Has ASAP Rocky settled on a release date for his long-teased Don’t Be Dumb, an album he jokingly said was “never dropping” in a recent interview?
At one point during his Camp Flog Gnaw set this weekend, Rocky, who last delivered a new album with 2018’s Testing, revealed a hoodie with a date emblazoned across one of its sleeves. The date given is Jan. 16 of next year, indeed a Friday, which remains the go-to for album releases despite some high-profile pushback on the efficacy of this industry standard.
Something that was quickly pointed out by fans, though is perhaps a mere coincidence, is that Jan. 16 is known as National Nothing Day.
As longtime readers are well aware, Rocky has been providing updates on the status of Don’t Be Dumb for quite some time. Earlier into the process, Morrissey was cited as being among the collaborators who may wind up on the final version of the album, Rocky’s fourth. Seemingly confirmed for the released version, meanwhile, is Oscar-nominated composer and Oingo Boingo singer Danny Elfman.
“Danny Elfman, he just did my album with me that I’m putting out this year,” Rocky said in a recent Vanity Fair video that saw him joined by Glen Powell, LaKeith Stanfield, and Callum Turner. “He scored a bunch of the songs on my album.”
Rocky’s Camp Flog Gnaw set included a live performance of “Trunks,” a song from the soundtrack to Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest, released earlier this year to strong reviews. Denzel Washington led the cast, which also included Jeffrey Wright and Rocky himself.
For festival-focused merch pieces, Rocky and company went the playful route, again leaning into the chatter surrounding the album’s delayed release.
“ALBUM NEVER DROPPING,” reads a design featured on hoodies and layered shirts, an apparent nod to a swiftly headlined joke from Rocky’s recent vlog with The People Gallery.
Speaking with Mike DeStefano for Complex in September of last year, Rocky said the album’s delay was due to “different reasons,” including leaks. He put a positive spin on the wait, however, by pointing out that this gives him “more time to be creative” while in pursuit of perfection.
“I want to explore every option and every possibility,” the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards winner said at the time.