After eight years, A$AP Rocky has returned with the release of Don’t Be Dumb. A reclamation of his position in the pantheon of rap royalty, the album oozes confidence and serves a warning not to deny his stature. “Still in the field like I’m running in cleats / last time I checked we still in the lead / […] better show me some respect when you talkin’ to me” goes the chorus of his opening song, “ORDER OF PROTECTION.”

The quality of the album backs up his bold claim: it’s an experimental, fun album that excels in its hype quality.

However, critics and fans alike have been vocal about their disappointment with Don’t Be Dumb’s lack of ground breaking music, considering the eight year wait. This criticism is sound; the album is not exactly revolutionary. It fails to stand out as a cohesive piece of work. It reads as a conglomeration of many different sounds without a central sonic theme, and lacks any cohesive intention in terms of messaging or sequencing.

But taking away the unrealistic expectations of producing ground-breaking music, A$AP Rocky still delivered a masterful album that deserves praise.

The album shines in its genre-bending abilities. From the groovy jazz rhythm of “ROBBERY” to the stylistic R&B of “STAY HERE 4 LIFE” to edgy punk rock sound of “Punk Rocky,” all in addition to the classic A$AP Rocky rap seen in songs like “NO TRESSPASSING” or “HELICOPTER,” he shows his versatility and proves genre can’t restrain him from creating impactful music.

His experimentation with genre creates an impactful emotional atmosphere; his music captures a range of emotions and experiences that can resonate with different audiences. He’s confident and accusatory in “STOLE YA FLOW”; yearns for romance in “DON’T BE DUMB”; criticizes society in “THE END”; reflects on addiction in “WHISKEY (RELEASE ME).” His lyricism is deeply poetic. For instance, the scenic imagery of “DON’T BE DUMB” leaves the listener with a highly personal plea for love and the bars in “THE END” are a powerful stance against the sociopolitical state of the nation. “I can see the sky cryin’ when your rain fall tears / Gotta close / the windows when the wind blows, dear / I can hear the hurricanes when the ends close near,” he sings in “DON’T BE DUMB.”

His collaborators add to the breadth of Don’t Be Dumb. The guest artists don’t just sing a verse; rather, the whole song is a true collaboration, with the featured artists weaving their own distinct sound into the fabric of the song: Brent Faiyaz’s relaxed R&B melodies in “STAY HERE 4 LIFE,” The Gorillaz electronic beats in “WHISKEY (RELEASE ME),” and Tyler, The Creator’s slow alternative Hip-Hop flow in “FISH N STEAK (WHAT IS THIS).

In all, despite it feeling incohesive, the album is an expressive and experimental project that offers commendatory music.