OK, A$AP Rocky is officially back!

At this point, it’s almost tradition to joke about how long A$AP Rocky takes to release an album. DON’T BE DUMB has lived in that limbo space long enough to become a punchline, but history suggests the jokes won’t matter if the final product delivers.

Revisiting Rocky’s discography, including a deeper appreciation for TESTING, makes one thing clear: he doesn’t make bad albums. He may challenge listeners, frustrate expectations, and zig when people want him to zag, but the quality has always been there.

The real question heading into this era has been sound. Last week’s “Punk Rocky” hinted at a version of Rocky eager to experiment freely. That track felt deliberately abrasive, like a test run for how far he could stretch his identity without snapping it. It suggested DON’T BE DUMB might lean heavily into left-field choices rather than comfort zones.

“Helicopter$,” however, pulls from a different lane, one that longtime fans will instantly recognize. The rebellious production hits hard, raw and aggressive, giving Rocky space to flex one of his most dynamic performances in years. He switches flows effortlessly, delivers lines with razor-sharp confidence, and sounds fully locked in, like an artist reminding himself and everyone else exactly who he is.

Lyrically, “Helicopter$” celebrates Rocky’s rise from struggle to success, pairing wealth and independence with sharp critiques of clout-chasing culture and imitation in modern rap. Out of all his recent releases, this one lands the hardest.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.