HipHop DX News
J. Cole Explains ‘The Fall-Off’ Artwork, Confirms It Will Be A Double Album
Andy Bustard (30/01/2026)
J. Cole has shared the backstory behind the artwork for his upcoming album The Fall-Off — which is a double-disc project featuring multiple covers. Taking to social media on Thursday (January 29), Cole revealed the alternate CD cover which is an up-to-date portrait of the Dreamville rap star looking pensive in a typically casual outfit.... The post J. Cole Explains ‘The Fall-Off’ Artwork, Confirms It Will Be A Double Album appeared first on HipHopDX.
J. Cole has shared the backstory behind the artwork for his upcoming album The Fall-Off — which is a double-disc project featuring multiple covers.
Taking to social media on Thursday (January 29), Cole revealed the alternate CD cover which is an up-to-date portrait of the Dreamville rap star looking pensive in a typically casual outfit.
The main album cover, which surfaced earlier this month, is a grainy photo of Cole’s very first beat-making station in his childhood home in North Carolina.
“The Fall-Off cover that is currently circulating is a picture I took on a disposable camera when I was 15 years old. My very first set up. My first beats were made in that spot, surrounded by my mother’s CD collection that I would comb through looking for samples,” he wrote.
“The first full song that I ever made came to life in that very chair you see in that picture. I sat for hours, in a zone I had never experienced before, until I was done writing a track that I titled ‘The Storm.’ I probably rapped it out loud 50 times back-to-back, my young mind blown that I had actually wrote something ‘this great.’ I called Nervous Reck immediately to ask if I could come over to The Sheltuh to record it.”
He continued: “The mental space I entered writing that joint was a feeling I will attempt to explain, but I doubt I will do it justice. It was the strongest possible combination of creativity (the imagination at work), focus (in search of the next line), faith (belief that the next line will come) and excitement (in knowing this thing being written is truly something special) that I imagine one can’t understand until they’ve been in it.
“It’s like God letting you into Heaven for a few hours. Then, even after it’s time to leave, there is a lasting glow, a high and a fulfilment that stays with you for days… and now every time you sit down to write, you’ll close your eyes, cross your fingers, and hope he’ll open the gates for you again.”
J. Cole then explained that his controversial apology to Kendrick Lamar in 2024 — and the ensuing backlash and endless debates about his place in hip-hop’s “Big Three” — inspired him to expand The Fall-Off into a double-disc album.
“The picture of where it all started for me felt fitting for an album that I made with the ending in mind. It has been the cover of The Fall-Off for about the past 7 years. Perfect in my mind. However, 2 years ago, after the events that still feed the algorithm til this day, I became incredibly re-inspired, and the album slowly blossomed into a double disc as the concept expanded,” he revealed.
“I felt there should be an additional cover that represented that. Something just as strong as the first, with my face on it, so that when I look back in 20 years, I can see an image of who I was at the time I released the project I worked on for so long. This is that cover.”
The Fall-Off will be released on February 6 and will serve as J. Cole’s seventh and final album, capping off one of modern hip-hop’s most storied careers.
“For the past 10 years, this album has been hand crafted with one intention: a personal challenge to myself to create my best work. To do on my last what I was unable to do on my first,” he recently said of the project.
“I had no way of knowing how much time, focus and energy it would eventually take to achieve this, but despite countless challenges along the way, I knew in my heart I would one day get to the finish line. I owed it first and foremost to myself. And secondly, I owed it to hip hop.”
Cole has already given fans a taste of what’s to come with “Disc 2 Track 2,” a conceptual, storytelling track that lays out his life story in reverse — touching on his death, legacy, parenthood, marriage, career milestones and eventually his birth.
The 40-year-old also recently dropped Birthday Blizzard ’26, a surprise four-pack of freestyles hosted by DJ Clue that finds him spitting fire over classic hip-hop beats like Biggie‘s “Who Shot Ya?,” Diddy‘s “Victory” and The LOX‘s “Money, Power & Respect.”
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Read More New Music Friday: The Game, Don Toliver, DaBaby & More
Andy Bustard (30/01/2026)
This week’s New Music Friday offers something for everyone, whether your hip-hop taste leans towards the current gen or the golden age, East Coast or West Coast, lyrics-driven or rage-ready. A little later than expected, The Game returns with The Credits, a 12-track sequel to his recently released Gangsta Grillz debut Every Movie Needs a... The post New Music Friday: The Game, Don Toliver, DaBaby & More appeared first on HipHopDX.
This week’s New Music Friday offers something for everyone, whether your hip-hop taste leans towards the current gen or the golden age, East Coast or West Coast, lyrics-driven or rage-ready.
A little later than expected, The Game returns with The Credits, a 12-track sequel to his recently released Gangsta Grillz debut Every Movie Needs a Trailer. Fit for the big screen, the expanded edition boasts a star-studded supporting cast of 21 Savage, Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine and more.
Don Toliver continues his artistic ascent with his ambitious fifth studio album Octane, the follow-up to his underrated 2024 effort Hardstone Psycho, while DaBaby showcases his more vulnerable, reflective side on his latest project Be More Grateful.
Elsewhere, Wiz Khalifa fronts the soundtrack to his new movie Moses the Black, which is executive produced by 50 Cent, The Alchemist reunites with fellow crate-digger Budgie for the third installment in their gospel-themed Good Book series, and Mike WiLL Made-It locks back in with Swae Lee for the aptly-titled “Rockstar Raging.”
Check out all the best new rap albums and songs below.
