A$AP Rocky Teams Up with Danny Elfman for a Memorable ‘SNL’ Debut Performance of ‘Don’t Be Dumb’
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A$AP Rocky made his debut as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on January 13, showcasing tracks from his newly released album.
The Harlem-born rapper performed for the first time on the iconic late-night sketch show, delivering three songs from his long-awaited album, Don’t Be Dumb, which premiered just a day earlier.
For his opener, Rocky took the stage at Studio 8H in a cameo-filled set, performing the album’s lead single, “Punk Rocky.” The visually striking, back-alley-themed set featured renowned composer Danny Elfman on drums and Thundercat on bass.
Reflecting the song’s chaotic music video, Rocky sported pink hair curlers and wielded a megaphone while performing in front of a vividly spray-painted garage, with a lively cast of characters creating a raucous scene in the background.
Latter in the episode, Rocky returned for a medley of “Helicopter” and the album’s title track.
In addition to his musical showcases, Rocky participated in the sketch “Snackhomiez,” where he joined Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard and a guest appearance by Sabrina Carpenter, discussing snacks on a podcast.
Don’t Be Dumb features collaborations with Tyler, The Creator and Doechii. Rocky’s last album, Testing, was released in 2018 and reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200. His earlier albums—2013’s Long. Live. ASAP and 2015’s At. Long. Last. ASAP—both achieved No. 1 status on the chart.
Saturday marked Rocky’s first appearance as a musical guest on SNL, although he had previously been featured in a 2018 sketch titled “Friendos” alongside Kenan Thompson and Donald Glover.
Watch A$AP Rocky’s SNL performances below.
