Ahead of the Jan. 16 release of his highly anticipated fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb, A$AP Rocky surprised residents of the building where he grew up in Harlem, New York, by covering their January rent. According to Us Weekly, the 37-year-old rapper, in partnership with Bilt, offered a donation to the building that will cover next month’s rent for all tenants.
“For me, it’s always been about your community and neighborhood,” Rocky said in a statement. “Harlem made me who I am, from uptown to downtown, and that connection to place is everything. When Bilt said they wanted to cover rent for everyone in the same building where I grew up, that hit different. That’s not just business, that’s understanding what community really means.”
Rocky designed a limited edition vinyl and will participate in Bilt’s monthly game show, ‘Rent Free’
In addition to the donation, a limited edition vinyl including artwork A$AP Rocky designed, which he explained is “my love letter to New York, and being able to give back to the exact place that raised me,” is available for pre-order via the Bilt app and the payments and commerce network’s website for members of the its rewards program, Harlem World Magazine reported.
The rapper’s album will also be included in a special edition of Bilt’s monthly game show, Rent Free. The new promotion will offer members a chance to win rent payments of up to $2,500. Ten winners will receive signed copies of the limited edition vinyl, and participants can earn bonus Bilt points. Rocky will also appear as a contestant on the show.
Rocky announced ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ and shared the album’s Tim Burton-designed cover art
According to Billboard, Rocky announced Don’t Be Dumb on Dec. 19, sharing the album’s Tim Burton-designed cover art and the project’s January release date on social media.
“JANUARY 16 2026 , DON’T BE DUMB VINYLS , CDs , CASSETTES , AND DIGITAL DSPs AVAILABLE , THANKS TO EVERY CREATIVE AND MUSICIAN WHO HELPED ME WITH THIS MASTERPIECE,” the rapper wrote in the post’s caption.
In an interview with Billboard for the publication’s August cover story, the rapper shared he played the music for the Nightmare Before Christmas writer and director, and he loved it.
“I sat and I played the album for Tim Burton, and he was f–king with it heavy,” the outlet reported the rapper said. “He was rocking his head and he’s like, ‘Wow! I didn’t know you made that kind of music!'”