A$AP Rocky blames leaks for delay of album “Don't Be Dumb”

Rapper A$AP Rocky said “leaks and sample releases” had “disrupted” the release of his new music.

His fourth studio album, “Don't Be Dumb,” was expected to be released at the end of August, but that will not happen.

“I want to make the best album ever. I'm sorry I had to wait,” he wrote on X, adding that it took “six years” to make.

The “Wild for the Night” star’s last release was “Testing” in 2018, but he continues to perform on stage at festivals and tours.

Rumor has it that his new album will also feature J. Cole, Busta Rhymes and his partner Rihanna, with whom he has two children.

For the rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, the topic of leaks is nothing new.

In an interview with Billboard, he suggested that leaks have repeatedly hampered the progress of new music over the years.

“They let a lot of the music leak out and that ruins it.

“Like my 'Taylor Swift' video,” he says, referring to an image for a song named after her that leaked online last year.

In his online post, A$AP also talked about “Sample releases“, which is the process of obtaining permission from the owners of copyrighted music to use parts of it in a song.

The rapper was one of the biggest rising stars of the 2010s and received eight platinum singles in the US, including “Wild For The Night”, “Everyday”, “LSD” and “A$AP Forever”.

He rose to fame after being endorsed by Drake and has collaborated with artists such as Alicia Keys, Lana Del Rey, Skepta, Selena Gomez and Kendrick Lamar.

But over the years he has also faced controversy.

In 2019, the star found guilty of assault for a fight in Stockholm and sentenced to two years probation.

And in 2023, a judge ruled that the rapper stand trial He was accused of firing a gun during an argument with a former childhood friend. He pleaded not guilty.

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