Action Bronson

Biography

Ariyan Arslani (born December 2, 1983), better known by his stage name Action Bronson, is an American rapper, chef, and television host. Born and raised in Queens, he released his debut mixtape Bon Appetit ..... Bitch!!!!!×Bon Appetit ..... Bitch!!!!!4 January 2011 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 35 tracks1East Bound and Down1:382T.K.O2:033Mark Sanchez0:144Shiraz2:235The Come Up1:586Imported Goods3:267Bronson Maina3:068Dabble in Truffles1:279Growin Up1:3110Mofongo1:5011Fuck Me Till I Die3:4512Borderline0:5913Eastern Promises1:261485 Barritz BRO-HAM2:2615Body Language2:4816Aged Manchego0:5317Albino Gorilla2:3018Roasted Bone Marrow3:5219Get Off the P.P.2:0020Tango & Cash1:5221Shape Shifters1:5022Night Court3:2523Ceviche2:0924Black Rain2:2025Double Impact3:2826The Team1:3227Marijuana Bronson2:3228Shorty Bop With a Hook1:2129Friendly Fire1:1530Bronson Hard Lemonade1:3931I Remember1:2032Amuse Pusche2:0233On the Real2:1034Re Elect Dinkins3:2835Chilli Chicken Hakka Style1:23 in January 2011 and independently released his debut album, Dr. Lecter×Dr. Lecter14 March 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Moonstruck2:102Barry Horowitz2:033The Madness3:324Larry Csonka3:245Ronnie Coleman2:546Bag of Money3:347Brunch2:308Shiraz2:269Buddy Guy2:5310Jerk Chicken2:2911Chuck Person3:3312Forbidden Fruit1:2613Suede4:0014Get Off My P.P.2:1215Beautiful Music3:03, in March 2011. In August 2012, Arslani signed his first major-label deal with Warner Bros. Records, but was later moved to the Atlantic Records-distributed label Vice Records.
Arslani went on to create two self-released mixtapes, Rare Chandeliers (2012) with American record producer The Alchemist, and Blue Chips 2 (2013) with longtime collaborators Party Supplies, before releasing his major-label debut, an extended play (EP) titled Saaab Stories×Saaab Stories11 June 2013 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks172 Virgins2:492Triple Backflip2:513No Time4:364The Rockers3:085Strictly 4 My Jeeps2:456Alligator5:317Seven Series Triplets3:31, with frequent collaborator Harry Fraud, in 2013. He released his major-label debut album, Mr. Wonderful×Mr. Wonderful23 March 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Brand New Car2:212The Rising4:023Terry4:494Actin' Crazy3:595Falconry2:316Thug Love Story 2017 The Musical (interlude)2:207City Boy Blues4:068A Light in the Addict5:569Baby Blue4:4010Only in America4:1411Galactic Love2:2712The Passage (live from Prague)3:1713Easy Rider4:38, in March 2015, debuting at number seven on the US Billboard 200 chart.
Aside from his career in music, Arslani hosted The Untitled Action Bronson Show, a talk/variety show, and still hosts his travel program Fuck, That's Delicious, on Viceland. His frequent collaborators and lifelong friends Meyhem Lauren, The Alchemist, and Big Body Bes are regulars on both of his television series. Renowned chefs such as Mario Batali, Andrew Zimmern, Daniel Boulud, Rick Bayless, Grant Achatz, and others have been guests on his television series.

1983–2010: Early life and career

Ariyan Arslani was born in Flushing, Queens, New York City, on December 2, 1983, to an Albanian Muslim father and an American Jewish mother. Growing up he was raised in his father's Muslim tradition. He attended Bayside High School, in Bayside, Queens, and graduated in 2002. Before embarking on a career as a rapper, which was originally just a hobby, Bronson worked as a cook at his father's Mediterranean restaurant in Forest Hills. He hosted his own online cooking show, Action in the Kitchen. After breaking his leg in the kitchen, Bronson concentrated solely on rapping.

2011: Dr. Lecter and Well Done

Action Bronson's debut studio album, Dr. Lecter×Dr. Lecter14 March 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Moonstruck2:102Barry Horowitz2:033The Madness3:324Larry Csonka3:245Ronnie Coleman2:546Bag of Money3:347Brunch2:308Shiraz2:269Buddy Guy2:5310Jerk Chicken2:2911Chuck Person3:3312Forbidden Fruit1:2613Suede4:0014Get Off My P.P.2:1215Beautiful Music3:03, was independently released by Fine Fabric Delegates on March 15, 2011. The album was produced entirely by New York City-based music producer Tommy Mas. In November of that year, Bronson followed up with Well-Done, a collaborative effort with American hip-hop producer Statik Selektah. On March 12, 2012, he released his second mixtape, titled Blue Chips×Blue Chips12 March 2012 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Pouches of Tuna2:332Steve Wynn2:273Tan Leather2:254Double Breasted1:585Nordic Wind3:076Thug Love Story 20123:557Hookers at the Point3:498Dreamer0:509Ron Simmons2:3910Expensive Pens2:38119-24-114:2512Arts & Leisure2:1913Intercontinental Champion1:22145 Minute Beats 1 Take Raps1:5415Blue Chips2:4316103 and Roosy2:3317Tapas2:56, with Party Supplies.

