American rapper ASAP Rocky drops his latest album Don’t Be Dumb tomorrow.
The artist’s first musical creation in eight years, it will feature an ‘all-star’ roster of producers, including Pharrell Williams, Mike Dean, Metro Boomin and more.
In an interview, the artist jokingly described the upcoming release as ‘the dumbest in the world’, suggesting that the new tracks embrace irony and playfulness.
He also cited German Expressionism, a modernist artistic movement originating in northern Europe around the beginning of the 20th century, as a heavy influence.
“It is an aesthetic derived from Germany, especially after World War II,” he explained.
“A lot of solid films were thriving, but domestically, Germany itself was going through a crisis, just coming out of World War II. And I think what ended up happening was they had to utilise the little things to try to make something out of nothing.
“When those directors were compelled to use what they had in their natural environment, that’s when their imagination came in, and they started doing exaggerated, dark undertones, pointed shapes and spots, which mimic German Expressionism, primarily.”
Named Rakim Mayers, the Harlem-born-and-raised rapper embarked on his musical career as a member of the hip hop collective ASAP Mob, from which he adopted his stage name. His 2012 single Problems featuring Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at number eight and was nominated for Best Rap Song at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.
The new album’s cover art was designed by American filmmaker Tim Burton.
