{"id":68107,"date":"2026-01-17T02:23:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T02:23:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/aap-rocky-drops-comeback-album-after-nearly-eight-year-wait\/"},"modified":"2026-01-17T02:23:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T02:23:19","slug":"aap-rocky-drops-comeback-album-after-nearly-eight-year-wait","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/aap-rocky-drops-comeback-album-after-nearly-eight-year-wait\/","title":{"rendered":"A$AP Rocky drops comeback album after nearly eight year wait"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 gtLOOD\">\n<div data-testid=\"hero-image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/b44f\/live\/b1f72ef0-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/b44f\/live\/b1f72ef0-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/b44f\/live\/b1f72ef0-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/b44f\/live\/b1f72ef0-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/b44f\/live\/b1f72ef0-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/b44f\/live\/b1f72ef0-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/b44f\/live\/b1f72ef0-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/b44f\/live\/b1f72ef0-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Getty Images A$AP Rocky performing on stage. He wears a checked jacket and has pink rollers in his hair. He is holding a microphone with 'Don't Be Dumb' on it.\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\"\/><span class=\"sc-5340b511-2 jVqbAn\">Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-536eff7b-0 gnQokQ\">A$AP Rocky has explored a range of genres in his fourth album, Don&#8217;t Be Dumb<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">A$AP Rocky has been making headlines recently, but not so much for his music.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">His relationship with pop superstar Rihanna, his fashion pursuits and a high-profile court case have kept his name in the spotlight. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">He&#8217;s kept fans waiting 2,793 days for a new album, but the New York-born hip-hop star has finally returned with his fourth record, Don&#8217;t Be Dumb. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">And the rapper has jam-packed the 17-track offering with explorations of various genres, from punk and trap to indie.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">He&#8217;s also recruited an impressive feature list including the likes of Tyler, The Creator and Doechii.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">And he&#8217;s injected the star power of Beetlejuice filmmaker Tim Burton into the project as well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The director&#8217;s portrayed six of A$AP&#8217;s alter-egos &#8211; personas he&#8217;s said to adopt at different points in the album &#8211; in his signature eerie gothic cartoon style on the album&#8217;s cover. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Psychedelic lead single Punk Rocky&#8217;s off-the-wall music video also stars a couple of Burton favourites &#8211; actress Winona Ryder, who plays as a friendly neighbour, and esteemed film composer Danny Elfman, who joins for a spell on the drums.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"social-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 djqsWD\">\n<div class=\"sc-7f051686-1 khCTxk\">\n<h4 class=\"sc-7f051686-2 krFoTi\">Allow <!-- -->Instagram<!-- --> content?<\/h4>\n<div class=\"sc-7f051686-3 hlhENu\">This article contains content provided by <!-- -->Instagram<!-- -->. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read\u00a0\u00a0and\u00a0\u00a0before accepting. To view this content choose\u00a0<b>\u2018accept and continue\u2019<\/b>.<\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Accept and continue\" class=\"sc-28fdc07f-2 sc-28fdc07f-4 jumpKn eDJnTm\"><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-28fdc07f-1 fpFxhF\">Accept and continue<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">NME&#8217;s Kyann-Sian Williams tells BBC Newsbeat the record feels &#8220;very grown, very mature and very much what you would expect from A$AP Rocky as the man he is today&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;Nobody wants to wait eight years, but I feel like it&#8217;s really stood the test of time through all the changes. It still feels very current, very modern,&#8221; she says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Clash&#8217;s Robin Murray gave the record eight out of 10, hailing it as &#8220;pleasingly eclectic&#8221; and &#8220;frequently ambitious&#8221; in its style as A$AP raps over everything from trap beats to jazz piano.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The Guardian&#8217;s Shaad D&#8217;Souza gave it three out of five stars, describing it as the artist&#8217;s strongest album since his 2013 studio debut Long. Live. ASAP.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">However, he felt the &#8220;sharper moments bump up against lyrics that can sometimes feel purely lazy&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">A$AP fan Lee tells Newsbeat he &#8220;wanted something different&#8221; from the album but feels it is &#8220;a bit safe&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">However, he still believes the wait was worth it overall for its &#8220;energetic&#8221; and &#8220;consistent&#8221; style, and says he appreciates its departure from 2018&#8217;s Testing, which divided critics with its experimental approach.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 gXrNRM\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20260113-125315-2e65791d43-web-2.37.1-4\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 gUePlo hide-when-no-script\" aria-label=\"image unavailable\"\/><img sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/287a\/live\/d61f0320-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/287a\/live\/d61f0320-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/287a\/live\/d61f0320-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/287a\/live\/d61f0320-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/287a\/live\/d61f0320-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/287a\/live\/d61f0320-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/287a\/live\/d61f0320-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/287a\/live\/d61f0320-f2e3-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Getty Images A$AP Rocky, wearing a black suits, poses with his partner Rihanna, who is dressed in a bright blue dress. He is hugging her from behind, holding her baby bump. \" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\"\/><span class=\"sc-5340b511-2 jVqbAn\">Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-536eff7b-0 gnQokQ\">A$AP Rocky and Rihanna share three children together <\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">A lot has changed for A$AP Rocky in the long gap since his last release, including becoming a father-of-three with his partner Rihanna.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Rumours over whether the stars were dating began swirling as early as 2013, when  A$AP supported the Barbadian singer on her Diamonds World Tour.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\"><a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/entertainment-arts-57180714\" class=\"sc-f9178328-0 iCaRzc\" rel=\"noopener\">The rapper confirmed they were in a relationship in 2021<\/a>, describing her as &#8220;the love of my life&#8221; in a GQ interview.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">He recently revealed his mum encouraged him to pursue things with Rihanna after the pair had been friends for years. