Thoughts On: Mr. Wonderful

Recommended Listing: Terry, Baby Blue, Easy Rider

Welcome back to Thoughts On, your look behind the curtain at my degrading sanity. This week I will be talking about Action Bronson's latest album 'Mr. Wonderful', a fun musical project the demonstrates the flexibility of Hip-Hop without necessarily changing the game. I actually got into Bronson because I stumbled upon an interview with him on Hot 97 due to a friend and I found him hilarious. Fast forward to me listening to all his major cuts and I think Bronson is one of the best rap personalities in the game right now. He isn't flashy and gaudy like a lot of artists stuck in the bling era of rap,but rather he has a personality that suits his fantasy style lyrics and make for great entertainment in music. Bronson had a rough time because his album was scheduled to drop the same day as Kendrick Lamars as well as Earl Sweatshirt, but even competing with some rap favorites he was still about to peak at #7 on the Billboard 200 and hold his own with his first major album in years.

So who is this Action Bronson? Well Arian Arslani is a 300lb rapper from Queens, New York who made a splash in the game after the release of his first album 'Dr.Lecter' that came out after he injured his leg and could no longer hold his position as a gourmet chef. Yes you read right, before becoming one of the underdogs of Hip-Hop Bronson was a well respected chef in New York City. Word soon spread of this large ginger rapper who had as good taste in food as he does in music. However it was not just his appearance that got him the spotlight, it was also his rapping ability and taste in music. Bronson's lyrics often involve a combination of food metaphors, sexual encounters, and fantastic tall tales told though the lens of a the most interesting man in the world. He is clearly a product of his city because his voices and delivery sounds similar to Ghostface Killah, which goes surprisingly well with his personality.After the release of follow up mixtapes and hies critically acclaimed 'Rare Chandeliers' collaboration with producer The Alchemist (an in-house producer for Eminem), Bronson became a larger than life figure in rap. This is not to say that he is one of best in the game or now suddenly world famous, but rather through his music and through interviews he gives off the aura of a hilarious man who has genuinely seen it all and raps about all he has seen. No matter what the situation Bronson always manages to entertain, like a wrestling character that finally gets his shot at the world title this man is packing a personality that music world needs. So of course after discovering this marvel I could only be optimistic for his album, the singles were solid and his character only becomes more and more interesting as time goes on.

So what does the album sound like though? Bronson has gone on record saying that Hip-Hop makes you stupid and to compensate for this he listens to classical music. This is reflected pretty much all over this album and I think proves to show what makes Bronson so special. When he says this he doesn't mean that Hip-Hop music is a bad genre of music (he is a rapper after all) rather he just hates that too many people are caught up in one genre or one style and never venture outside their comfort zones. In the opening of the album 'Brand New Car' we get a rapid succession of piano chords the give off a bright tone while Bronson references 'Zanzibar' by one of his favorite artists Billy Joel. Two times during the song he stops to catch his breath or because he messes up a line and the music slows before starting up again. This album immediately takes on the tone of a musical or live performance. Bronson doesn't try to hide his faults as he speaks of the highs he feels and how he is adjusting to the spotlight. Not new lyrical territory but the musical accompaniment of drum and guitars really helps give this a human element. At the end of the song Bronson proclaims he is ashamed of himself before a rain storm is heard and the album goes into 'The Rising'. This song has a great soulful feel, with organs and choir vocals and a really grimy drum sound that it is meant to signal an entrance. Bronson has stated that he wants this song to you remind you of the Terminator, a ball of lighting that reveals a naked man ready to wreck havoc. This song makes a statement, with Big Body Bes (a good friend of Bronson) coming with a spoken verse that is just meant to insult you. It is a great throwback to the spirited days of Hip-Hop without getting stuck in the past. This man fears nothing and over the course of this slow paced song he holds nothing back. In the Next song 'Terry' dives into the funk of the struggling artist and goes into Bronson's mythical life aspirations. He has stated that this is his favorite song on the album, a vibe session between him and The Alchemist that turned into a venting session. He was about to just spit what made him feel good over a beautiful combination of guitar chords, trumpets, and a smooth boom bap pattern. Musically this album is a gem, far above the standard and has an abundance of jazz and blues influence. After this song ends it goes into a psychedelic breakdown where the haunting lyrics “what are you waiting for?” plays in the background. This gives the the listener time to reflect and think before 'Actin Crazy', which basically is the anthem of Bronson's life. Here he proclaims to his mom that he is still her baby (he expresses a lot of love for his mom publicly) and goes on to describe why he acts the way he does. Set to a beat that fuses electric pulses with horns and a heavy bass he talks about how all his life he was a misfit and now stands as a trendsetter in a lot of Hip-Hop circles. He does what he does to protect his mother and make a living. Simple enough but as always the specialty lives in his unique delivery. Skipping a track we get to 'Thug Love Story 2017', an interlude that was recorded outside of a deli by a friend of Bronson. It sounds like a homeless man who is extremely talented and tells the story of a woman choosing the street life over love. This track demonstrates Bronson's willingness to let anyone rip on a track and tell their story as long as they can do it well.

