A$AP Rocky’s album “Don’t Be Dumb” was supposed to be released last year, but it got indefinitely delayed and has yet to be released since. A$AP Rocky told the public about it more than a year ago. At that time, he said that we would hear it in 2024, with 2025 being the latest release.
This long wait has made many wonder what has really kept Rocky back, and if it is worth the wait. Mike Cahill, a huge fan of Rocky’s work, says, “I didn’t expect the album not to be released last year, and I definitely did not expect it to take over a year to release.”
Rocky has said a few things about the holdups. He talked about leaks and sampling clearances being the reason behind the slowdown, saying on social media, “Leaks and sample clearances are messing up the album. It’s been six years, and I want to put out my best album ever. Sorry for the wait.”
In a talk with Hot 97, he shared his worry about unfinished tracks and videos that were going online, saying, “They leak a lot of the music and it messes it up… I was mad about it, so I did not put it out.” These things, along with Rocky’s need to get things just right, have kept the project from reaching those who like his work.
Even with the long wait, Don’t Be Dumb has made a lot of buzz. People talk about working with people like Pharrell Williams, Metro Boomin, and Madlib on it. Rocky has even told the people who wait that it is done, telling GQ, “I am done with the album — I just want to put it out the right way.” The people who listen are tired of the wait, but some respect him for putting quality over many fast releases. Cory Golding ‘25, a former student from Massachusetts, says, “I understand why he delayed the album so much, but at what point are you just doing it for no reason?”
In a time when artists put out things all at once, Rocky’s planned and slow way is unique. It looks like he wants to make something that will last, instead of trying to get things out fast. Whether Don’t Be Dumb is out this year or not, it has already made a mark — not for its sound, but for the talk about it.
![Students perform one of the plays from the 24-Hour Play Festival. The actors had less than 12 hours to fully learn the script and prepare for the performance. “[The actors] had to memorize it in a day and also make it their own in a short amount of time,” said Toner. (Courtesy Adrienne Rosenblatt)](https://cavchronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/24-Hour-play.jpg)