2012–2013: Major-label deal and Saaab Stories

In August 2012, it was announced Paul Rosenberg signed Action Bronson to a management deal with Goliath Artists. In the same month, Bronson was featured on Odd Future-rapper Domo Genesis and American hip-hop producer The Alchemist's collaborative album No Idols, on tracks "Elimination Chamber" (featuring Earl Sweatshirt and Vince Staples) and "Daily News" (featuring SpaceGhostPurrp and Earl Sweatshirt). Later that year Action Bronson joined both Warner Bros. Records, via media company VICE, and concert booking agency NUE. On November 15, 2012, Bronson released Rare Chandeliers, a collaborative mixtape with the Alchemist.
In March 2013, Bronson performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and later that month was featured on XXL Magazine's 2013 Freshman Class, a list of up-and-coming rappers. In May 2013, Action Bronson was moved to Atlantic Records, and subsequently released an extended play (EP) titled Saaab Stories×Saaab Stories11 June 2013 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks172 Virgins2:492Triple Backflip2:513No Time4:364The Rockers3:085Strictly 4 My Jeeps2:456Alligator5:317Seven Series Triplets3:31, on June 11, 2013. The EP was produced entirely by American music producer Harry Fraud and features guest appearances from fellow American rappers Raekwon, Wiz Khalifa, and Prodigy. The EP was preceded by the single, "Strictly 4 My Jeeps×Strictly 4 My Jeeps14 May 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Strictly 4 My Jeeps2:45". In July 2013, he indicated a desire to collaborate with fellow Queens-bred rappers Nas and Kool G Rap on his major-label debut album, but was ultimately unsuccessful. Also in July, Bronson announced his major-label debut album would be released in early 2014.
On November 1, 2013, Bronson released Blue Chips 2, the second installment in his Blue Chips series, in promotion of the album. On October 28, 2013, Funkmaster Flex announced he would be hosting an upcoming Action Bronson mixtape. Production was revealed to be coming from Erick Sermon, Mike Will Made It, DJ Mustard and Jahlil Beats. In a November 2013 interview with Rolling Stone, Bronson stated that he would have Kool G Rap and Mobb Deep, featured on his upcoming album.

2014–present: Mr. Wonderful and various studio albums

In February 2014, Action Bronson, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar and 360 accompanied rapper Eminem, on a brief tour of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. On May 6, 2014, Action Bronson debuted a food-oriented monthly web series, titled Fuck, That's Delicious in coordination with Vice Records.
On August 5, 2014, Bronson released the song "Easy Rider×Easy Rider5 August 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Easy Rider4:19" as the first single from his second studio album Mr. Wonderful×Mr. Wonderful23 March 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Brand New Car2:212The Rising4:023Terry4:494Actin' Crazy3:595Falconry2:316Thug Love Story 2017 The Musical (interlude)2:207City Boy Blues4:068A Light in the Addict5:569Baby Blue4:4010Only in America4:1411Galactic Love2:2712The Passage (live from Prague)3:1713Easy Rider4:38. The song was produced by Bronson's longtime producer Party Supplies. On August 20, 2014, the music video for "Easy Rider", was released. The video for "Easy Rider", which was directed by Tom Gould, pays homage to the 1969 Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper film of the same name. Bronson released "Actin Crazy×Actin Crazy20 January 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Actin Crazy3:59" on January 20. He released the full album on March 23, 2015, receiving over 48,000 streams during its debut week.
In October 2015, Bronson was hospitalized in Anchorage, Alaska, for emergency surgery after a concert on October 23. He remained in the hospital for several days.
In March 2016, the Program Board of the George Washington University announced that Bronson would be the headlining performer for the university's yearly spring concert, "Spring Fling". Controversy soon erupted as Bronson's song "Consensual Rape" came to light, as well as statements Bronson made that were considered homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic. Student activist groups successfully pushed for the university to cancel the performance. In April 2016, Bronson was similarly disinvited from the Trinity College Spring Weekend concert. Bronson responded in an open letter, claiming that his songs "depict a story" and "aren't meant to be anything but an artistic expression," condemned all forms of sexual violence, and offered an apology.
On Monday May 16, 2016, he presented at the Webby Awards.
On August 25, 2017, he released his third studio album, Blue Chips 7000×Blue Chips 700025 August 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Wolfpack2:342La Luna3:023The Chairman's Intent2:434Hot Pepper3:365Bonzai1:586Let It Rain3:127My Right Lung2:008TANK2:419Let Me Breathe2:52109-24-70003:2911The Choreographer3:1212Chop Chop Chop4:0613Durag vs. Headband2:40, which serves as a sequel to his 2013 Blue Chips 2×Blue Chips 21 November 2013 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1Action Silverado2:002Intro1:023Pepe Lopez1:434The Don's Cheek2:565It Concerns Me3:436Practice2:437Jackson Travolta4:048Through the Eyes of a G2:599Contemporary Man4:0810Twin Peugots3:1811Man the Mirror1:1712Midget Cough2:2813It's Me2:2014Flip Ya2:18159.24.135:1116Rolling Thunder3:3417Amadu Diablo1:4318In the City3:3619I Adore You1:59 mixtape. In September 2017, Arslani published a cookbook based on his travel show, also titled Fuck, That's Delicious.
On October 31, 2018, Bronson announced that he was parting ways with Vice, the media company that served as his record label and television network.
In November 2018, Bronson announced a tour in support of his latest album, White Bronco×White Bronco1 November 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Dr. Kimble2:582Irishman Freestyle1:353Mt. Etna2:344Live From the Moon2:385White Bronco2:446Brutal1:587Prince Charming2:318Telemundo2:239Picasso's Ear1:5310Ring Ring2:2111Swerve on Em2:51. The tour ran from February 2019 to March 2019. Meyhem Lauren and Roc Marciano will be supporting.
On August 9, 2020, Bronson revealed the title of his fifth album, Only for Dolphins×Only for Dolphins18 September 2020 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Capoeira3:212C12H16N22:393Latin Grammys2:504Golden Eye2:485Mongolia2:526Vega2:467Splash1:598Sergio3:109Shredder2:0010Cliff Hanger2:2111Marcus Aurelius4:0512Hard Target5:03, released on September 25, 2020. The cover art was painted by Bronson himself. Bronson described the album as "ANOTHER BRIGHT THREAD WOVEN INTO THE TEXTURE OF THE COSMOS".
Bronson released his sixth solo studio album, Cocodrillo Turbo×Cocodrillo Turbo29 April 2022 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Hound Dog2:212Tongpo4:023Estaciones3:204Jaws1:315Subzero3:006Turkish3:407Jaguar2:558Zambezi2:499Ninety One1:5810Storm Of The Century4:24, on April 29, 2022. The record's guest features included Roc Marciano and Conway the Machine.
Bronson released his seventh solo studio album, Johann Sebastian Bachlava the Doctor×JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACHLAVA THE DOCTOR11 July 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1SPLASH (PROVOCATIV)2:512SEGA1:463NOURISH A THUG2:464HIDEO NOMO3:225SALVAJE3:156HOGAN2:427CITRUS WAHOO2:188KOMPRESSOR2:549NBA LEATHER ON NBC2:4610SHADOW REALM2:4511DOCTOR3:17, on July 11, 2024. This album marked Bronson's first independent record in over a decade. The album included collaborations with Larry June, as well as frequent guests Meyhem Lauren and The Alchemist.

