Los Angeles – Action Bronson had the honor of headlining Fool’s Gold Records mini-festival, Fool’s Gold’s Day Off at the Shrine Auditorium on Saturday. Because the venue is on USC’s campus, most of the crowd was young and vibrant, clad in jean shorts and snapbacks, and spent the majority of their time dancing wildly to each song they knew, and even ones they didn’t. Action Bronson, however, fresh off his highly acclaimed new album, Mr. Wonderful, had a more laid-back set, complete with beats from Alchemist and fundamental jazz and R&B instrumentals behind his self-deprecating verses. Bronson, not afraid of recognizing his weight, talking about his mom or relationship problems, is a hip-hop artist more low-key than most, but not lacking in talent or appeal—he is fundamentally himself while making music.
Cheers from the crowd during the set of “Chef Bronson” might be confusing for people who don’t know the rappers back-story. Action Bronson was born Ariyan Asllani in Queens, New York and didn’t enter the hip-hop genre until after attending culinary school to get him out of a potentially crime-ridden lifestyle. He’s even teamed up with Vice to produce a show about his culinary expertise, aptly titled, Fuck, That’s Delicious. The rapper has always referenced fine foods in his music as well as his 290 lb frame. These instances add to his honest charm as an artist—before anyone can attack his flaws, he does first.
Action Bronson has released multiple collaborations with notable producers including Rare Chandeliers with Alchemist and one of his best mixtapes, Blue Chips, backed by Party Supplies. One of the many reasons why Bronson stands out is because he isn’t a typical artist in the genre. While much of the festival’s artists brought out hype men and bass drops with guest MCs like Chromeo and a surprise entrance of Chief Keef, Action Bronson had little to no distractions during his set. The beats are unobtrusive, the lyrics more about his love of weed and sexual innuendos having to do with food rather than anatomy. Like his collaboration with Chance The Rapper, “Baby Blue” he regresses on a one-sided relationship: “I paid for that crib I never stepped foot in / And now someone else is eating all the pudding.” The song eventually explodes into trumpet solos, reminding the listener that with Action Bronson, you’re getting something that relates more to the old school than the new.
Because he grew up in one of the golden ages of hip-hop, Action Bronson was raised on the good stuff. He was introduced to rap with Wu-Tang Clan and has collected comparisons to Ghostface Killah ever since he started as an artist. Another off Mr. Wonderful, “Actin’ Crazy,” starts with imagery of him kissing his mother on the cheek and the subsequent realization, “All my life I was a fuck-up” and goes on to solidify exactly why he decided to join the music industry, and his infallible reaction to it: “Why do you think I’m up here acting crazy?”
Action Bronson is on tour now. Buy his album on iTunes and follow his hilarious updates on Twitter and Facebook.
Photo: Action Bronson live by Dope Minds – Maurice McNeil
Dakota Smith
Follow her on twitter in case she says something funny: @LikeTheStates
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