been. 

STOLE YA FLOW

‘Stole Ya Flow’ is a song that is definitely going to turn heads because of its subject matter. This is a song that could potentially be about anyone, but most people would assume they know who it is about(Drake). The energy of the sound of this track certainly matches the energy of the lyricism contained in it. The melody for this one is ominous. It is driven by intense and distorted synths that sort of sound like the revving of a motorcycle. This main melody is completed by higher-pitched synths that honestly add to the foreboding feeling of the track. The beat is also huge and very distorted, fitting the melody so well. A$AP Rocky’s vocals are spooky and aggressive. He constantly switches tones and flows to match the feeling of the instrumental. On ‘Stole Ya Flow,’ A$AP Rocky addresses a specific fellow star rapper who he thinks bit a lot of his style and sound, and asserts her obtained his get-back.

 

STAY HERE FOR LIFE FEAT. BRENT FAIYAZ

When first listening to this project, ‘Stay Here For Life’ is one of the songs that made me perk up the most. That is because of that excellent Brent Faiyaz feature, which kicks in right at the beginning of the track. ‘Stay Here For Life’ has an instrumental that is very similar to what one would expect from Brent Faiyaz himself. The melody for this track is so bright and sweet. The synths that drive this one honestly have a celestial sound to them. This song has the kind of groovy R&B Trap sound that is perfect for any intimate situation. As stated above, Brent Faiyaz absolutely kills it on this track, adding to its ambiance. I love A$AP Rocky’s performance as well. Throughout the track, he switches flows quite a bit, adding so much texture to the track(I especially dig his pitched-down vocals, as they contrast Brent’s tone super well). ‘Stay Here For Life’ is a romantic track where Rocky and Brent Faiyaz express gratitude for their partner and the moment. 

NO TRESPASSING

There are a few tracks on this project that feel like they have the potential to be club bangers. ‘No Trespassing’ is probably the one that takes the cake in that regard. It actually starts with a bluesy little instrumental where A$AP Rocky talks about his life and what he is on these days. After this intro, the song transitions into a fast-paced, in-your-face Trap banger. There really is no melody for this track. The song does have some horn-like and screaming sound effects that come in and out, but for the most part, this track is all beat. I would not really call the tone that comes in at some points of the track a melody. This beat is quick, raunchy, and hits hard. It has the kind of pacing that will get anyone dancing when it comes on. A$AP Rocky’s rap performance on this track is very even-keeled and sing-songy. His flow sits on this instrumental so nicely, and really adds to the earworm qualities of this track. On ‘No Trespassing,’ Rocky calls out his haters and those who he feels are jealous of his success, asserting himself as one of the baddest in the game. 

STFU FEAT. SLAY SQUAD

‘STFU’ is another one of the songs here that really goes against the grain of anything someone would expect from A$AP Rocky. He had teased that there could be some Metal music here, but I did not see it being so blatant and bold. I would imagine this is a track that will probably rub some people the wrong way. I will admit, I usually would not even be into this kind of track. But I love it when an artist goes completely against expectations, and I feel A$AP Rocky nailed it on this one. The instrumental for this track is honestly tough to explain. The melody, if one can call it that, is mainly driven by a very distorted and harsh bassline. There are some siren sounds, horn sounds, and even a little bit of a piano melody that comes in(this piano melody is very creepy). The beat is intense and quick. It has an industrial sound and is complemented by all sorts of sound effects that come in and out. The vocals on this track are just as crazy as the instrumental. Both Rocky and Slay Squad shout and growl throughout this song, giving it a massive and harsh feeling. Lyrically, the title of this track basically describes its sentiment. Slay Squad and Rocky are just letting out some aggression. 

AIR FORCE(BLACK DEMARCO)

‘Air Force(Black Demarco) is easily one of the most ambitious songs here. This is one that I would guess is going to get extreme levels of admiration and disdain. This is a two-part track, but the sections are divided equally throughout. The first quarter and third quarter have the ‘Air Force’ sound, while the second and fourth quarters have the ‘Black Demarco’ sound. The ‘Air Force’ section of the song has a glitchy HyperTrap sound that feels like it came out of some dystopian future. The melody(if you can call it that) sounds like buttons beeping, and the best is fast-paced and distorted. The ‘Black Demarco’ sections are like A$AP Rocky’s take on Mac Demarco Psychedelic Pop Rock music, taking on a slow and soothing sound. This obviously creates a crazy juxtaposition in the song that stands out. Vocally, Rocky totally matches the energy of each section of the track respectively. Lyrically, this one is as all over the place as the instrumental, with the mood constantly switching throughout. ‘Air Force(Black Demarco) is an ambitious song that stands out in the best way. 

