A raunchy, cylinder-shaped ginger of Eastern European ancestry might not be the first dude you'd peg for rap stardom, but that's exactly the mantle Action Bronson is on the verge of possessing. Over the last few years, the 28-year old Queens native has become one of hip-hop's most charismatic and colorful new characters, thanks to his wicked sense of humor, a buffet of impressive releases and the rare knack for updating cherished East Coast aesthetics into indisputably modern music.
In 2011, The New York Times hailed Bronson as “one of the most promising prospects in New York hip-hop.” That formidable potential is now being realized. When Bronson gleefully tossed slabs of meat from Peter Luger’s famed steakhouse into a wild-ass crowd at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, the mosh pit of skaters, knuckleheads, rap purists and young women was evidence of his ever-widening appeal.
Born AriyanArslani, Bronson grew up in Flushing, Queens, the son of an Albanian immigrant father and a Jewish mother from Brooklyn. He was an only child, but the population of the two-bedroom apartment swelled to as many as 13 inhabitants due to cousins, aunts, uncles and refuges from ethnic strife in Kosovo.
It was in the family restaurant that Bronson developed his enduring fascination with quality eating. After studying in the Art Institute of New York’s culinary program, he took jobs ranging from busboy to sous chef. Consequently, songs in his discography often read like menu items: “Roasted Bone Marrow,” “Pouches of Tuna,” “Jerk Chicken,” “Ceviche.” Rolling Stone, appreciating the theme, described Bronson’s music as “the ultimate in comfort food, with a contemporary twist.”
While Bronson was a ravenous musical connoisseur who grew up admiring artists like Kool G. Rap, Cam’ron and Mobb Deep, he never contemplated rapping himself. But a few years back, he penned a satirical song over a Southern beat CD and the results were improbably impressive. With an oversized personality, intricate wordplay and the cagy charm of an outer-borough striver, he was a natural. And after a broken leg forced him out of the kitchen, Bronson began writing seriously. In 2007, joined with Mayhem Lauren and Jay Steele to release theLast of a Dyin’ Breed: Volume 1mixtape under the collective name “The Outdoorsmen.”
Bronson’s insistent delivery and penchant for flamboyant phraseology initially drew some comparisons to other rappers, but he has long since matured beyond such superficialities. In 2011 alone, he releasedBon Appetit....Bitch!, The Program EP, Dr. Lecter and Well Done. 2012 introduced collaborations with artists like Earl Sweatshirt and Riff Raff , as well asBlue Chips, the brilliant street album produced by Party Supplies. In awarding the effort a lofty 8.1, Pitchfork called Bronson “one of the most hilarious and creative writers in rap” who savagely captured the essence of New York’s seedy soul: “It is what a Weegee photograph would look like now.”
In August of 2012, Bronson signed with Vice/Atlantic Records. With the leading youth media company's multi-platform power now backing him, forthcoming projects likeRare Chandelierswith Alchemist,SAAAB Storywith Harry Fraud andBlue Chips 2found countless new listeners.
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After extensive national and international touring in 2014, Bronson released his debut studio albumMr. Wonderfulin March 2015. The work received critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and more, debuting at #7 on theBillboard 200.To date, the four album singles racked up a cool 73M streams.Mr. Wonderfulboasts an all-star cast, from features by Chance The Rapper to production by greats like Mark Ronson, Noah “40” Shabib, StatikSelektah, and The Alchemist. Living up to the hype, SPIN says of the project, “It's the rare rap album that actually rewards its mixtape following.”
In March 2016, Bronson powerfully continued his meteoric rise with the cable television premiere ofF*ck, That’s Delicious. As creator and host of the series, Bronson plays the rap game’s Anthony Bourdain, marrying his passion for food and music. Each episode is nothing short of an immersive culinary adventure documenting Bronson’s globe-trotting lifestyle and exquisite palette.F*ck, That’s Deliciousdebuted on Munchies, Vice’s food online food channel in May 2014. Driven by Bronson’s unparalleled wit, charisma, and authenticity, the series quickly became a fan favorite, generating tens of millions of YouTube views. The explosive popularity ofF*ck, That’s Deliciouswas undeniable and it was ordered to series on Viceland, Vice Media’s new cable network, as a premier flagship network program in early 2016. Since the series premiere,F*ck, That’s Deliciouskept on trucking – its continued popularity and draw had it renewed for a second season which aired last fall.
Since proving his chops as a host and entertainer, Bronson took the reins and added a new twist to the massively popular, cult favorite TV showAncient Aliens. With a nod to the classicMystery Science Theater 3000,the new series entitledTravelling the Stars: Ancient Aliens with Action Bronsonwas also adopted by Viceland. On the show, Bronson combines two of his favorite things: watchingAncient Aliensand smoking weed along with insightful and often ridiculous commentary. Bronson hosted the first season along with special guest friends such as Tyler The Creator, Melissa Etheridge, Schoolboy Q, Too Short, Earl Sweatshirt, and Eric Andre to name a few.
In March 2016, Bronson announced that he would be releasing his own cookbook, titledFuck, That's Delicious: An Annotated Guide to Eating Wellwith Abrams Publishing, stirring excitement throughout the hip-hop and culinary worlds. The book is currently being written and is schedule for release in fall 2017.
While the name Action Bronson might be new to some, he’s been shaking up the worlds of food and music, two massively powerful New York City institutions, for years. But this is just the beginning for the Bronsoliño. Whether he’s grilling octopus with Seth Meyers, hanging out with his celebrity chef friends like Mario Batali, or performing at music festivals around the world, Bronson is determined to make his mark.