The Game & DJ Drama — Every Movie Needs a Trailer: The Credits (Gangsta Grillz)
Featuring: 21 Savage, Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine, Swizz Beatz, Boosie Badazz, Ty Dolla $ign, Dom Kennedy, Problem, Jake One
Don Toliver — Octane
Featuring: Travis Scott, Teezo Touchdown, Yeat, Rema, SahBabii, Cardo, Wheezy, Mike Dean, BNYX, Da Honorable C.N.O.T.E., Jahaan Sweet
DaBaby — Be More Grateful
Featuring: Coi Leray, Hunxho, Twin
Mike WiLL Made-It feat. Swae Lee — “Rockstar Raging”
Produced By: Mike WiLL Made-It
Benny The Butcher feat. Grafh — “Squeeze First”
Produced By: Credits unavailable
The Alchemist & Budgie — The Good Book III
Featuring: Roc Marciano, Navy Blue, Ghetts, Knucks, Novelist, Ragz Originale, ItsNate, Qendresa, Jadasea, Jesse James Solomon, JayaHadADream, Natanya, Joe James
https://t.co/bnRw71r1yr pic.twitter.com/Vi6ykbCB1R
— Alchemist Type Beat (@Alchemist) January 27, 2026
Thundercat feat. Lil Yachty — “I Did This To Myself”
Produced By: Flying Lotus
Wiz Khalifa — Moses The Black (Soundtrack)
Featuring: Juicy J, Big Jerm, Johnny Juliano, TYuS, JMB Bobby Hill
Dave East feat. Joyner Lucas — “Traffic”
Produced By: High Honors, ADHD Productions & EMXBEATZ
Lil Yachty & Concrete Boys — “We’re Back”
Produced By: Rawbone & FX
Tory Lanez — “S.L.I.D.E.” + “Planet Bass / NBLYB”
Produced By: Roselia, 2one2 & Play Picasso / Nico Baran, Play Picasso, Roselia & 2one2
BNYX feat. Kid Cudi & Röyksopp — “Everywhere I Go (Remind Me)”
Produced By: BNYX
Max B — “Five-Two (Freestyle)”
Produced By: Credits unavailable
Styles P — “Ride In / Ride Out”
Produced By: Credits unavailable
Chris Crack & Madlib — “Hurt Feelings Over Wasted Times”
Produced By: Madlib
Terrace Martin — Passion
Featuring: Blxst
Fakemink — The Boy Who Cried Terrified (EP)
Featuring: Wraith9, Burial, Flawed Mangoes, Moustafax2, Liv, Cranes
Jordan Ward — Backward
Featuring: Smino, TiaCorine, SAILORR, Lido, Nascent, Tommy Parker, Zach Ezzy
Pimmie — “Bet”
Produced By: Spvde & Imovekiloz
The post New Music Friday: The Game, Don Toliver, DaBaby & More appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More J. Cole Surprise Drops New ‘Birthday Blizzard ’26’ EP Hosted By DJ Clue
Andy Bustard (28/01/2026)
J. Cole has released a brand new EP out of the blue, confirming rumors that he had more than just a new album on deck. Hosted by mixtape kingpin DJ Clue, Birthday Blizzard ’26 features four fiery freestyles from the Fayeteville rapper who turned 40 years old on Wednesday (January 28). Inspired by the rugged,... The post J. Cole Surprise Drops New ‘Birthday Blizzard ’26’ EP Hosted By DJ Clue appeared first on HipHopDX.
J. Cole has released a brand new EP out of the blue, confirming rumors that he had more than just a new album on deck.
Hosted by mixtape kingpin DJ Clue, Birthday Blizzard ’26 features four fiery freestyles from the Fayeteville rapper who turned 40 years old on Wednesday (January 28).
Inspired by the rugged, no-frills energy of ’90s and ’00s New York hip-hop, the EP finds Cole flexing his razor-sharp rhymes over classic beats like Biggie‘s “Who Shot Ya?,” Diddy‘s “Victory” and The LOX‘s “Money, Power & Respect.”
Birthday Blizzard ’26 is not just a display of impressive penmanship, though; Jermaine Cole gets plenty off his chest on the brief but braggadocious project.
On the opening track “Bronx Zoo Freestyle,” the Dreamville leader addresses the backlash to his apology to Kendrick Lamar in 2024 following their brief back-and-forth on “Like That” and “7 Minute Drill.”
“I used to be top seed / The apology dropped me way out of the top three / No problem, I’m probably my best when they doubt me / Watch me,” he raps.
Cole also says: “The top ain’t really what I thought it would be / And so I jumped off and landed back at the bottom / And restarted at a level where I wasn’t regarded as much / Just to climb past ’em again and tell ’em all to keep up.”
Birthday Blizzard '26. hosted by DJ Clue?
4 new freestyles available now on https://t.co/NS7VjMFmQs pic.twitter.com/2N7JoHMtp6— J. Cole (@JColeNC) January 28, 2026
“Golden Goose Freestyle,” which borrows Black Rob and The LOX’s “Can I Live” instrumental, hears the North Carolina native weighing in on some of the (alleged) shenanigans that have plagued the rap industry in recent years.
“A lot of rappers make dough then be prone to lose it / For crumbs, dumb n*ggas sold their soul to Lucian,” he spits, referencing the Universal Music Group boss Lucian Grainge. “Universal distribution but I own the music / Best n*gga still breathing, leaving no confusion.”
He also sets his sights on ghostwriting and streaming bots, rapping: “N*ggas cheating and I won’t excuse it / If I said it then I wrote it, stupid” before adding: “If the streams say you’re winning, why your tours is losing? / When the math ain’t mathing, of course you’re juicing / That means the bots is boosting, cut the tough guy image it is not conducive to breathing.”
Elsewhere, on “99 Build Freestyle,” J. Cole shows major love to his Dreamville signee and occasional collaborator JID, who is coming off a banner year thanks to his critically-acclaimed, Grammy-nominated album God Does Like Ugly.
“If hip-hop is back, JID should chart platinum / Anything less than that it means y’all capping,” he declares. (It’s worth noting that the Atlanta rapper has racked up a string of platinum and multi-platinum plaques in his career, albeit for his singles and big-name collaborations.)
Birthday Blizzard ’26 is exclusively available to purchase at J. Cole’s website, TheFallOff.com, where fans can stream and download a copy for a minumum of $1.
The quickfire project serves as a warm-up for Cole’s long-awaited final album The Fall-Off, which is set to arrive on February 6.
The post J. Cole Surprise Drops New ‘Birthday Blizzard ’26’ EP Hosted By DJ Clue appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More Pharrell Responds To Chad Hugo’s Lawsuit Over Withheld Money Allegations
Andy Bustard (26/01/2026)
Pharrell has issued a response to a new lawsuit from his former Neptunes partner Chad Hugo over allegations that he’s owed up to $1 million in unpaid royalties. Filed in federal court in California on Friday (January 23), Hugo’s suit claims that Pharrell has withheld substantial amounts of money from him for his work with... The post Pharrell Responds To Chad Hugo’s Lawsuit Over Withheld Money Allegations appeared first on HipHopDX.
Pharrell has issued a response to a new lawsuit from his former Neptunes partner Chad Hugo over allegations that he’s owed up to $1 million in unpaid royalties.
Filed in federal court in California on Friday (January 23), Hugo’s suit claims that Pharrell has withheld substantial amounts of money from him for his work with The Neptunes and N.E.R.D., while also not providing proper accounting for their company, N.E.R.D. Music, LLC, which they formed in 2014.
Hugo, who in the complaint refers to himself as the “principal composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and producer responsible for programming, instrumentation and overall sound design” in The Neptunes, claims that it was Pharrell’s sole responsibility to handle the company’s income, expenses, royalties and other financial matters, but he failed to do so.
Hugo claims that since 2021 he has been trying to get access to the company’s financial records with little success. The suit says he “has not received his appropriate share of royalties in connection with The Neptunes and N.E.R.D.’s album sales and released music, as well as distributions from touring income and various merchandising deals.”
Hugo estimates that he is owed between $325,000 and $1 million for his contributions to N.E.R.D.’s 2017 album No One Ever Really Dies alone.
“[Pharrell] Williams engaged in self-dealing, concealed material information, and … diverted revenues owed to plaintiff,” Hugo’s attorney, Brent J. Lehman, argues in the suit. “Such willful, fraudulent, and malicious conduct warrants the imposition of punitive damages.”
