A$AP Rocky unveiled his new single 'Helicopter$' along with a chaotic animated music video on January 12, 2026, building excitement for his upcoming album Don't Be Dumb. The track features production from Rocky, Kelvin Krash, and Soufien 3000, and ties into a broader promotional push including ESPN's College Football Playoff coverage. The release follows last week's 'Punk Rocky' single and highlights Rocky's blend of music, visuals, and collaborations.
A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, dropped the single 'Helicopter$' on January 12, 2026, just days before his fourth studio album, Don't Be Dumb, arrives on January 16 via A$AP Worldwide and RCA Records. The bass-heavy track, written by Rocky and Kelvin Krash with co-production from Soufien 3000, includes nostalgic lyrics such as 'Take my white tee off, spin it like a helicopter / Fuck with young Pretty Flacko, I Petey pop you,' referencing Petey Pablo's 2001 hit 'Raise Up.'
The accompanying music video, directed by Rocky and Dan Streit, draws inspiration from Grand Theft Auto and PlayStation aesthetics, featuring 3D-rendered scenes of rooftop riots, cop-car collisions, robot wars, and SWAT teams. A cartoon version of Rocky navigates the chaos in a hot pink mini vehicle with matching hair rollers—first seen on his summer tour—before hijacking a helicopter and dangling from it. The video prominently includes the 'D.B.D.' helicopter prop from Rocky's 2025 Lollapalooza performance and was created in partnership with Moncler for his GENIUS Collection, using motion-captured animations and lifelike holograms that transform into digital objects.
This release builds on last week's 'Punk Rocky,' which featured a video with appearances by Winona Ryder, Thundercat, and Danny Elfman. Don't Be Dumb showcases collaborations with Tim Burton, who designed artwork and a companion film, and Elfman, who scored several tracks. In a Variety interview, Rocky reflected on the album's personal nature: 'This fucking album, it represents who I am right now. It's just I hope that it's digestible.' He also expressed a desire for humility: 'As I get older, I'm more conscious about how I view myself... I want to figure out how to say it to where it feels more humble, relatable, and sincere.'
Vinyl pre-sales have reached 130,000 units, underscoring anticipation. Additionally, 'Helicopter$' debuts in ESPN's College Football Playoff National Championship spot on January 12, with the game set for January 19 at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium. Rocky promoted the video on Instagram, insisting, 'DONTBEDUMB CHANGING THE GAME !!! A$VP. THIS VIDEO IS NOT Ai GENERATED!' He has also joined the 2026 Governors Ball lineup.
