Today’s Scoop
A$AP Rocky is prepping to release an impressive new album, and its cover art is equally striking. The Harlem rapper has made connections in the film industry and revealed that he once asked Tim Burton to collaborate on his upcoming Don’t Be Dumb album. This is truly a noteworthy achievement.
In the process of creating his album cover, Rocky shared his feelings with Billboard about what he intended to convey through this ongoing project. Despite the challenges, Rocky met with Burton and discussed the idea before Burton gave Don’t Be Dumb a spin, leading to immediate approval for the director’s final input. Although it was a “Rocky” journey to find his vision, the rhymer and Burton’s schedules did not align for the final touches he envisioned.
“I sat and I played the album for Tim Burton, and he was f–king with it heavy,” he said of Burton’s reaction to the music. “He was rocking his head and he’s like, ‘Wow! I didn’t know you made that kind of music!’”
Rocky eventually reconnected with a close friend of the director whom he could rely on: Danny Elfman. Elfman contributed some enhancements to the songs, including one that was produced by The Alchemist.
Inspiration ✨
During the creation of this project, various inspirations came together to form a unified piece. One notable influence was a significant artistic movement of the 20th century, a.k.a German Expressionism. This movement pushed the boundaries of realism by visually capturing intense emotions.
“At this moment, the mood is quite somber. It’s a condensed expression,” he elaborated about Don’t Be Dumb. The “Highjack” rapper then described it as a blend of German Expressionism with a touch of ghetto futurism.
Delay On Rocky’s Project
Don’t Be Dumb was originally set to be released on August 30th, but due to leaks and sample clearances, it has been postponed until the fall. Don’t Be Dumb will mark Rocky’s first album in quite some time, following 2018’s TESTING.
