The Harlem-born rapper also performs the title track off of his new album, Don’t Be Dumb
A$AP Rocky debuted on Saturday Night Live with three songs from his new album, Don’t Be Dumb, which dropped Friday.
The Harlem-born rapper, who held an album release party not far from the SNL studio late Thursday night, opened with lead single “Punk Rocky.”
Don’t Be Dumb is Rocky’s fourth studio album and first since 2018’s Testing. The 37-year-old isn’t concerned about the frequency of his output, but taking the time to craft a legacy.
“I don’t do all these different endeavours just because I got to be the first at the top of the mountain and plant the flag. Because it’s not really about who did it first. It’s about who did it the best,” he told Perfect Magazine last fall. “I don’t do things to just try and stay relevant, or keep my name in the conversation. I try to do natural things, creative, ambitious things that really satisfy me.”
Rocky’s second performance was a medley of “Helicopter” and the album’s title track.
The 15-track album features collaborations with nearly as many artists; the list includes Will.i.am, Doechii, Gorillaz, Jon Batiste and Tyler, the Creator. Filmmaker Tim Burton created the album’s cover art, which shows Rocky’s six personas.
There’s no word yet from Rocky on a tour in support of his latest album. His next scheduled show is headlining the Governors Ball in Queens, New York in June.
