Tim Burton's collaboration with A$AP Rocky hints at more than music as 'Don't Be Dumb' nears release
A$AP Rocky fans have been waiting for over a year now for his fourth studio album, 'Don’t Be Dumb', and the rapper's latest tease suggests that the long wait might be worth it. In a post on Instagram, Rocky revealed that celebrated filmmaker, animator, and artist Tim Burton plays a big role in it. Adding to the excitement, the post suggests that there's a movie in the making.
Recently, A$AP Rocky took to Instagram to share a new 'Don't Be Dumb' album artwork, designed by Burton. "SORRY 4 THE WAIT DON’T BE DUMB FINALLY HERE! THANKS TIM BURTON FOR HELPING ME MAKE THIS MOVIE! COMING SOON," he captioned the post. It wasn't long before the internet went abuzz about the possibility of a movie collaboration between Rocky and Burton, who has made a mark for himself as an iconic visual storyteller. Burton's last full-length feature, 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' in 2024, earned both critical and commercial success, as per ScreenRant.
The filmmaker, known for hits like 'Dumbo', 'Edward Scissorhands', and 'Alice in Wonderland', has also served as an executive producer and director of the hit Netflix series, 'Wednesday'. The series debuted to widespread acclaim and sparked a cultural reset. It has already been renewed for a third season, as confirmed by Netflix, after its successful sophomore run. Showering praises on the filmmaker during an interview with Vanity Fair, Rocky said, "I've been inspired by him since I was a child. I think what he does with claymation and how he transcended into live-action movies—the parallels between them and how he seamlessly included everything from matte painting to German Expressionism—I think he’s a f***ing genius."
Talking about the Rocky-Burton collaboration, the filmmaker's role is yet to be revealed. Both album arts shared by Rocky suggest that Burton plays a significant role apart from the album art design. His caption, mentioning a movie in the making, has led many to speculate that Burton will also be playing an important part in an upcoming film with the rapper. The idea is further strengthened by the fact that Burton's longtime collaborator, film composer and singer-songwriter Danny Elfman, also contributed to 'Don't Be Dumb'.
Meanwhile, for fans wondering when Rocky's next album, first teased in 2024, will hit the shelves, the rapper has confirmed a release date. While sharing the second artwork by Burton, Rocky wrote, "NATIONAL NOTHING DAY -DONTBEDUMB." With the annual observance falling on January 16, fans can expect to listen to Rocky's 'Don't Be Dumb' on January 16, 2026. As for the movie, details are mostly under wraps, but any Burton-Rocky collaboration promises something big.