In response, a representative for Pharrell issued a statement to Billboard denying any malicious conduct or intent.
“A standard accounting review is already in progress,” the rep said. “The lawsuit filed is premature as there may not even be a dispute between the parties. If the accounting review determines that money is owed, the appropriate party will pay it.
“Pharrell has consistently acted in good faith. He has great respect for Chad and looks forward to resolving this in a way that honors their shared history.”
This is not the first legal dispute between the former friends and collaborators, who together as The Neptunes were one of hip-hop’s most dominant hitmakers in the 2000s, producing countless hits for the likes of JAY-Z, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, the Clipse, Ludacris and many more.
In 2024, Chad Hugo filed a legal action against Pharrell over claims that he “fraudulently” sought sole control over the trademarks to The Neptunes’ name — a move he said violated their longstanding agreement that saw them split everything equally.
“Pharrell is surprised by this,” a representative for the “Happy” hitmaker said in response. “We have reached out on multiple occasions to share in the ownership and administration of the trademark and will continue to make that offer.
“The goal here was to make sure a third party doesn’t get a hold of the trademark and to guarantee Chad and Pharrell share in ownership and administration.”
However, Hugo’s attorney disputed this argument, hitting back: “If Pharrell’s intent was to include Chad in the filing, he should have registered it in the name of them jointly or as a partnership and not in his own name. This was a land grab in a long-simmering dispute that has yet to be resolved.”
The legal dispute, which was met with disappointment by many hip-hop fans including longtime friend and collaborator Pusha T, has yet to reach a conclusion.
The post Pharrell Responds To Chad Hugo’s Lawsuit Over Withheld Money Allegations appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More Kanye West Apologizes For Antisemitic Behavior, Blames 2002 Car Accident
Andy Bustard (26/01/2026)
Kanye West has issued his lengthiest apology yet for his past antisemitic comments that derailed his lucrative partnership with adidas, decimated his billion-dollar net worth and damaged his legacy as a socially-outspoken hip-hop icon. In a full-length ad titled “To Those I’ve Hurt” published in The Wall Street Journal on Monday (January 26), Ye penned... The post Kanye West Apologizes For Antisemitic Behavior, Blames 2002 Car Accident appeared first on HipHopDX.
Kanye West has issued his lengthiest apology yet for his past antisemitic comments that derailed his lucrative partnership with adidas, decimated his billion-dollar net worth and damaged his legacy as a socially-outspoken hip-hop icon.
In a full-length ad titled “To Those I’ve Hurt” published in The Wall Street Journal on Monday (January 26), Ye penned a candid and heartfelt letter seeking forgiveness from fans and clarifying that he is not a Nazi.
The 48-year-old blamed his offensive behavior on his 2002 car accident, saying his actions were a result of brain injuries suffered during the crash that developed into bipolar disorder, which remained undiagnosed for decades.
“I lost touch with reality,” he wrote. “Things got worse the longer ignored the problem. I said and did things I deeply regret … Looking back, I became detached from my true self.”
Kanye then detailed the realities of being bipolar, saying he cannot remember some “disconnected moments” during his “fractured state” and “gravitated towards the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika,” which he even printed on T-shirts and sold them through his Yeezy website.
Turning his attention to the Jewish community, Ye wrote: “I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and I am committed to accountability, treatment and meaningful change. It does not excuse what I did, though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”
The G.O.O.D. Music founder also apologized to the Black community, who he referred to as “the foundation of who I am” and a group that has “held me down through all of the highs and lows and the darkest of times.”
“I am so sorry to have let you down. I love us,” he wrote.
Ye, fka Kanye West, takes out a full-page in the Wall Street Journal to apologize to the Black community, and for antisemitism:
“I lost touch with reality” pic.twitter.com/Po8s4gNz5P
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) January 26, 2026
Further detailing his mental health struggles, Ye went on to reveal that in early 2025 he fell into a “four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life,” leaving him feeling suicidal.
After hitting “rock bottom,” his wife, Bianca Censori, encouraged him to seek help.
“As I find my new baseline and new center through an effective regime of medication, therapy, exercise, and clean living, I have newfound, much-needed clarity,” he said. “I am pouring my energy into positive, meaningful art: music, clothing, design, and other new ideas to help the world.”
However, Kanye dismissed doctors’ previous diagnoses that his reckless behavior were merely “symptoms of autism.” He also credited Reddit forums as a source of “comfort,” helping him to realize “I was not alone.”
Yeezy signed off by writing: “I’m not asking for sympathy, or a free pass, though I aspire to earn your forgiveness. I write today simply to ask for your patience and understanding as I find my way home.”
The letter comes more than three years after Kanye West began stoking controversy with a flurry of racially offensive comments and moves, aimed mainly at Jewish people.
His antisemitism reached fever pitch during a December 2022 appearance on Alex Jones’ Infowars show where he praised Adolf Hitler and said he saw “good things” about the notorious ex-Nazi leader.
Despite the widespread backlash, which resulted in adidas terminating their hugely successful Yeezy sneaker and clothing deal, Ye did not let up and controversially released the song “Heil Hitler” in May 2025.
In a surprising U-turn later that month, the rap legend said on X (formerly Twitter) that he was “done with antisemitism” and “love[s] all people.”
The full letter can be read below.
Twenty-five years ago, I was in a car accident that broke my jaw and caused injury to the right frontal lobe of my brain. At the time, the focus was on the visible damage—the fracture, the swelling, and the immediate physical trauma. The deeper injury, the one inside my skull, went unnoticed.
Comprehensive scans were not done, neurological exams were limited, and the possibility of a frontal-lobe injury was never raised. It wasn’t properly diagnosed until 2023. That medical oversight caused serious damage to my mental health and led to my bipolar type-1 diagnosis.
Bipolar disorder comes with its own defense system. Denial. When you’re manic, you don’t think you’re sick. You think everyone else is overreacting. You feel like you’re seeing the world more clearly than ever, when in reality you’re losing your grip entirely.
Once people label you as “crazy,” you feel as if you cannot contribute anything meaningful to the world. It’s easy for people to joke and laugh it off when in fact this is a very serious debilitating disease you can die from. According to the World Health Organization and Cambridge University, people with bipolar disorder have a life expectancy that is shortened by ten to fifteen years on average, and a 2x-3x higher all-cause mortality rate than the general population. This is on par with severe heart disease, type 1 diabetes, HIV, and cancer – all lethal and fatal if left untreated.
The scariest thing about this disorder is how persuasive it is when it tells you: You don’t need help. It makes you blind, but convinced you have insight. You feel powerful, certain, unstoppable.
I lost touch with reality. Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem. I said and did things I deeply regret. Some of the people I love the most, I treated the worst. You endured fear, confusion, humiliation, and the exhaustion of trying to have someone who was, at times, unrecognizable. Looking back, I became detached from my true self.
In that fractured state, I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it. One of the difficult aspects of having bipolar type-1 are the disconnected moments – many of which I still cannot recall – that led to poor judgment and reckless behavior that oftentimes feels like an out-of-body-experience. I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change. It does not excuse what I did though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.