Work in television and film

Action Bronson starred in two television series which aired on the Viceland channel: the food travel show Fuck, That's Delicious, and a nightly food talk show, The Untitled Action Bronson Show. He also starred in the comedy documentary series Traveling the Stars: Action Bronson and Friends Watch 'Ancient Aliens'.
He has had cameo roles in the films The Irishman (2019), playing a coffin salesman, and The King of Staten Island (2020). Bronson also made an appearance for AEW's All Out on September 4, 2022, and wrestled his first professional wrestling match at Grand Slam, teaming with Hook to defeat Matt Menard and Angelo Parker which aired on September 23, 2022.

Influences

Action Bronson cites fellow American rappers Kool G Rap, Nas, Cam'ron, Mobb Deep, UGK and the Wu-Tang Clan, as major influences. Other artists include Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana, Queen as well as Albanian wedding singers.

Rapping style

Bronson frequently raps about food in his songs. He is also well known for his frequent, and often obscure, allusions to athletes and sports teams. Bronson's lyrics often make reference to sports in New York City but also touch on more obscure subjects such as professional wrestlers, bodybuilders, figure skating and sports betting.
Early in his career, Bronson gained recognition for lyrically, tonally, and stylistically resembling fellow New York rapper Ghostface Killah of Wu-Tang Clan (with whom he collaborated, along with friend and fellow rapper Termanology, on a song called "Meteor Hammer", from the 2011 compilation album Legendary Weapons). Ghostface Killah himself has admitted to confusing Bronson's rapping for his own. In a 2011 interview with HipHopDX, Bronson was asked about how it was to be compared to the Wu-Tang rapper, and he responded with,

Yeah, I mean at the end of the day, it's all good because Ghostface Killah is one of the best rappers alive, so if I sound similar to the best rapper alive then that is fine. To me there is no comparison; he is a legend and I am a newcomer. If I would try and emulate with anyone it would be Kool G Rap, he is the person I look up to the most. I am not upset but at the end of the day I am my own person and no one can take that away from me.

Personal life

Bronson has two children with a former girlfriend. Bronson's current girlfriend gave birth to a son in November 2019.
In mid-2020, prompted by having reached a body weight of 400 pounds (180 kg), and having a myriad of associated health problems, as well as the birth of his son, Bronson began a regimen of healthier eating as well as boxing and high-intensity interval training. As of December 2020 he had lost 127 pounds (58 kg). He took up Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2021, training under Ryron Gracie.

BET Hip Hop Awards

The BET Hip Hop Awards was established in 2006 by the network to celebrate hip-hop performers, producers and music video directors.