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A$AP Rocky Finally Announces ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ Album Release Date: ‘Masterpiece’

After several delays, Rocky's fourth LP is coming in early 2026.

A$AP Rocky Finally Announces ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ Album Release Date: ‘Masterpiece’

A$AP Rocky at the 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards held at The American Museum of Natural History on November 03, 2025 in New York, New York.

John Nacion

The wait appears to finally be over. A$AP Rocky made it official on Friday (Dec. 19) as he delivered an early Christmas gift for fans while announcing that his much-delayed Don’t Be Dumb album will be arriving on Jan. 16.

The Harlem native took to Instagram with a post featuring the Tim Burton-assisted album’s cover art, which he’s hailing as a “masterpiece.”


“JANUARY 16 2026 , DON’T BE DUMB VINYLS , CDs , CASSETTES , AND DIGITAL DSPs AVAILABLE , THANKS TO EVERY CREATIVE AND MUSICIAN WHO HELPED ME WITH THIS MASTERPIECE,” Rocky wrote.

More than seven years since Rocky’s last offering, 2018’s TESTING, fans were still hyped to hear that 2026 will be starting with a new album from the 37-year-old.

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“BACK LIKE YOU NEVER LEFT,” one person wrote. Another added: “Let’s go! It’s that time!”

It’s unclear what film maestro Tim Buron’s involvement in the album is exactly, but Rocky previously revealed in his Billboard cover story last year that he played his music for the decorated director.

“I sat and I played the album for Tim Burton, and he was f–king with it heavy,” Rocky said. “He was rocking his head and he’s like, ‘Wow! I didn’t know you made that kind of music!’”

The theory of a Jan. 16 release date picked up steam when Rocky performed at Camp Flog Gnaw in November, which saw him on stage with the numbers “01162026” emblazoned across the sleeve of his hoodie.

Find the Don’t Be Dumb cover art below. Look for the album on Jan. 16.

This article was first published by Billboard U.S.

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Coldplay at Toronto's Rogers Stadium on July 8, 2025.
Anna Lee

Coldplay at Toronto's Rogers Stadium on July 8, 2025.

FYI

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The Canadian Folk Music Awards are getting ready to roll out in Calgary, April 9 to 12. Awards in 21 categories will be handed out in batches at the four major concerts, all featuring CFMA nominees, to be held over those four days. Launching the event is Songs and Stories at the Westin Calgary Ballroom on April 9. Celebrating storytelling, it features performances by Amanda Rheaume, Claire Morrison, Guillaume Arsenault, Robert Thomas & the Sessionmen, Terra Spencer and Wyatt C. Louis, and six awards will be handed out here.

Folk Forward, on April 10 at the Bella Concert Hall, hosts performances by Calgareal, AHI, recent Juno winner Aysanabee, Boreal, Duane Andrews and Yves Marchand, with seven awards distributed on the night. On April 11, Traditional and Global Roots (also at the Bella Concert Hall) presents Cassie and Maggie, Garcons a Marier, Joaquin Núñez & Habana Safari, Juno-winners Kazdoura, Sacred Wolf Singers with Simon Wall and Scott Duncan & Luka Hall and it sees six more awards presented.

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