As the clock ticks down to one of hip-hop’s most hyped comebacks, A$AP Rocky is about to drop a project that’s been marinating since the tail end of the Obama era, blending Harlem grit with high-fashion surrealism. “Playa,” the sixth cut on his long-awaited DON’T BE DUMB, emerges like a sly wink in the rearview—smooth, seductive, and laced with that effortless swagger that makes Rocky’s world feel both untouchable and intimately chaotic. With the album leaking online just days ago, whispers of its contents have fans scouring every snippet, and those hunting for Playa lyrics by A$AP Rocky are already buzzing about how it captures his evolution from street poet to cultural alchemist. It’s the kind of track that turns vulnerability into velvet, reminding us why we’ve been patient for seven years.
| Lead Vocals | A$AP Rocky |
| Songwriter | A$AP Rocky |
| Music Producer | [TBA] |
| Label | A$AP Worldwide, RCA Records & Sony Music Entertainment |
| Release Date | January 16, 2026 |
| Song Language | English |
| Copyright © | A$AP Worldwide, RCA Records & Sony Music Entertainment |
Lyrics of Playa by A$AP Rocky
[Chorus]
Show ’em How To Ball, Show ’em How To Play
I’ma Shoot My Shot, Hit Them With The J, Uh
Cross, Cross, Cross, Cross, Niggas In The Way
Shoot ’em, Shoot ’em, Shoot ’em, I Go Harder In The Paint
[Verse 1]
Brand-new Day, Brand-new Yay’
Brand-new Mercedes, Red, Blue, Grey
Mm-mm-mm, It’s A Motherfuckin’ Shame
Niggas Talkin’ Out They Face Until I Blow Inside They Motherfuckin’ Face
Lil’ Bro, Put That Ho Number In Your Notes, Don’t Make It Hot
If She Curvy, Just Like Steph Curry, Gotta Take Your Shot
This Player Shit Don’t Stop, Pimpin’ Dead, Ain’t No Wifin’ Thots
Gave The [?] Vultures In Versace Shirts, Feel Like Pac
Keep It Brief, Nigga, No Receipts, Don’t Text, Nigga
Don’t Be Mad If She’s Pillowtalking With The Next Nigga
Though She Bad, She Just Got A Birkin From That Next Nigga
Light The Gas, Find A Bitch To Smash, She’ll Be Vexed, Nigga
[Pre-Chorus]
Try Not To Stare
Whenever Them Diamonds Be Goin’ On, The Lights Be Turnin’ Off (Try Not To Stare)
Whenever I’m Goin’ Out, Nigga Look Like He Showing Off (Try Not To Stare)
I Don’t Not [?] This With The Older Folk, We Don’t Even Know You, Bro (Try Not To Stare)
If You Be Runnin’ Up, You’ll Takin’ Shots For Each And Every One Of Us
[Chorus]
Show ’em How To Ball, Show ’em How To Play
I’ma Shoot My Shot, Hit Them With The J, Uh
Cross, Cross, Cross, Cross, Niggas In The Way
Shoot ’em, Shoot ’em, Shoot ’em, I Go Harder In The Paint
[Verse 2]
Takin’ Care Of Your Kids, Boy, That’s Player Shit
One Bitch, Boy, That’s Player Shit
No Baby Mama Drama, No New Friends, Boy, That’s Player Shit
Don’t Switch, Boy, That’s Hater Shit
You Snitch, Boy, That’s Lame As Shit
Forever Talkin’ Shit On Someone Else Relationship
Still The One In Nine, Shawty, She A Dime
I Don’t Need No Home, I Just Wanna Enquire
She Stay On My Line, I Stay On The Mind
Them Boys Must Be Blind If They Can’t Tell You Mine, Shawty, Yeah
[Bridge]
‘Cause You Mine, Shawty
‘Cause You Mine, Shorty
‘Cause You Mine, Shawty
‘Cause You Fine
‘Cause You Mine, Shawty, Shawty
Is You Mine, Shawty?