To the black community – which held me down through all of the highs and lows and the darkest of times. The black community is, unquestionably, the foundation of who I am. I am so sorry to have let you down. I love us.
In early 2025, I fell into a four-month long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life. As the situation became increasingly unsustainable, there were times I didn’t want to be here anymore.Having bipolar disorder is notable state of constant mental illness. When you go into a manic episode, you are ill at that point. When you are not in an episode, you are completely ‘normal’. And that’s when the wreckage from the illness hits the hardest. Hitting rock bottom a few months ago, my wife encouraged me to finally get help.
I have found comfort in Reddit forums of all places. Different people speak of being in manic or depressive episodes of a similar nature. I read their stories and realized that I was not alone. It’s not just me who ruins their entire life once a year despite taking meds every day and being told by the so-called best doctors in the world that I am not bipolar, but merely experiencing “symptoms of autism.”
My words as a leader in my community have global impact and influence. In my mania, I lost complete sight of that.
As I find my new baseline and new center through an effective regime of medication, therapy, exercise, and clean living, I have newfound, much-needed clarity. I am pouring my energy into positive, meaningful art: music, clothing, design, and other new ideas to help the world.
I’m not asking for sympathy, or a free pass, though I aspire to earn your forgiveness. I write today simply to ask for your patience and understanding as I find my way home.
With love,
Ye.
The post Kanye West Apologizes For Antisemitic Behavior, Blames 2002 Car Accident appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More Rihanna Celebrates A$AP Rocky’s ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ Debuting At No. 1 On Billboard 200
Andy Bustard (26/01/2026)
A$AP Rocky is back at the top of the charts thanks to his latest album Don’t Be Dumb, and nobody is prouder than his ride or die Rihanna. The Harlem rapper’s long-awaited fourth LP, which arrived earlier this month following an eight-year wait, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 123,000 equivalent units... The post Rihanna Celebrates A$AP Rocky’s ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ Debuting At No. 1 On Billboard 200 appeared first on HipHopDX.
A$AP Rocky is back at the top of the charts thanks to his latest album Don’t Be Dumb, and nobody is prouder than his ride or die Rihanna.
The Harlem rapper’s long-awaited fourth LP, which arrived earlier this month following an eight-year wait, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 123,000 equivalent units in its first week, according to Billboard.
Of that figure, the project earned 76,000 streaming equivalent album units (amounting to 78.02 million on-demand streams) and 47,000 in pure album sales.
Don’t Be Dumb is Rocky’s third number one album and first in over a decade following 2015’s At.Long.Last.A$AP. His previous effort, 2018’s Testing, peaked at number four on the chart.
Pretty Flacko’s partner Rihanna wasted little time in celebrating her man’s chart success, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “Just me here to let yall know my baby daddy got the NUMBER 1 ALBUM!!! Aaahhhhhh hah! [zany face emoji] DONT BE DUMB!!!”
Rocky himself commemorated the achievement by simply tweeting: “LFGGG [fire emojis]!!! #DONTBEDUMB.”
Just me here to let yall know my baby daddy got the NUMBER 1 ALBUM!!! Aaahhhhhh hah!
DONT BE DUMB!!! https://t.co/79nVi1dqfK— Rihanna (@rihanna) January 25, 2026
LFGGG
— LORD FLACKO JODYE II (@asvpxrocky) January 25, 2026
Don’t Be Dumb, which was supported by the singles “Helicopter” and “Punk Rocky,” narrowly beat out South Korean boy band ENHYPEN’s THE SIN : VANISH EP which earned 122,000 first-week units — 113,000 of which impressively came from pure sales.
Another new entry on this week’s chart, NBA YoungBoy‘s Slime Cry landed at number six with 70,000 opening-week units. The Baton Rouge-bred superstar now has 17 top 10 albums to his name, putting him joint-second with Drake among all rappers. Only Future has more with 18.
A$AP Rocky may be making another splash on the charts very soon with a deluxe edition of Don’t Be Dumb seemingly on deck.
The former A$AP Mob frontman has been teasing an expanded second disc in recent weeks, which would add to the handful of “side B” songs that have already been released (“Swat Team,” “Fish N Steak” featuring Tyler, The Creator, “Flackito Jodye” and “I Smoked Away My Brain”).
“There’s disc two with all of the features,” he said on a recent episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, noting that the aforementioned tracks are merely a “preview” of what’s to come.
Rocky was also asked whether Rihanna — who hasn’t released an album for 10 years — would make a rare appearance on the deluxe, to which he responded with a coy laugh.
ASAP Rocky teases @rihanna coming out of retirement and doing a feature for Disc 2 of the album and speaks on her style
“Her style is so crazy cause you wouldn’t expect her to like the people she likes. She wants to work with @Alchemist & @knxwledge pic.twitter.com/YPvLY4HBDQ
— Johnny (@johnnyflash__) January 23, 2026
The post Rihanna Celebrates A$AP Rocky’s ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ Debuting At No. 1 On Billboard 200 appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More New Music Friday: A$AP Rocky, Denzel Curry, IDK, Roc Marciano & More
Andy Bustard (23/01/2026)
Anybody who thought that hip-hop would somehow slow down in 2026 after its so-called chart struggles last year are sadly mistaken. This week’s New Music Friday is another stacked one thanks to A$AP Rocky, who wastes no time in adding to Don’t Be Dumb by teasing out a few songs from the upcoming deluxe edition.... The post New Music Friday: A$AP Rocky, Denzel Curry, IDK, Roc Marciano & More appeared first on HipHopDX.
Anybody who thought that hip-hop would somehow slow down in 2026 after its so-called chart struggles last year are sadly mistaken.
This week’s New Music Friday is another stacked one thanks to A$AP Rocky, who wastes no time in adding to Don’t Be Dumb by teasing out a few songs from the upcoming deluxe edition. (Perhaps he’s making up for lost time after the eight-year wait for the album.)
Denzel Curry introduces his rambunctious new supergroup, The Scythe, which includes himself (under the alias Big Ultra), A$AP Ferg, TiaCorine, Bktherula and Key Nyata. Their debut album Strictly 4 The Scythe drops March 6, and the lead single “Lit Effect” is a high-energy preview of what’s to come.
Speaking of all-star lineups, IDK‘s new project Even the Devil Smiles extends not only his incredible (and slept-on) run as a solo artist, but his knack for assembling heavyweight collaborations. Pusha T, Black Thought, MF DOOM, DMX, RZA and Madlib are some of the many big names on the 15-track effort.
Roc Marciano is also back in business with 656, a fully self-produced album featuring a couple of cameos from fellow Rotten Apple rhymer Errol Holden.
Elswhere, Cam’ron airs out his issues with Damon Dash on the aptly-titled “Letter To Dame,” 42 Dugg rounds up a few usual suspects for his hard-hitting new album Part 3, and Curren$y continues to disprove the stoner slacker myth with yet another new mixtape.
