REVIEW: Action Bronson

http://www.youtube.com/embed/8g2_ZT5PWRQ

By: Blake Jarvis

It has undoubtedly been another incredible year for hip hop music, with many previously

rising underground stars beginning to reach the top of the charts, numerous collectives being

formed, and the releases of stellar album after album. Action Bronson, one of the most prolific

rappers in the game right now, has just dropped his third project in a year: Blue Chips 2.

Teaming up once again with producer Party Supplies, the two have learned from Action’s

previous efforts and come to realize his true strengths as an artist: lyrics about food and excess,

classic New York flows, and over-the-top instrumentals.

The most obvious aspect of Bronson’s music has been his personality, which while he

has taken pieces of his persona from other previous rappers like Rick Ross, he certainly delivers

his own spin. He’s half luxury-flaunting mob boss and half five star chef, due largely to his

background as a professional chef and food aficionado. Couple that with one hilarious punch-
line after another and you’ve got a recipe for some top quality raps. Lines from tracks like “Flip

Ya” (I’m crunching numbers just like a Rain Man, and got the grey lamb, interior was beige

sand), “It Concerns Me” (I marry ya niece, cash me out in Paris for fleece. Shoot the back of ya

knees, Gary Sinise), and “Amadu Diablo” (Clear the run-way 720’s on a one way. So much

drugs, what would a nun say? And its Sunday) There’s enough dishes mentioned on here to

cover a menu at a five-star restaurant. In addition some big names have lent a hand with features

from the likes of Ab-Soul and Mac Miller, who both deliver solid verses.

The instrumentals here stand out on their own merit as well. Samples ranging from a

Charlie Sheen quote involving crack rocks and a very timely snippet of Allen Iverson’s “We

Talkin’ about Practice” press conference give the album a playful mood. The instrumentals have

a strong G-Funk sound with bright, reverberating organs, grandiose brass sections, and a

surprisingly large amount of rhythmic guitar playing. There is definitely a strong amount of

variety in sounds on this album and no two tracks sound too similar to one another.

Clearly Action Bronson and Party Supplies have hit a comfortable stride on this album

and have gone even further in creating a few innovations. There are points on here where Action

raps only over a repeating guitar progression with zero percussion, and it’s a highlight on the

album where he lays down some of his strongest flows to date. The only downside of Bronson’s

career is that he vows to end rapping eventually in order to pursue his passion of cooking, but it

makes an even better reason to give him the proper attention he deserves now.

Overall Grade: 8.5/10