Nearly eight years after his most recent project, multitalented artist Rakim “A$AP Rocky” Mayers released his highly anticipated album “Don’t Be Dumb” on Jan. 16. While much of the rapper’s core artistic style remains recognizable throughout, this record presents a new A$AP Rocky to listeners. His changed perspective on the world and on himself is audible in his lyrical subject matter and in the mood of his instrumentation. Perhaps a transformation of character should’ve been expected considering the number of years and drastic changes to the artist’s life that stood between this release and the rest of his discography.

In less than two decades, A$AP Rocky has elevated from a prodigy of the Harlem rap community to a global celebrity whose success reaches far beyond the confines of any single industry or art form. He has appeared in numerous TV shows and films, developed an extensive modeling career and founded “AWGE,” a clothing and merchandise brand. Not to mention, he is in a serious relationship with world-famous Barbadian pop star Rihanna, with whom he’s had three children. Though his fame beyond rap has altered the public’s perception of A$AP Rocky, he remains attached to his roots in the New York City underground scene.

A$AP Rocky donned his stage name in 2007 upon joining the Harlem hip-hop collective A$AP Mob, but his music wouldn’t receive widespread recognition until 2011 with the release of two acclaimed singles and his debut mixtape “LIVE.LOVE.A$AP.” Even his earliest work is characterized by a unique blend of dark psychedelic production and sharp-witted, audacious lyrics.

This style helped influence the trap subgenre, which defined the hip-hop landscape in the 2010s. A$AP Rocky expanded on his murky, hypnotic sound with his next two albums, “LONG.LIVE.A$AP” and “AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP,” using heavy distortion to create shadowy atmospheres through which aggressive drums and rhyme schemes echo.

Aside from the occasional single or feature, the focus of A$AP Rocky’s career seemed to shift away from music after his 2018 release of “TESTING.” Though some fans may find it difficult to excuse such a long break between albums, few would dispute that what matters most is the quality of the music — was it worth the wait?

For those who spent those years awaiting a faithful follow-up to his previous work, the new album may come as a disappointment. “Don’t Be Dumb” introduces a side of the artist that fans have only briefly met in his earlier albums. A$AP Rocky and his team of producers have departed from the darkness that saturated his earlier work, trading it for a vibrant buoyancy.

This new tonal direction is most noticeable in the record’s bold, eccentric instrumentation that offers original ideas and draws inspiration from diverse areas in the world of music. Unexpected sampling and collaborations have been a trademark of A$AP Rocky’s from the start. “Don’t Be Dumb” is no different, incorporating samples from Thelonious Monk’s jazz classic “Caravan” and Clairo’s “Sinking” and featuring artists like Gorillaz, will.i.am and Jessica Pratt.

A$AP Rocky’s experimentation creates a handful of addictively fun moments, but in many instances, the album feels lacking. Compared to $AP Rocky’s earlier work, most songs on “Don’t Be Dumb” come off as less thoughtfully organized. While a loose or spontaneous approach is not always a negative, this album’s beats and vocals don’t always bring the raw energy or infectiousness to justify it.

Changes to A$AP Rocky’s character are also displayed through the lyrical focus on dispensing wisdom and advice — a strong example being the album’s title. No longer is he speaking from the viewpoint of an up-and-comer, hungry to rise the ranks and prove his worth. His success speaks for itself, so with his music, he intends to school the younger generation.

Despite these differences, many aspects of the album are still strongly reminiscent of classic A$AP Rocky. Several songs make creative use of vocal distortion and alternating between tempos, such as “STAY HERE 4 LIFE,” “DON’T BE DUMB / TRIP BABY” and “AIR FORCE (BLACK DEMARCO).” Additionally, his songwriting remains among the best in the industry, with memorable lines across the album and particularly impressive flows on “HELICOPTER” and “NO TRESPASSING.”

All in all, though “Don’t Be Dumb” may not be as captivating as A$AP Rocky’s previous work, the album contains no shortage of enjoyable tracks and represents a new direction for his music career.