Check out all the best new rap albums and songs below.
A$AP Rocky — “Flackito Jodye” (feat. Tokischa) + “I Smoked Away My Brain” (feat. Imogen Heap & Clams Casino)
Produced By: A$AP Rocky & LeoRD / Clams Casino
Denzel Curry feat. Bktherula & LAZER DIM 700 — “Lit Effect”
Produced By: BNYX & Bryvn
IDK — Even the Devil Smiles
Featuring: Pusha T, Black Thought, MF DOOM, DMX, RZA, Madlib, No ID, Conductor Williams, KAYTRANADA
Roc Marciano — 656
Featuring: Errol Holden
Cam’ron — “Letter to Dame (Freestyle)”
Produced By: Credits unavailable
42 Dugg — Part 3
Featuring: Lil Baby, GloRilla, G Herbo, EST Gee, Rylo Rodriguez, Skilla Baby, Doughboy Clay
Curren$y — Everywhere You Look
Featuring: Wiz Khalifa, Trauma Tone, Kino Beats
Ari Lennox — Vacancy
Featuring: Buju Banton, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Elite, BoogzDaBeast, Cardiak, Swiff D
Hit-Boy — “NBA Centel” + “I’m Still Alive” + “Percentages”
Produced By: Hit-Boy
Wiz Khalifa — “Too Blessed To Be Stressed”
Produced By: Big Jerm & LAGUNE
Kai Ka$h feat. Marco Plus — “BADDIEHUB CONTENT”
Produced By: Credits unavailable
Rich The Kid feat. Blueface & DDG — “Vibes”
Produced By: Rich The Kid
Flo Milli — “Flo Jackson”
Produced By: Kid Hazel, Alyx & Splited Stupid
Fred again.. feat. Young Thug — “Scared”
Produced By: Fred again.., Boo & Nate Brazier
Jordan Ward — “Stranger”
Produced By: Lido
The post New Music Friday: A$AP Rocky, Denzel Curry, IDK, Roc Marciano & More appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More Travis Scott Responds To Pusha T Dissing Him
Andy Bustard (22/01/2026)
Travis Scott has finally fired back at Pusha T‘s flurry of shots on the Clipse‘s Let God Sort Em Out and throughout the album rollout. On the single “So Be It,” Pusha spent his entire final verse taunting his former G.O.O.D. Music collaborator, rapping: “You cried in front of me, you died in front of... The post Travis Scott Responds To Pusha T Dissing Him appeared first on HipHopDX.
Travis Scott has finally fired back at Pusha T‘s flurry of shots on the Clipse‘s Let God Sort Em Out and throughout the album rollout.
On the single “So Be It,” Pusha spent his entire final verse taunting his former G.O.O.D. Music collaborator, rapping: “You cried in front of me, you died in front of me / Calabasas took your bitch and your pride in front of me / Her Utopia had moved right up the street / And her lip gloss was poppin’, she ain’t need you to eat.”
He also alluded to possessing incriminating footage of La Flame, spitting: “The ‘net gon’ call it the way that they see it / But I got the video, I can share and A.E. it / They wouldn’t believe it, but I can’t unsee it / Lucky I ain’t TMZ it.”
In an interview with GQ last summer shortly before the release of Let God Sort Em Out, Pusha T elaborated on his issues with Travis Scott, who he accused of intentionally omitting Drake‘s verse on “Meltdown” (which contained shots at Pharrell) while playing Utopia during a Clipse and Pharrell studio session in Paris that he had “interrupted.”
“He’s smiling, laughing, jumping around, doing his fucking monkey dance,” he said. “We weren’t into the music, but he wanted to play it, wanted to film [us and Pharrell listening to it]. And then a week later you hear ‘Meltdown.’ He played the song, but not [Drake’s verse].”
Pusha added: “[I was like], ‘Dawg, don’t even come over here with that.’ Because at the end of the day, I don’t play how y’all play … He’s a whore.”
In a cover story for Rolling Stone published on Wednesday (January 21), Travis Scott disputed Pusha T’s version of events, saying: “When you go back and look at it … it’s crazy. N*ggas said I had a film crew [with me]. I’m like, ‘What?’
“I remember when I pulled up, it was them n*ggas that had a film crew. I’m talking about the little microphone on the stick and all of that. I was like, ‘Oh, shit. Am I in a documentary?’”
The Cactus Jack founder also addressed Pusha’s grievances with “Meltdown,” insisting that Drake’s verse hadn’t yet come in when he played them his album.
“A lot of shit [Pusha] was saying just didn’t make sense to me,” he added. “It was like he was saying I was interrupting shit and I was playing them shit. First of all, I can’t interrupt something that somebody [Pharrell] asked me to come pull up on.”
“So when I hear that type of shit, it’s just like, I don’t know, man. If you got to drop Trav name for the rollout, so be it.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Travis Scott cited Iggy Pop and Ozzy Osbourne as inspirations, explained why doesn’t care about critics trashing his music, and briefly spoke about his next album.
“[I’m] putting my whole body and soul into the next [project], for more people to understand,” he said. “[For] the person that still don’t understand Trav, no matter how long I’ve been in this shit.”
The post Travis Scott Responds To Pusha T Dissing Him appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More Pharrell Debuts New Pusha T, A$AP Rocky & Quavo Music During Louis Vuitton Show
Andy Bustard (21/01/2026)
Pharrell‘s Louis Vuitton Fall-Winter 2026 show was as much a showcase of his musical talent as his fashion vision. During the stylish event in Paris on Tuesday (January 20), Skateboard P debuted five unreleased songs from the likes of Pusha T, A$AP Rocky and Quavo — all produced by himself. King Push appears on a... The post Pharrell Debuts New Pusha T, A$AP Rocky & Quavo Music During Louis Vuitton Show appeared first on HipHopDX.
Pharrell‘s Louis Vuitton Fall-Winter 2026 show was as much a showcase of his musical talent as his fashion vision.
During the stylish event in Paris on Tuesday (January 20), Skateboard P debuted five unreleased songs from the likes of Pusha T, A$AP Rocky and Quavo — all produced by himself.
King Push appears on a track with Jackson Wang called “Sex God,” making a brief but braggadocious cameo on the Hong Kong rapper’s bouncy, radio-friendly record.
Fresh off the release of his long-awaited album Don’t Be Dumb, Pretty Flacko keeps the new music coming by linking up with Pharrell on the jiggy, champagne-popping “Disturbing the P.”
Soundtracking the finale of the runway show, “Hit-a Lik” is the first taste of Quavo’s upcoming album which is helmed by the former Neptunes hitmaker.
Pharrell, who has served as Louis Vuitton’s men’s creative director since 2023, also premiered never-before-heard songs from John Legend (“Pray For Ya”) and Voices of Fire (“The One”), the Virginia-based gospel choir that featured on the Clipse’s Grammy-nominated “The Birds Don’t Sing.”
