After years of delays and false starts, A$AP Rocky’s fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb, finally arrived. It’s the first major hip-hop domino of 2026, positioning him for a year likely filled with high-profile appearances, collaborations, and headline-making moments.
Once critiqued for sporadic releases despite being viewed as one of New York City and hip-hop’s prized talents, Rocky now presents a project that finds him seasoned and at ease, both personally and musically.
The album — featuring contributions from BossMan Dlow, Brent Faiyaz, Danny Elfman, Doechii, Gorillaz, Jon Batiste, Jessica Pratt, Slay Squad, Thundercat, Tyler, the Creator, Westside Gunn, and Will.i.am — balances cocky boasts and one-liners with introspection on love, fatherhood, and personal growth.
If you ask us, Don’t Be Dumb is a long-awaited, bold statement from Rocky that cements his status as a central figure in hip-hop.
In celebration of his return, VIBE highlights and ranks the best songs from the album that will stand the test of time.
7. “Robbery” Feat. Doechii
“Robbery” finds A$AP Rocky and Doechii pulling off a slick, sensuous heist atop production by Loukeman. Rocky leans into his fashion-forward bravado, firing off witty couplets that blur the lines between luxury, desire, and dominance with ease.
Doechii proves to be the perfect accomplice, delivering a standout performance that’s arguably the album’s most dynamic guest spot. Her sharp presence and playful confidence heighten the song’s tension, pushing it beyond a traditional collaboration.
Mixing sexual innuendo with clever wordplay, the pairing feels natural and electric, making “Robbery” an easy recommendation and a track that’s well worth revisiting.
6. “Whiskey (Release Me)”
“Whiskey (Release Me)” emerges as one of the more intoxicating selections on the album. It operates as a conceptual cut, centered on his complicated love affair with his chosen spirit.
Produced by T-Minus, Digital Nas, Zach Fogarty, and Rocky himself, the song sways with a hazy, late-night atmosphere that mirrors its subject matter. Rocky weaves boasts about influence and legacy with reflective bars that read like a breakup letter to a vice he can’t quite quit.
Westside Gunn’s ad-libs add texture, while Damon Albarn’s additional vocals lend a ghostly edge. Definitely the perfect soundtrack to pour a round of Mercer + Prince to.
5. “Stay Here 4 Life” Feat. Brent Faiyaz
“Stay Here 4 Life” stands out as a catchy and immersive addition to A$AP Rocky’s Don’t Be Dumb.
Produced by Hit-Boy, Brent Faiyaz, and Loukeman, the song glides over a hypnotic instrumental that gives Rocky space to explore the obsessive bond he shares with Rihanna, offering listeners a glimpse into moments of intimacy without oversharing.
His line about a “fairytale with a happy ending” captures the romantic tone cleanly. Brent Faiyaz adds another layer of allure, with his feathery tenor floating across the hook and bridge as he croons, “I wish that I could stay here.”
Together, the collaboration delivers a smooth, memorable record that’s already caught traction among listeners and become an instant favorite from A$AP’s latest long player.
4. “Helicopters”
“Helicopters” landed as the final gauntlet thrown before Don’t Be Dumb‘s arrival, and it finds A$AP Rocky firing on all cylinders.
Produced by Rocky alongside Kelvin Krash, Soufien 3000, and Dre Moon, the single captures Pretty Flacko at his sharpest, talking greasy over a rollicking, high-adrenaline soundscape.
Rocky sounds fully locked in, especially when he raps, “When tennis shoes had the check or three stripes on the side/ Way before Puma cut the check, yeah, three strikes, that’s your life/ Niggas runnin’ out of sweat.”
Pretty Flacko goes Peter Parker on “Helicopters,” a raucous offering that balances bravado with precision while paying homage to feuding Harlem predecessors Jim Jones and Cam’ron. If you were yearning for vintage A$AP Mob vibes from Rocky, this song delivers.
3. “Punk Rocky”
“Punk Rocky” finds A$AP Rocky confidently merging punk rock rawness with uptown swagger, resulting in a genre-blending salvo that feels natural rather than performative.
Produced by Cristoforo Donadi, Ging, Zach Fogarty, and Rocky himself, the track thrashes forward while leaving room for introspection. The usually cocksure lyricist exposes moments of vulnerability, admitting isolation and mistrust before pivoting into defiant self-questioning about love and regret.
Confiding in his Styrofoam cup, Rocky turns emotional turbulence into a clever anthem for lovelorn nights. On first listen, the song lands as a standout experiment—bold, emotionally grounded, and proof that his stylistic detours still feel rooted in authenticity.
2. “Playa”
“Playa” arrives as a syrupy groove and one of the week’s stronger releases from A$AP Rocky’s Don’t Be Dumb.
Produced by Cardo Got Wings, Johnny Juliano, Yung Exclusive, and Loukeman, the track feels like a sonic continuation of “Stay Here 4 Life,” but with a sharper thematic turn. The tempo is dialed up as tumbling 808s and glossy synths push Rocky back into braggadocious form.
His drawls about untouchable player codes and high-fashion nostalgia, scoffing at informants and haters along the way. Lines framing responsibility as true “player” behavior add bite, reading like a subtle jab aimed at a former ally.
1. “Stole Ya Flow”
“Stole Ya Flow” is a vicious diss track that positions A$AP Rocky at his most confrontational, aiming squarely at Drake with a barrage of calculated jabs that probe Drake’s alleged insecurities and public missteps.
Arguably the premier offering on Don’t Be Dumb, the song frames Rocky in a brazen yet noticeably unbothered state of mind, reflecting confidence rooted in both career longevity and personal stability.
Produced by Danny Elfman, ICYTWAT, and Kelvin Krash, the record’s menacing tone heightens its impact as Rocky escalates tensions beyond his earlier remarks on “Highjack.”
Lines like, “First you stole my flow, so I stole yo’ bi**h,” cut sharply, while mockery of Drake’s delivery and image — down to mimicking his “I’m Upset” cadence — only adds insult to injury.
This story was originally published on VIBE.
