A$AP Rocky has released his new album “Don’t Be Dumb,” but notably absent is Morrissey, despite previous statements about their collaboration, according to Instagram.
The rapper announced the album’s release with enthusiasm, celebrating the project’s completion.
“‘Don’t Be Dumb’ officially out now! Thank you to my fans, team, artists, creatives, producers, engineers, partners, and everyone for supporting!” A$AP Rocky said.
However, this release comes as a surprise given Rocky’s previous commitments to working with the former Smiths frontman. In 2018, the rapper expressed strong interest in collaborating with Morrissey.
“I might have to f*ck with Morrissey on some Smiths shit,” he said at the time. “Make some emo, real, retro-infusion, motherf*ckin’ 2018 shit, man.”
Rocky further confirmed their working relationship in 2021, praising Morrissey’s professionalism and dedication.
“Anything you need him to do, he show up and do,” Rocky confirmed about Morrissey working on the new album.
Despite these previous statements, Morrissey appears to have been quietly removed from the final album release.
The absence of Morrissey from the final tracklist marks the end of a collaboration that had been teased for years. This leaves fans wondering what happened to the promised partnership.
Stereogum reported that Rocky had given multiple interviews about his in-process album over the past few years, claiming that he was making the whole thing with Morrissey. The collaboration had generated significant buzz among fans of both artists, who were eager to hear how the unlikely pairing would sound.
Instead of the Morrissey collaboration, the album features an entirely different set of guest artists. Stereogum noted that the album includes collaborations with Damon Albarn, Westside Gunn, Tyler, The Creator, and SpaceGhostPurrp. These artists represent a more conventional hip-hop and alternative music approach compared to the experimental direction a Morrissey collaboration might have taken.
The project also involved other creative partnerships that did make it to the final release. Kick The Concrete revealed that Tim Burton collaborated with Rocky on the visuals, adding his signature whimsical darkness to the project. This collaboration suggests that Rocky was still interested in working with unconventional creative partners, making Morrissey’s absence even more notable.
The situation reflects a broader pattern in the music industry where announced collaborations sometimes fail to materialize due to creative differences, scheduling conflicts, or other behind-the-scenes issues. One Football confirmed that Rocky had specifically told GQ in 2021 that he was working with Morrissey, making the omission particularly surprising given how recently the collaboration was confirmed.