It’s unclear if the spree of new songs is a sign that Pharrell is gearing up to release a new solo album, which would be his first since 2014’s GIRL, or he’s simply looking to extend his late-career hot streak behind the boards.
The 52-year-old reinstated himself as one of hip-hop’s hottest producers last year thanks largely to the Clipse‘s excellent comeback album Let God Sort Em Out, which he produced entirely by himself.
The project earned not only widespread critical acclaim, but multiple Grammy nominations including for Album of the Year — Pusha T and Malice‘s first-ever nods in the coveted category.
Proving he’s still as versatile as ever, Pharrell also lent his midas touch to The Weeknd‘s Hurry Up Tomorrow and Rosalía’s Lux while cooking up heatrocks for Rick Ross (“For the Money”), Snoop Dogg (“Spot”) and Don Toliver (“LV Bag”).
“I watched The Irishman and that shit changed me because I saw [Martin] Scorsese… this guy doesn’t fucking miss and just gets better and better with time,” he said in an interview with Complex.
“That doesn’t happen in rap. A lot of times, people feel like they age out. And I understand that for some people … But man, to God be the glory that [the Clipse and I] get to wake up and still feel this way about this shit — and be fucking great!”
The post Pharrell Debuts New Pusha T, A$AP Rocky & Quavo Music During Louis Vuitton Show appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More J. Cole Is Dropping A Mixtape Before ‘The Fall-Off,’ Jadakiss Says: “He’s Coming Crazy”
Andy Bustard (21/01/2026)
J. Cole is currently gearing up to release his new album The Fall-Off in early February, but that isn’t the only project he has on deck — according to Jadakiss. The LOX legend let the cat out of the bag during the latest episode of his and Fat Joe’s Joe & Jada podcast, revealing that... The post J. Cole Is Dropping A Mixtape Before ‘The Fall-Off,’ Jadakiss Says: “He’s Coming Crazy” appeared first on HipHopDX.
J. Cole is currently gearing up to release his new album The Fall-Off in early February, but that isn’t the only project he has on deck — according to Jadakiss.
The LOX legend let the cat out of the bag during the latest episode of his and Fat Joe’s Joe & Jada podcast, revealing that Cole is set to drop a mixtape before The Fall-Off arrives on February 6.
According to Jada, the tape hears the Fayeteville phenom hijacking a few classic hip-hop beats.
“Shout out to J. Cole. He got a project coming out called The Fall-Off and he got a mixtape where he used some of The LOX [beats]. He rhymed over ‘Money, Power & Respect’ and he rhymed over ‘Can I Live,'” he said.
“He killed them shits. Cole is coming back in a major way. When you hear his bars, all [the backlash to his Kendrick Lamar apology] don’t matter. He’s coming crazy.”
Jadakiss’ comments fuel rumors that J. Cole is dropping two projects in the coming weeks.
Speculation suggests that the Dreamville MC will release a mixtape, possibly titled It’s a Boy, on January 28 to coincide with his 40th birthday.
It’s a Boy is a title that Cole himself floated when he first announced The Fall-Off back in 2020.
Cole has also added fuel to the fire by releasing the song “Disc 2 Track 2” last week, seemingly hinting that The Fall-Off will be a double album (or accompanied by a separate project entirely).
One thing we do know for sure is that the album is being billed as J. Cole’s seventh and final studio effort, capping off one of modern hip-hop’s most impactful careers.
“For the past 10 years, this album has been hand crafted with one intention: a personal challenge to myself to create my best work. To do on my last what I was unable to do on my first,” he wrote in a message that introduces his “Disc 2 Track 2” music video.
“I had no way of knowing how much time, focus and energy it would eventually take to achieve this, but despite countless challenges along the way, I knew in my heart I would one day get to the finish line. I owed it first and foremost to myself. And secondly, I owed it to hip hop.”
The post J. Cole Is Dropping A Mixtape Before ‘The Fall-Off,’ Jadakiss Says: “He’s Coming Crazy” appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More T.I. Returns With New Pharrell-Produced Single “Let Em Know”: Listen
Andy Bustard (19/01/2026)
After the triumphant returns of the Clipse, Mobb Deep and De La Soul last year, T.I. is the latest rap veteran looking to make a comeback. Having spent the last few years focusing on his comedy career and expediTIously podcast, as well as fighting a few legal battles, the Grand Hustle general announced over the... The post T.I. Returns With New Pharrell-Produced Single “Let Em Know”: Listen appeared first on HipHopDX.
After the triumphant returns of the Clipse, Mobb Deep and De La Soul last year, T.I. is the latest rap veteran looking to make a comeback.
Having spent the last few years focusing on his comedy career and expediTIously podcast, as well as fighting a few legal battles, the Grand Hustle general announced over the weekend: “T.I. is back.”
Tip kickstarted his comeback campaign by releasing a new single called “Let Em Know,” produced by longtime collaborator and Producer of the Year candidate (thanks to his work on the Clipse’s Grammy-nominated Let God Sort Em Out) Pharrell.
Backed by a bouncy, speaker-rattling beat from Skateboard P, who is responsible for past T.I. hits like “Blurred Lines,” “I’m Serious” and “Get Back Up” as well as the bulk of his 2014 album Paperwork, the Bankhead bully gets right back in his bag with a braggadocious anthem.
“All they do is fight for number two ’cause I’m the one / Still make ’em play with the one / All we know is success, hit her with some rich sex / Good luck gettin’ your bitch back, she forever mine ’til I let her go,” he spits.
Adding to the resurgence, T.I. has also cut off his dreads and returned to his familiar low fade — the clean-cut hairstyle that he rocked throughout his 2000s prime.
Listen to “Let Em Know” below.
“Let Em Know” is the first preview of T.I.’s long-awaited new album Kill the King, which will mark his final full-length release and first since 2020’s The L.I.B.R.A..
In a 2023 appearance on the We In Miami podcast, the Atlanta native revealed that the project will be a double album, with side A titled Kill the King and side B labeled Kiss the King.
He also said NBA YoungBoy would be featured on one of the first singles — a track he said will subvert fans’ expectations — although it’s unclear if that’s still the plan.
Speaking with TMZ last year, Tip explained that the title Kill the King represents him “killing the ego” and relinquishing his King of the South crown.
“I feel like the ‘King of the South’ moniker, it’s very egotistical and self-gratuitous. It’s a persona that kinda enters the room before I do, physically,” he admitted.
“When I was coming onto the scene, I went to all of the Southern legends that I respected and I asked [for their blessing to call myself King of the South] … All of them gave me their support … [but Big Boi] said, ‘That shit sounds cool but just understand, if you the king you’re gonna put a big bullseye on your back. The name of the game in chess is to kill the king.'”
“Standing here 20 years later, looking back on my career, I can kinda see what he meant,” he added.
