A$AP Rocky has denied that his upcoming “Helicopter$” music video was created using artificial intelligence.
On Monday (Jan. 12), the rapper released the visual for “Helicopter$,” his first music video of 2026. Shortly after the video dropped, online chatter began questioning whether the trippy, animated visuals were AI-generated — prompting Rocky to respond directly on social media.
“THIS VIDEO IS NOT Ai GENERATED! THIS VIDEO IS NOT Ai GENERATED!” Rocky wrote several times on X after the release, adding, “JUST GENERATIONAL.”
The Dan Streit-directed video leans into the surreal, high-concept aesthetic Rocky has become known for throughout his career, and features the Harlem native leading his crew around the city in a stolen helicopter, while a cop chase ensues.
The track is expected to appear on his forthcoming fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb, which drops January 16. An earlier version of the song featured Playboi Carti, though the official release centers on Rocky alone.
“Helicopter$” arrives just one week after Rocky shared the video for “Punk Rocky,” which starred Winona Ryder and included cameo appearances from Danny Elfman, Thundercat and A$AP Nast. Ryder’s involvement also tied into Rocky’s ongoing creative relationship with filmmaker Tim Burton, who previously collaborated with the rapper on artwork for Don’t Be Dumb.
Rocky has spoken openly about Burton’s involvement in the project. In a previous interview with Billboard, the rapper recalled playing music from the album for the director and described Burton’s reaction.
“He was rocking his head and he’s like, ‘Wow! I didn’t know you made that kind of music!’” Rocky said at the time, adding that Burton was “f—ing with it heavy.”
While Rocky has yet to announce a release date for Don’t Be Dumb, the rollout has steadily picked up momentum and is expected to arrive in just days. The rapper has largely kept details about the album under wraps, though its creative direction has been framed as a continuation of his long-standing interest in fashion, film and boundary-pushing visuals.
The Mob frontman’s “Punk Rocky” was also used by ESPN to soundtrack a semifinals spot, while Indiana University will battle the University of Miami next Monday (Jan. 19) in the championship, which will be a de facto home game for the Hurricanes with it being played at Hardrock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