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;My mother used to say &#8216;I know you like this girl that you with right now. I ain&#8217;t going to say no names, but I want you with Riri&#8217;,&#8221; he told the New York Times&#8217; Popcast earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">A$AP said he would tell her that the singer &#8220;don&#8217;t even want me like that&#8221; but admitted that ultimately &#8220;mothers know best&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The couple welcomed their first son, RZA, in May 2022 and their second son, Riot, was born in August 2023.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\"><a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/c7v1mjzljn4o\" class=\"sc-f9178328-0 iCaRzc\" rel=\"noopener\">Their daughter Rocki, who was born last September<\/a>, was given her father&#8217;s stage name with one letter switched.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Rihanna fans will be disappointed to see that the Umbrella singer does not feature on the record. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Asked whether he will be on stay-at-home dad duties in the future so the singer can release her own new music, A$AP simply told Popcast: &#8220;No comment.&#8221; <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 gXrNRM\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20260113-125315-2e65791d43-web-2.37.1-4\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 gUePlo hide-when-no-script\" aria-label=\"image unavailable\"\/><img sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/9f7e\/live\/27feca40-f2e4-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/9f7e\/live\/27feca40-f2e4-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/9f7e\/live\/27feca40-f2e4-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/9f7e\/live\/27feca40-f2e4-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/9f7e\/live\/27feca40-f2e4-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/9f7e\/live\/27feca40-f2e4-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/9f7e\/live\/27feca40-f2e4-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/9f7e\/live\/27feca40-f2e4-11f0-b8a1-43fe5a262db0.jpg.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Getty Images A$AP Rocky reacts in court as the verdict is given in his felony assault trial.\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\"\/><span class=\"sc-5340b511-2 jVqbAn\">Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-536eff7b-0 gnQokQ\">A$AP Rocky avoided a possible 24-year prison sentence last year  <\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The rapper has also come face-to-face with the law on numerous occasions over the past near decade.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Back in 2019, he <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/newsbeat-49333962\" class=\"sc-f9178328-0 iCaRzc\" rel=\"noopener\">spent nearly a month in custody in Sweden<\/a> after he was involved in a fight on the streets of Stockholm alongside his entourage and two unknown men. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Six weeks after his initial arrest, A$AP was found guilty of assault and given a suspended sentence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The case attracted international attention at the time when US President Donald Trump intervened, claiming the rapper was being treated unfairly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">A$AP also appeared in court last year &#8211; this time in America, on trial for felony assault.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">His former friend, Terell Ephron, claimed the rapper had opened fire at him during a heated argument on a Hollywood street in November 2021, grazing his knuckles with one of the shots.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">A$AP denied the charges, arguing that the weapon was a prop gun and Terell, also known as A$AP Relli, was only after money.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">After a highly publicised court case,<a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/cx2qepd3yn8o\" class=\"sc-f9178328-0 iCaRzc\" rel=\"noopener\"> A$AP Rocky was found not guilty<\/a> of two criminal counts which carried a potential 24 year prison sentence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The rapper also expanded into acting last year, starring opposite Denzel Washington in Spike Lee&#8217;s Highest 2 Lowest and featuring in the dark comedy If I Had Legs I&#8217;d Kick You.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">A$AP has been on a journey the past few years, which appears to have influenced  his growth as a musician and the direction he&#8217;s taken with the expansive Don&#8217;t Be Dumb.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">He&#8217;s already secured the title of first major hip-hop release of the year and, with the album reportedly securing more than a million Spotify pre-saves, he looks set to soar up the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 GunZh\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20260113-125315-2e65791d43-web-2.37.1-4\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 gUePlo hide-when-no-script\" aria-label=\"image unavailable\"\/><img sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/8366\/live\/74a706f0-15d7-11ef-9b12-1ba8f95c4917.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/8366\/live\/74a706f0-15d7-11ef-9b12-1ba8f95c4917.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/8366\/live\/74a706f0-15d7-11ef-9b12-1ba8f95c4917.jpg.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/8366\/live\/74a706f0-15d7-11ef-9b12-1ba8f95c4917.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/8366\/live\/74a706f0-15d7-11ef-9b12-1ba8f95c4917.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/8366\/live\/74a706f0-15d7-11ef-9b12-1ba8f95c4917.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/8366\/live\/74a706f0-15d7-11ef-9b12-1ba8f95c4917.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/8366\/live\/74a706f0-15d7-11ef-9b12-1ba8f95c4917.jpg.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A footer logo for BBC Newsbeat. It has the BBC logo and the word Newsbeat in white over a colorful background of violet, purple and orange shapes. At the bottom a black square reading &quot;Listen on Sounds&quot; is visible.\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Listen to Newsbeat <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sounds\/play\/live:bbc_radio_one\" class=\"sc-f9178328-0 iCaRzc\" rel=\"noopener\">live<\/a> at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays &#8211; or listen back <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/programmes\/b006wkry\/episodes\/player\" class=\"sc-f9178328-0 iCaRzc\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c9qpx3jn3w2o?at_medium=RSS&#038;at_campaign=rss\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Getty Images A$AP Rocky has explored a range of genres in his fourth album, Don&#8217;t Be Dumb A$AP Rocky has been making headlines recently, but not so much for his music. His relationship with pop superstar Rihanna, his fashion pursuits and a high-profile court case have kept his name in the spotlight. He&#8217;s kept fans [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":68108,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[279],"tags":[14815,6158,6546,2956,14816,1182,653],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68107"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68107"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68107\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68109,"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68107\/revisions\/68109"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68107"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68107"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68107"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}