"Mr. Wonderful" - Action Bronson [Album Review]

To steal a quote from the song “Tapas” off his mixtape, Blue Chips, “Action Bronson is a rap singer, uh, he’s legit, and he sells his DVD for about thirteen bucks on the internet”, meaning that Bronson is not only legit, but has since become an unmistakable presence in the recent revival of New York hip-hop, as the bearded chief turned rapper has established himself as one of the largest personalities in the hip-hop scene (no pun intended). The Queens MC has an ear for left field beats, expensive dishes, and generally rapping for the fuck of it; all of which is integral in assessing his major label debut album, Mr. Wonderful, which is yet another example of Action Bronson rattling off quotable punchlines, a multitude of references, and brief moments of contemplative clarity which appear through the marijuana smoke as he spins countless stories of his misadventures.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nJdI8noyOcTo understand the man as an artist is to attempt to understand his methodology as a lyricist. Beneath the absurd vignettes and obscure movie and sports references, lies a man built on irony, who, by no means takes himself too seriously. Because of the pervasiveness of his ironic sense of humor, his brief moments of contemplation resonate as his stronger moments throughout his discography. This album sees a shift, albeit a slight one, where Action Bronson raps of unrequited love on stand out tracks like “Terry” and “Baby Blue”, the latter featuring Chance the Rapper, as it becomes something of a central theme for this album. His goal was to create a cohesive unit built around a unified sound as well, which, with the help of Mark Ronson, Party Supplies and The Alchemist, the album achieves a new sonic direction for Bronson to work with. Instead of the haphazard sampling that was Blue Chips or the back alley grit of Rare Chandeliers, Mr. Wonderful is heavy on piano keys and synthesizers, creating a spacey atmosphere for the entire album.Bronson is at his best when his beats can accentuate the oddity of his quips and lyrics. Though there are several instances where the radical change in sound actually shows some artistic development. Particularly the song “City Boy Blues” which is more a funk driven classic rock number than it is a rap song, has Action playing the frontman singing about women and how they hurt him so much. This leads to “A Light in the Addict”, a beautiful piano driven song where Bronson turns inward to contemplation as it turns into a blues song hidden away in a saloon as Black Atlass croons throughout the record. And while a second verse from Bronson would have been welcomed, it remains a potent song nonetheless. This leads to “Baby Blues” featuring Chance the Rapper, whose verse steals the show as he wishes a variety of inconveniences on his ex-lover, like still having snow on the driveway or having saggy titties despite being in her 20’s. It’s this span of three songs which sees the most growth from Action Bronson, as each song reflects his pain over loved ones who still torment him, all without losing sight of the humor and personality that made Action Bronson so popular. Yet for those who yearn for Bronson of old, the sequence from “The Rising” to “Terry”, followed by “Actin Crazy” and “Falconry” are songs that could be found on almost any other mixtape or album that he’s released, as he goes back to the gritty old school New York boom-bap that he’s knows so well. Spitting lackadaisically over beats tailored for someone so laid back.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVP_w1rQweEFor seasoned Bronson fans, the first listen may come as disappointing, but this is not entirely the case. While Mr. Wonderful by no means stands up to releases such as Blue Chips or Dr. Lecter, it remains an enjoyable listen and a welcomed addition to his discography. As a rapper who rarely takes himself seriously, to see him give a slight turn to the serious is a welcoming progression in his artistry. But when listening to Mr. Wonderful, it’s important to remember who he is as an artist, and to appreciate that his primary purpose for making music is for the fuck of it. Meaning that taking this album too seriously will leave you thoroughly unsatisfied, as the album itself is a celebration of a chef turned rapper enjoying his triumph of entering the mainstream rap stratosphere.7/10