The post T.I. Returns With New Pharrell-Produced Single “Let Em Know”: Listen appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More A$AP Rocky Disses Drake On “Stole Ya Flow” & Explains Their Beef
Andy Bustard (16/01/2026)
A$AP Rocky has continued his feud with Drake on his new album Don’t Be Dumb, sending more shots at the 6 God. On the song “Stole Ya Flow,” Pretty Flacko appears to taunt Drizzy over his relationship with Rihanna (who, of course, had a rumored fling with Drake years ago) while accusing him of biting... The post A$AP Rocky Disses Drake On “Stole Ya Flow” & Explains Their Beef appeared first on HipHopDX.
A$AP Rocky has continued his feud with Drake on his new album Don’t Be Dumb, sending more shots at the 6 God.
On the song “Stole Ya Flow,” Pretty Flacko appears to taunt Drizzy over his relationship with Rihanna (who, of course, had a rumored fling with Drake years ago) while accusing him of biting his style.
“First you stole my flow / So I stole your bitch,” he spits on the hard-hitting track, before seemingly referencing Drake’s alleged history of plastic surgery: “N*ggas getting BBLs, lucky we ain’t body-shame.”
In an interview with The New York Times‘ Popcast shortly before the release of Don’t Be Dumb, A$AP Rocky all but confirmed that “Stole Ya Flow” is aimed at his former “Fuckin’ Problems” collaborator.
“I think we all know [who I’m talking about],” he said. When co-host Joe Coscarelli noted that the Internet will most likely identify Drake as the target of the song, Rocky replied: “Yeah.”
However, the Harlem rapper gave a more vague answer when asked if “Stole Ya Flow” is a clear-cut Drake diss. “It’s for whoever thinks it’s about them,” he said.
Rocky also opened up about his issues with Drizzy, explaining: “I just started seeing people who started out as friends become foes. It seemed like they were unhappy for [me] and started sending shots. I think that’s what led to any of our misunderstandings. It really ain’t smoke.”
He also appeared to rule out a reconciliation, saying: “It don’t even need to be [resolved]. For what?”
His comments come at the 36:37 mark in the video below.
The pair’s relationship soured in late 2023 when Drake appeared to diss A$AP Rocky and Rihanna on his album For All the Dogs.
“Why they make it sound like I’m still hung up on you? / That could never be / Gyal can’t run me / Better him than me / Better it’s not me,” he rapped on “Fear of Heights.”
Drizzy also not-so-subtly referenced RiRi’s album Anti by spitting: “I’m anti, I’m anti / Yeah, and the sex was average with you / Yeah, I’m anti ’cause I had it with you / Okay, I’m auntie like your daddy’s sister / Auntie like a family picture / And I had way badder bitches than you, TBH / Yeah, that man, he still with you, he can’t leave you / Y’all go on vacation, I bet it’s Antigua.”
That led to a lyrical back-and-forth between Rocky and Drake on songs like “Family Matters,” Future and Metro Boomin‘s “Show of Hands” and Kid Cudi‘s “Wow.”
The post A$AP Rocky Disses Drake On “Stole Ya Flow” & Explains Their Beef appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More New Music Friday: A$AP Rocky, NBA YoungBoy, Gunna & More
Andy Bustard (16/01/2026)
A$AP Rocky headlines this week’s New Music Friday with Don’t Be Dumb, his first album in eight years. The long-awaited project is a typically eclectic and star-studded affair from Pretty Flacko that showcases his musical range and influences, with appearances from the likes of Tyler, The Creator, Westside Gunn, Doechii and Damon Albarn. Even legendary... The post New Music Friday: A$AP Rocky, NBA YoungBoy, Gunna & More appeared first on HipHopDX.
A$AP Rocky headlines this week’s New Music Friday with Don’t Be Dumb, his first album in eight years.
The long-awaited project is a typically eclectic and star-studded affair from Pretty Flacko that showcases his musical range and influences, with appearances from the likes of Tyler, The Creator, Westside Gunn, Doechii and Damon Albarn. Even legendary composer Danny Elfman and movie director Tim Burton lend their talents to the album, which is likely to earn Rock his third number one on the Billboard 200.
Another high-profile project comes from NBA YoungBoy, who finally delivers his heavily delayed Slime Cry with guest spots from Burna Boy and Jelly Roll. Extending his prolific run in recent years, Wiz Khalifa surprise-releases his new album Khaotic which is laced with features from 2 Chainz, Juicy J and the recently-freed Max B, among others.
There’s plenty of firepower on the singles front, too. Gunna teams up with Chris Brown for a remix to his Last Wun standout “wgft,” Maxo Kream, Denzel Curry and JPEGMAFIA make Snowman proud on the trap anthem “Fake Jeezy,” and Veeze proves he’s “One of Them Ones” with help from Lil Baby and Rylo Rodriguez.
Check out all the best new rap albums and songs below.
A$AP Rocky — Don’t Be Dumb
Featuring: Tyler, The Creator, Westside Gunn, Doechii, Brent Faiyaz, Damon Albarn, Sauce Walka, will.i.am, Jessica Pratt, Slay Squad
NBA YoungBoy — Slime Cry
Featuring: Burna Boy, Jelly Roll
Gunna feat. Chris Brown — “wgft (Remix)”
Produced By: Turbo & Shottie
Wiz Khalifa — Khaotic
Featuring: 2 Chainz, Juicy J, Max B, Dave East, Skilla Baby, HoodRich Pablo Juan, RMR
Maxo Kream feat. Denzel Curry & JPEGMAFIA — “Fake Jeezy”
Produced By: JPEGMAFIA
Veeze feat. Lil Baby & Rylo Rodriguez — “One of Them Ones”
Produced By: Desmos & Wana
Fivio Foreign feat. Tory Lanez & Lil Tjay — “Sexy”
Produced By: Vitalywastaken & Yoshi01
Jill Scott — “Don’t Play”
Produced By: Seige Monstracity
Ella Mai — “100”
Produced By: Mustard
Joyner Lucas — “Monsters”
Produced By: Matt Zara, BullySongs, Digital Farm Animals, Aukoustics & Reece Bullimore
PlaqueBoyMax feat. Bryson Tiller — “wyd”
Produced By: dammittony & Kat Lightning
Gorillaz — “The Hardest Thing” (feat. Tony Allen) + “Orange County” (feat. Bizarrap, Kara Jackson & Anoushka Shankar)
Produced By: Gorillaz, James Ford, Samuel Egglenton & Remi Kabaka Jr. / Gorillaz & Bizarrap
Serial Killers (Xzibit, B-Real & Demrick) — “This Thing Of Ours”
Produced By: Scoop DeVille
Deante’ Hitchcock feat. 6LACK, Childish Major & Anna Field — “Reminders”
Produced By: Leale, Boi Yanel, IVN, Angelo Imani & Rambo
Buddy feat. KEY! & CUZZOS — “Ass Match the Legs”
Produced By: Hollywood Cole
Grafh feat. Styles P, 38 Spesh & Mitchy Slick — “Outside”
Produced By: Credits unavailable
GENA (Liv.e & Karriem Riggins) — “Lead It Up”
Produced By: Karriem Riggins
Gabriel Jacoby — “gutta child”
Produced By: Elie Rizk
Lexa Gates — I Am
Featuring: N/A
The post New Music Friday: A$AP Rocky, NBA YoungBoy, Gunna & More appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More A$AP Rocky Reveals ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ Tracklist & Features
Andy Bustard (15/01/2026)
A$AP Rocky has revealed the tracklist for his new album Don’t Be Dumb ahead of its long-awaited release this Friday (January 16). Dubbed “a true masterpiece by A$AP Rocky and his alter egos,” the project features 15 songs including the recently released “Helicopter$” and “Punk Rocky.” Other tracks include “Stole Ya Flow,” “Stop Snitching” and... The post A$AP Rocky Reveals ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ Tracklist & Features appeared first on HipHopDX.
