As CL’s resident Action Bronson fanboy, it doesn’t take much to profess my love for the big, Albanian MC and everything he brings to hip hop today — a fine taste for gourmet foods, a lack of self-seriousness bordering on absurdity, and a je ne sais quoi so crudely New York, “rapper” hardly scratches the surface. He’s a character; oddly formed, oversized and baked out in a way only this city could manage.
So, after a long-string of mixtapes and an EP, it’s nice to hear he’ll finally drop his first major-label full-length, Mr. Wonderful, via Atlantic Records on March 24. The album pairs the Queens emcee with a solid roster of top producers including Mark Ronson, The Alchemist, 88 Keys and frequent collaborator Party Supplies.
Late last year, Bronson released the first single “Easy Rider” along with an amazing video paying homage to the classic 1969 film of the same name. Yesterday, along with the album announcement, Bronson dropped “Actin’ Crazy” produced by frequent Drake collaborator Noah “40” Shebib. The woozy, minimal beat naturally sounds like a Drake b-side, but under a schmear of Bronson’s comical lyricism, it turns into something entirely its own.
Additional guests on Mr. Wonderful include Chance the Rapper, Party Supplies, Big Body Bes and Meyhem Lauren, and Billy Joel…kind of. Bronson and producer Mark Ronson apparently received a hand-written note from the piano man himself, giving the duo permission to sample one of his songs in the album’s opening track “Brand New Car,” according to the press release.
Check out the Mr. Wonderful track list and listen to “Actin’ Crazy” below.
Brand New Car
When I Rise ft Big Body Bes
Terry
Actin Crazy
Falconry ft Meyhem Lauren & Big Body Bes
THUG LOVE STORY 2017 THE MUSICAL (interlude)
A. City Boy Blues ft Chauncy Sherod
B. A light in the Addict ft Party Supplies
C. Baby Blue ft Chance the Rapper
Only in America ft Party Supplies
Galactic Love
The Passage
Easy Rider
