A$AP Rocky has announced the delay of his anticipated fourth album, ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ – find out why below.
‘Don’t Be Dumb’, Rocky’s first since record since 2018’s ‘Testing’ was due for release on August 30, but is now being delayed until Fall 2024, per the rapper’s new interview with Billboard.
Billboard‘s interview with Rocky did not reveal a reason for the delay, but the rapper has since publicly confirmed that it stems from unauthorised leaks and trouble clearing samples. A$AP Rocky wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “LEAKS & SAMPLE CLEARANCES ARE DISRUPTING THE ALBUM. ITS BEEN 6 YEARS & I WANNA MAKE THE BEST ALBUM EVER. IM SORRY FOR THE WAIT.”
LEAKS & SAMPLE CLEARANCES ARE DISRUPTING THE ALBUM. ITS BEEN 6 YEARS & I WANNA MAKE THE BEST ALBUM EVER. IM SORRY FOR THE WAIT. https://t.co/rA0Z9u66Sy
— LORD FLACKO JODYE II (@asvpxrocky) August 22, 2024
A firm release date for the album has yet to be announced, but is expected to arrive sometime between September and November.
Elsewhere in the Billboard chat, Rocky shared that he had played the album for Tim Burton, who seemed to enjoy the record. The rapper tried to get Burton to design the cover art for ‘Don’t Be Dumb’, but the two couldn’t align their schedules to make it work. However, he was still able to play the record for Burton: “I sat and I played the album for Tim Burton, and he was fucking with it heavy, he was rocking his head and he’s like, ‘Wow! I didn’t know you made that kind of music!’”
Rocky also confirmed that while his collaboration with Burton fell through, he did manage to work with Burton’s longtime collaborator and composer Danny Elfman to provide bits of music sprinkled through the album.
The album’s delay comes after A$AP Rocky released the single ‘Highjack’ with Jessica Pratt earlier this month – a music video for the track was release yesterday (August 22). The New Yorker also hinted at working with Fatman Scoop, Flavor Flav, Slick Rick, Morrissey and Busta Rhymes on an upcoming track named ‘Hood Happy’, saying: “It’s kinda nuts” while promising it was “coming soon”.
While a tracklist for the record has yet to be revealed, the NFR Podcast reported that the album will include features from the likes of Tyler, The Creator, Metro Boomin, Madlib, Pharrell Williams, Swedish House Mafia, The Alchemist, Clams Casino, Mike Dean and more.
Elsewhere, it was suggested he was going to respond to Drake‘s disses on the album, with DJ Kast One commenting: “I heard A$AP Rocky definitely addressing a lot of the main topics that are happening out here right now. Let’s just say, the list keeps going on strong,” on Hot 97.
In other news, the rapper told fans in February that Rihanna was at work on her ninth album. However, the singer said in June said that she’s “starting over” on the record. Her last album came in the form of 2016’s ‘Anti’.