A$AP Rocky Teases A New Release At The Cannes

A$AP Rocky blended art, style, and cultural commentary during Monday night at the Cannes Film Festival. The rapper arrived in the rain with his pregnant partner, Rihanna. Followed by the sounds of an unreleased track likely to appear on his long-anticipated album Don’t Be Dumb.

The moment wasn’t just a showcase of Rocky’s flair for the dramatic. It was also the premiere of his new film Highest 2 Lowest, directed by Spike Lee and co-starring Denzel Washington.

So, the track that played as Rocky made his entrance was unmistakably his. It showcased swaggering flow and lyrical nods to his on-screen character, “Yung Felon.” At one point in the song, he raps, “Shout-outs to my felons, boy / We caught another felony.” The line that seems to blur the line between Rocky’s real life and his cinematic persona. Another standout lyric. “I can’t go to court, my baby mama child support, f— college”—landed with eerie precision as he posed for photos beside Rihanna, the mother of his children.

A$AP Rocky and New Release

Though Rocky hasn’t confirmed whether the track will officially appear on Don’t Be Dumb, it fits the mold of his recent teasers. The track is raw, personal, and laced with a sharp sense of identity. Fans have been waiting patiently for the follow-up to 2018’s Testing. Thus, with every cryptic rollout, it seems Rocky is crafting not just an album, but a full artistic statement.

Meanwhile, the Highest 2 Lowest is shaping up to be a major moment for all involved. The film received a nearly six-minute standing ovation following its premiere, a rare feat even by Cannes standards. Denzel Washington was honored with the prestigious honorary Palme d’Or, presented by Spike Lee.

“This is the fifth one we’ve done together,” Lee said during a press conference. “It’s been a blessing, this body of work between us, doing films that people love. And I think this is it. He’s been talking about retirement. But five films together—that’s good. They stand up.”

With the Highest 2 Lowest set for a U.S. theatrical release on August 22 and streaming on Apple TV+ starting September 5, audiences won’t have to wait long to see Rocky’s turn as Yung Felon—or to decode more of his lyrical breadcrumbs.

Whether he’s on the red carpet or behind the mic, A$AP Rocky is once again proving he’s playing the long game, one tease at a time.