A$AP Rocky has officially released his fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb, on January 16, 2026, via AWGE/A$AP Worldwide and RCA Records, confirming the date he announced via Instagram with availability in vinyl, CD, cassette, and digital formats.[1][4] The Harlem rapper’s project, his first full-length since 2018’s Testing, arrives after years of teases, delays, and high anticipation, featuring collaborations with artists like Tyler, the Creator, Brent Faiyaz, Thundercat, Doechii, Westside Gunn, Gorillaz, will.i.am, and Danny Elfman.[1][5] Produced by heavyweights including Pharrell Williams, Madlib, Metro Boomin, The Alchemist, and Mike Dean, the album embodies a “German Expressionist” aesthetic inspired by filmmaker Tim Burton, who designed the cover art.[2][5]
The rollout for Don’t Be Dumb spanned over two years, beginning with the July 2023 single “Riot (Rowdy Pipe’n)” and a preview during Paris Fashion Week in June 2024, when Rocky initially targeted an August 30 release.[1] Delays followed due to sample clearances and leaks, as Rocky explained in an August 2024 Billboard cover story, pushing it to fall 2024; he later shared in March 2025 that the album was in mixing and mastering stages.[1] Singles like “Highjack,” “Tailor Swif,” “Ruby Rosary,” and the short-lived “Pray4DaGang” built buzz, alongside previews in a Puma ad and the December 16, 2025, cover art reveal with a January 16 drop date.[1][2] Recent singles “Punk Rocky,” featuring Winona Ryder in its video, and “Helicopter” dropped in early January, solidifying fan excitement.[1][5]
Comprising 15 tracks—such as “Order of Protection,” “Stole Ya Flow,” “Stop Snitching,” “Punk Rocky,” and “Don’t Be Dumb / Trip Baby”—the album spans hip-hop, jazz, metal, indie, and R&B, described as Rocky navigating genres like blocks in a city.[2][5] It shattered records with over 1 million Spotify pre-saves, the most for any hip-hop album on the platform, and more than 130,000 physical pre-sale units, including limited “Shirthead” vinyls via partnerships with Bilt and Quince.[2] While one source lists a January 15 release, the majority, including Wikipedia, Apple Music, Hypebeast, and HipHopDX, confirm January 16, aligning with Rocky’s announcement.[1][2][4][5][3]
Don’t Be Dumb marks a pivotal moment for A$AP Rocky, bridging music, fashion, and film in a cross-media project that underscores his evolution as a multi-hyphenate artist. With massive pre-release hype and diverse features, it positions Rocky to reclaim spotlight in hip-hop amid a competitive 2026 landscape, potentially setting sales benchmarks and influencing genre-blending trends.[2][5]
