Album Review: Action Bronson - 'Rare Chandeliers'

Artist: Action BronsonAlbum: Rare ChandeliersLabel: ViceRelease Date: November 27, 2012

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Rare Chandeliers’ cover depicts gun-clad gangsters in a BMW, a crocodile with a machine gun attached to its neck, and a pink-haired, all-nude female bearing a large knife. Action Bronson is pictured wearing a tuxedo and a wolf carcass, wielding a double barreled shotgun and a joint held ever-so naturally in his mouth. The cover-art of Action Bronson’s mixtape Rare Chandeliers is surprisingly indicative of the sound and imagery of the album itself. On tracks like “The Symbol”, “Rare Chandeliers” and “Demolition Man” Bronson depicts himself as the star of some off-brand blaxploitation film. He’s part pimp, gangster, mercenary and foodie (Bronson was previously a professional chef) all rolled up into one package. Like his other mixtapes, Bronson expertly embraces this amalgamation.However, Bronson’s rhymes on Rare Chandeliers are particularly well-crafted. Lines like “In only one year, considered as a veteran. Top of the line, the whip look like tropical lime. Off the boat, cousin, glock by the spine. Do a murder seven thirty, then they flying at nine,” are delivered well, in his rapid-fire rhyme style. Despite frequent stylistic comparisons by critics to Ghostface Killah, Bronson clearly cements his own unique identity and styleon Rare Chandeliers. Bronson additionally shows off a wide spectrum of emotions, demonstrated by the somber "Bitch I Deserve You" and Bronson's contrasting, amped-up, gangster anthems.Famed hip-hop producer The Alchemist adds even more to the eclectic approaches of Rare Chandeliers' . He clearly understands Bronson and his persona, utilizing slick beats that effectively compliment Bronson’s rhymes about his gangster escapades. Beautiful piano samples drive “Bitch I Deserve You,” and "Eggs on the Floor" tastefully utilizes a great variety of subdued percussive sounds. Though, while The Alchemist does well for Bronson, Party Supplies, the producer on previous Bronson effort Blue Chips, may have supplemented Bronson’s rhymes and identity better.Rare Chandeliers will be a delight for fans of Queens-style rap and a favorite for existing Action Bronson fans. However, the mixtape fails to transcend Bronson’s current fan base for better or worse. Some listeners will be sucked in by the exclusivity of the niche sound, but others may be turned away by its ridiculousness.