After the interlude we get the powerful blues track 'City Boy Blues'. This song tells the story of a woman coming after Bronson, or the character in this song. This song brings back the organs from earlier in the album and deviates from the rap genre completely to fit the story that Bronson wants to tell. From here on out the album gets more musical and hops from style to style to show off his diverse sense of musical aspiration. This begins a little story within the story as the next couple of songs focus on Bronson and this mystery person. 'Alight in the Addict' is one of the best sounding songs on the album just in terms of music along, with a jazzy piano and base rifts it sounds almost like a BBNG cut with Bronson soulfully rapping about his confusion that he may feel because of this person. He is an addict hooked on the feeling of belonging. The majority of this song is actually the music and the hook of “ I nearly lost my brain, dealing with this pain”, with haunting vocals slowly rising by melodic steps in the background. The last of this small story we have 'Baby Blue', one of my favorite songs of this year so far featuring Chance the Rapper and Donnie trumpet. Here over raw piano and kick snares Bronson proclaims himself done with this person and comes to term with his desire to be separate. Chance comes in with a funny but thoughtful verse cursing a girl for leaving but ultimately wishing her happiness in the future. A relatable jam hat resonates with you on personal level this song solidifies Bronson's ability to channel not just good rap, but good music. This song was performed live on David Letterman and this rendition just brings out the full potential of this piece. 'Galactic Love' features a smooth bassline and Bronson's mom. A love letter to his mother this short but meaningful serves as a landing point for the closing of his album, we have traveled through Bronson's mind and shared some of his heartache and now we are again reminded of where the man comes from. Finally we get a rock ballad inspired 'Easy Rider', concluding the album with a tale about Bronson's spirit quest as he “rides the harley into the sunset”. This song sounds like the final shot of a 70's movie, complete with a soulful bass rift and wavy vocals that glide over the instrumental. Later in we hear a chopper taking off as a guitar solo kicks in. We are left knowing this story is over and Bronson is moving on to bigger and better things.

To put it simply, rap needs characters like Action Bronson. In an industry filled with fake artists and commercial sales taking priority over artistic integrity this man stands for himself. You can tell he loves the music and getting the chance to be around him. Reading up on him he gives off this jolly attitude that you might expect based on how he looks, but he also has this blunt streetwise vulgarity to him that just screams of real. Hip-Hop to me has never been about turf wars or material possession, but culture and bringing something new to the table because that is how you thrive as an artist. If you want something different that builds of the rap roots you love then I recommend you: LISTEN SOON to this album. Bronson packs a widespread appeal, so much so that even this album which is a tad dark by his standards comes off as a theatrical performance that is perfectly executed. I am not saying that Bronson is one of the best rappers out right now, but he certainly has the best persona. I respect a person who does what he does to do it and this mythic figure knows exactly who he wants to be.

Thank you all for reading, next week I will be review Ibeyis self titled debut album and diving into a new world of cultural fusion.