THE BAND: One of the few rappers who has managed to maintain his cult following whilst adopting some commercial sensibilities, Queens native Action Bronson has seen his rugged, Ghostface Killah reminiscent flow bring him a great deal of attention and acclaim over the past few years. Gearing up to eschew the underground distribution methods of his mixtape filled past in favour of a major label deal, ‘Bronsolino’ has released the star studded ‘Baby Blue.’
THE SOUND: Featuring a beat that veers into similar territory as Kanye West’s ‘Gone’, Bronson’s latest release is a notable departure from the rawer material which he’s became known for. Incorporating the lavish textures and jazz influences that were apparent on ‘Terry’ and ‘Actin Crazy’, it sees the man often referred to as ‘Bam Bam’ exercising his singing voice in a manner which had remained undocumented until now. Aided by an excellent guest verse from Chicago’s Chance The Rapper and production from Mark Ronson; the former’s unorthodox lyricism provides an interesting dynamic whilst the latter delves into a genre which he has somewhat neglected since 2003’s Here Comes The Fuzz with outstanding results.
THE LOWDOWN: Bronson’s official debut record Mr Wonderful will emerge via Vice/Atlantic on the 24th March 2015, whilst those looking to catch the MC live can do so at Parklife Festival in Heaton Park.