ROBBERY FEAT. DOECHII

Like, ‘STFU,’ ‘Robbery’ is definitely going to be one of the most splitting songs on this project. That is not only because of the song’s sound, but also because of its feature, Doechii. Everything Doechii touches these days has very strong opinions, and this song will fit into that category for sure. Instrumentally, this is probably the weirdest song of the record, which is saying a lot considering a couple of the other ones(like ‘STFU’). This song has an off-kilter Jazz song that reminds me of the kind of music one would hear at a 1950s club. This song makes me want to put on a suit and tie and go dance at an old school Jazz joint. The drums that drive this one have such a fun rhythm, and the piano riff that drives the melody is so funky. The wind instruments that come in and out of the background add color and life to this track. Vocally, A$AP Rocky and Doechii match each other so well. They rap back and forth throughout the track in a sensual manner that feeds into the sexiness the instrumental has. ‘Robbery’ is a very provocative track where A$AP Rocky and Doechii express their deepest desires. 

FISH N STEAK (WHAT IT IS) FEAT. TYLER, THE CREATOR

Over the years, A$AP Rocky and Tyler, The Creator have collaborated on many songs that became fan favorites. On the last song from this record, we fortunately got another collaboration from these two. ‘Fish N Steak(What It Is)’ is a track with a classic Rocky sound. It takes things back to the early Stoner Trap music that initially made him popular. The instrumental for this track is so easy-going and floaty. The song has a very groovy and hazy sound to it. The melody for this one is almost hypnotic, driven by these high-pitched, ethereal synths. The beat is very relaxed as well; it really leans into the mesmerizing feeling of the melody. Rocky’s flow on this song is so choppy and methodical. It contrasts the slow and soft delivery that we get from Tyler, The Creator. The difference in deliveries from these two gives the song sticky textures. On ‘Fish N Steak(What It Is),’ Rocky and Tyler rap about their come-up and try to coax their significant others into going out and having a good time with them. 

Considering the anticipation from so many people going into DON’T BE DUMB, it was always going to have very strong reactions. When combining his status in the music world and the fact that it has been so long since his last release, there were always going to be very strong opinions on this album, and it was going to be impossible to please everyone. Even A$AP Rocky’s last album, TESTING, had pretty varying reactions when it came out. From what I have seen online, it seems like the reception for DON’T BE DUMB has mostly been very good. Of course, there are some haters out there, but if you expand your mind a bit, it is easy to see there is a lot to love here. Now, A$AP Rocky is calling this his masterpiece, but I am not quite ready to put it on that pedestal. As with most artists who take a long time to put out new music, it does feel a tiny bit bloated. I feel like if Rocky cut out three or four of the more monotonous or more forgettable tracks, this album would reach that next level. The highs for this album are really high. I absolutely love the moments where he truly goes outside the box. Some of those moments are very polarizing and not for everyone, but I feel like Rocky truly gave it his all on the most eccentric songs on the record. Even songs like ‘Punk Rocky’ or ‘Whiskey(Release Me),’ which were not on this list, are pretty cool for what they are. One thing that shows DON’T BE DUMB is great is that I am sure that the favorite tracks will vary between listeners. For instance, I did not mention  ‘Playa’ or ‘Stop Snitching,’ which I am sure will be among the favorites for a lot of people. I do feel like Rocky pushed himself vocally on this record as well, which is commendable, while also giving people what they would expect. There’s a nice mix of this. It is always really cool to see an artist try new vocal styles(especially on the craziest songs) and nail it. Lyrically, I would not say this is his deepest or most cutting work, but that is okay. There are plenty of moments where A$AP Rocky addresses his haters, his rivals(such as Drake and Travis Scott), and opinions about his personal life and relationship. Overall, DON’T BE DUMB was more than satisfying and worth the wait. Rocky pushed himself on this record and delivered. He also gave his oldest fans more than enough classic-sounding songs to love. Hopefully, we do not have to wait so long for more A$AP Rocky music in the future. Until that next release, though, I will be listening to and enjoying so much music from DON’T BE DUMB.