A$AP Rocky made his first appearance as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on the January 17, 2026 episode of the NBC late-night show, marking a high-profile moment timed with the release of his long-awaited album Don’t Be Dumb. The Harlem-born rapper stepped onto the SNL stage for the first time in his career to deliver performances of three tracks from the new project, which officially dropped on January 16 after several delays.

Rocky opened his SNL set with the lead single “Punk Rocky,” backed by bassist Thundercat and legendary composer Danny Elfman on drums, who brought a unique presence to the performance that mirrored the wild visuals of the song’s music video. Rocky, styled with pink hair curlers and a megaphone, performed in front of a gritty, spray-painted garage set, complete with a cast trashing the stage to capture the chaotic energy of the track. He later returned to perform a medley featuring “Helicopter$” and the album’s title track.

In addition to his musical performances, Rocky appeared in the sketch “Snack Homiez” alongside SNL host Finn Wolfhard and a cameo from singer-actor Sabrina Carpenter, participating in a parody about a teen podcast obsessed with snacks.

The episode itself marked the return of SNL from its winter break and included a mix of pop culture and political sketches, with Rocky’s energetic musical sets standing out amid the show’s broader comedic lineup.

Rocky’s performance comes at a pivotal moment in his career as Don’t Be Dumb is his first full album in nearly eight years, featuring an eclectic list of collaborators and creative contributions from artists like Tyler, The Creator and Gorillaz, as well as artwork designed by director Tim Burton.

Following the SNL broadcast, Rocky and partner Rihanna were spotted leaving the after-party in New York City, underscoring the cultural buzz surrounding his SNL debut and the album’s release.