A$AP Rocky has revealed the tracklist for his new album Don’t Be Dumb ahead of its long-awaited release this Friday (January 16).
Dubbed “a true masterpiece by A$AP Rocky and his alter egos,” the project features 15 songs including the recently released “Helicopter$” and “Punk Rocky.”
Other tracks include “Stole Ya Flow,” “Stop Snitching” and “Whiskey (I’m Not Resisting),” all of which the Harlem rapper has performed live in recent years.
Guest features and producers remain under wraps for now, but Rocky has teased a number of high-profile collaborators including Tyler, The Creator, Metro Boomin and Busta Rhymes, among others.
There are also rumors that the elusive Frank Ocean will make a rare appearance on the song “Air Force (Black DeMarco)” after its producer, Digital Nas, strongly hinted as much on X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week.
UPDATE: A$AP Rocky has revealed the Don’t Be Dumb features via Spotify billboards promoting the album. Tyler, The Creator, Westside Gunn, Doechii, Brent Faiyaz, Thundercat, Gorillaz, BossMan Dlow, will.i.am, Danny Elfman, Jon Batiste, Slay Squad and Jessica Pratt are all set to appear.
A$AP Rocky — Don’t Be Dumb (Tracklist):
1. Order of Protection
2. Helicopter$
3. Interrogation (Skit)
4. Stole Ya Flow
5. Stay Here
6. Playa
7. Trespass
8. Stop Snitching
9. STFU
10. Punk Rocky
11. Air Force (Black DeMarco)
12. Whiskey (I’m Not Resisting)
13. Robbery
14. Don’t Be Dumb / Trip Baby
15. The End
One confirmed (and central) contributer to Don’t Be Dumb is Tim Burton, the legendary filmmaker behind Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands and the late ’80s/early ’90s Batman movies.
Burton’s name appears on the official cover art, which he also designed, while the tracklist describes the album as “the nightmare b4 the release” — a clear nod to Burton’s 1982 poem The Nightmare Before Christmas (which was, of course, later turned into a cult-classic film).
“I love Tim Burton, man. I’ve been inspired by him [since] a child,” A$AP Rocky told Vanity Fair last year. “I think what he does with claymation and how he transcended into live-action movies, the parallels between them and [how] he seamlessly included it from matte painting to German Expressionism. I think he’s a fucking genius.”
Longtime Burton collaborator, the composer Danny Elfman, is also involved, with A$AP Rocky saying in the same interview: “Danny Elfman did my album with me, he scored a bunch of the song. We had [the TV] on mute and were just making music to all of the old fims, Pee-wee’s Playhouse and The Simpsons, all that.”
As for the “alter egos” part, a clue may lie in the vinyl listing of Don’t Be Dumb.
“The 15-track [album] moves through genres the way you’d move through a city — jazz, hip hop, metal, indie, R&B — each track capturing a different block, mood, or moment. It’s Rocky in full range,” it reads.
The post A$AP Rocky Reveals ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ Tracklist & Features appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More J. Cole Drops New Single From ‘The Fall-Off,’ Hints At Double Album
Andy Bustard (15/01/2026)
J. Cole has released the first single from The Fall-Off, just hours after announcing the album. Uploaded under the title “The Fall-Off… Disc 2 Track 2” — a hint that his forthcoming (and final) project could be a double disc effort — the song is a storytelling masterpiece that would make Nas proud. Taking inspiration... The post J. Cole Drops New Single From ‘The Fall-Off,’ Hints At Double Album appeared first on HipHopDX.
J. Cole has released the first single from The Fall-Off, just hours after announcing the album.
Uploaded under the title “The Fall-Off… Disc 2 Track 2” — a hint that his forthcoming (and final) project could be a double disc effort — the song is a storytelling masterpiece that would make Nas proud.
Taking inspiration from Esco’s “Rewind,” the North Carolina native lays out his life story in reverse over soulful, southern-fried production from DZL and Maneesh — touching on his death, legacy, parenthood, marriage, career milestones and eventually his birth.
“My grandkids carried the coffin to the altar as they burst into tears from their shirts / The tears rise to the sides of they face and into their eyes, it’s piercin’ with hurt / Fast forward 60 years, I got versе of the year, my purpose is clеar, it’s to murk / Whoever dare flirt with death, the best alive and what you now hear is the work,” Cole spits, his confidence clearly undented by the backlash to his decision to bow out of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef.
Bringing the autobiographical song to life is a clever video from director Ryan Doubiago, which moves in reverse through different rooms to capture J. Cole’s reflective rhymes.
“The Fall-Off… Disc 2 Track 2” ends with a bonus snippet of an unreleased song — presumably from The Fall-Off — which uses the same Whispers sample as Mobb Deep‘s 1996 2Pac diss song “Drop a Gem On ‘Em.”
At the beginning of the video is a message explaining the concept behind The Fall-Off, which is set to arrive on February 6 and is being billed as J. Cole’s final album.
“For the past 10 years, this album has been hand crafted with one intention: a personal challenge to myself to create my best work. To do on my last what I was unable to do on my first,” the Dreamville rap star wrote.
“I had no way of knowing how much time, focus and energy it would eventually take to achieve this, but despite countless challenges along the way, I knew in my heart I would one day get to the finish line. I owed it first and foremost to myself. And secondly, I owed it to hip hop.”
Earlier on Wednesday (January 14), Cole officially announced The Fall-Off through a short but cinematic trailer which provides some further insight into the long-awaited album.
“Everything is supposed to go away eventually,” a voice says over shots of Cole cleaning his Lamborghini at a car wash and eating a meal on his own at a diner. “You see this especially in show business with famous actors or musicians. And it’s like, ‘Oh, this guy used to be famous and then he ‘fell off.’ What happened?’
“And they want to point to, ‘They did this and this and they made some sort of mistake.’ Instead of thinking that, look, it’s kinda crazy they got famous in the first place. So few people reach that level that yes, of course, it’s not gonna last forever because somebody else has to take that spot.
“And that’s how show business has been since forever. But no, they always want to say, ‘That guy fell off.’ They want to look down on him for just going through the natural cycle of rising and falling.”
The post J. Cole Drops New Single From ‘The Fall-Off,’ Hints At Double Album appeared first on HipHopDX.
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