Is You Mine, Shawty?
Is You Fine, Shawty? Uh, Yeah
[Pre-Chorus]
Try Not To Stare
Whenever Them Diamonds Be Goin’ On, The Lights Be Turnin’ Off (Try Not To Stare)
Whenever I’m Goin’ Out, Nigga Look Like He Showing Off (Try Not To Stare)
I Don’t Not [?] This With The Older Folk, We Don’t Even Know You, Bro (Try Not To Stare)
If You Be Runnin’ Up, You’ll Takin’ Shots For Each And Every One Of Us
[Chorus]
Show ’em How To Ball, Show ’em How To Play
I’ma Shoot My Shot, Hit Them With The J, Uh
Cross, Cross, Cross, Niggas In The Way
Shoot ’em, Shoot ’em, Shoot ’em, I Go Harder In The Paint
[Outro]
Yeah, Is You Mines?
‘Cause You Mine, Shawty
Shawty Mine, Shawty— (Come Kiss Me)
I Don’t Pay No Mind, I Don’t Pay No Mind (Come Kiss Me)
I Don’t Need No Home, I Just Wanna Enquire
‘Cause You Mine, Shawty
Is You Mine, Shawty?
About “Playa by A$AP Rocky”
A$AP Rocky glides into DON’T BE DUMB with “Playa,” a hazy confessional that drapes luxury regrets over a beat as lush as a rooftop lounge at dusk—intimate yet infinite.
Diving into the song’s essence, “Playa” pulses with a moody R&B-trap hybrid, where shimmering synths and understated percussion create space for Rocky’s introspective flow. The theme? A player’s paradise gone introspective, exploring fleeting connections amid fame’s fluorescent haze—think late-night confessions about love as both game and gamble. Production nods to his A$AP Mob roots but with a polished, psychedelic edge, courtesy of collaborators like Juicy J, who sprinkles that Memphis dust across the board. It’s seductive without trying too hard, the mood a cocktail of nostalgia and nocturnal freedom that hits different on a solo drive.
Nestled in DON’T BE DUMB, billed as Rocky’s “ghetto love tale,” “Playa” fits like a pivotal chapter in a noir romance scripted by Tim Burton—dark whimsy meets raw emotion. The album’s vision, teased since 2018 with cryptic merch drops and X posts, weaves skits, features, and sonic detours into a narrative of protection orders, heists, and redemption arcs. Tracks like the lead single “Punk Rocky” (out January 6) set the anarchic tone, while guests Damon Albarn and Westside Gunn on “Whiskey (I’m Not Resisting)” add eclectic flair. It’s Rocky’s boldest swing yet, turning delays into a deliberate mythos.
Set for official release on January 16—just days away via AWGE, Polo Grounds, and RCA—the rollout has been pure Rocky chaos: a December 2025 leak sparked fan forums ablaze, followed by that Burton-inspired cover art reveal on X. Pre-saves are stacking up on Spotify, and early previews hint at visuals that could rival his Testing era experiments. No massive promo blitz, just organic frenzy building toward what feels like a cultural reset.
At 37, post-fatherhood and fresh off Rihanna-fueled tabloid orbits, Rocky’s in a reflective renaissance, channeling personal milestones into art that defies rap’s speed-demon pace. DON’T BE DUMB—his first full-length since 2018’s Testing—marks growth from Pretty Flacko’s flashy provocateur to a matured visionary, experimenting with genre bends while honoring Harlem’s pulse. “Playa” underscores this shift, less about conquest and more about the quiet costs, slotting into a discography that redefined luxury rap. In an era of TikTok one-offs, it matters as a reminder: Rocky’s not chasing trends; he’s rewriting the blueprint.
This isn’t just an album drop—it’s Rocky’s phoenix moment, fusing his AWGE empire with broader sonic adventures, from punk-infused bangers to soul-baring slow burns. As leaks give way to the real thing, expect “Playa” to soundtrack a thousand sunset scrolls, its bars dissecting the thrill and trap of being perpetually on.
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