Action Bronson has grown into the character he drew up for himself. In 2011, shortly after the release of his first album, I saw him walking around a festival in Brooklyn, conspicuous but mostly unrecognized, a tiny blunt tucked behind his ear. Last year, at a concert in Philadelphia that was like many of his recent shows, he marched around a packed venue during his set and sang Billy Joel songs with fans. He also threw branded G Pens with his face etched onto them into the crowd. He’s come a long way quickly.
The Queens rapper’s new album, his first as a major label artist, keeps pace with his recent developments but extends some of the experimentation. Bronson is singing more, rapping a little less, and allowing lengthy stretches of instrumental space. It’s a combination that might alienate some of his rap-hungry fans but the transition is neither a surprise or a major label bait-and-switch. Tellingly and thankfully, the most out-of-pocket moves on Mr. Wonderful aren’t uncharacteristic appeals to radio but cases of its artist leaning further into the territory he’s been hinting at. Unlike the rest of his albums and mixtapes up to this point though, Mr. Wonderful is a multi-producer affair and it jumps around noticeably as a result.
A lengthy and random-but-with-a-moral interlude splits the album into lopsided halves, the first fulfilling Bronson’s straight-ahead rapper duties more directly than the longer second. While there’s no concept attached, there’s almost a sentiment of hanging out with two different groups of friends, romping around with Big Body Bes on the one hand—his adlibs are hall-of-fame worthy early on the record—and rocking out with Party Supplies on the other. Bronson’s charm is that he seems to fit in anywhere, a Blue-collar affability that channels a little more Billy Joel. On “Terry” he floats unrestricted over a dreamy Jazz guitar line Alchemist extracted, a winning combination that segues into an electronic rapture as a transition piece. The Noah “40” Shebib and Omen produced “Actin Crazy” relies on a warped, reverse-soundwave effect and horn stabs as fodder for a tranced-out banger. Bronson slows down for the occasion: “Opportunity be knockin’, you gotta let a motherfucker in … / Why you think I’m out here actin’ crazy? / Ma, I’m still your little baby.” Despite the hint of melancholy, Action is never far removed from his imaginative food and “Most Interesting Man In the World”-type boasts: “All I do is eat oysters / And speak six languages in three voices / It’s Adriatic Summers on the sailboat / Don’t even try to call I’m not available.”
Mark Ronson charms a Billy Joel sample into “Brand New Car,” an upbeat number that purposefully maintains the original’s essence. Joel apparently cleared the sample, which is pulled from the same album that carries the “Stiletto” break, after both artists hand wrote a personal appeal and note of admiration. Ronson also serves up the album’s latest single, “Baby Blue,” a catchy piano-driven track with Pop appeal that finds Bronson singing a hook strung together with help from Zane Lowe. In character, he also rambles extravagances to try and make an ex jealous. Chance The Rapper’s verse on the song is personal and delightfully petty. “I hope you get a paper cut on your tongue,” he raps, and then, “I hope you happy / I hope you ruined this shit for a reason / I hope you happy.”
Later, “City Boy Blues” kicks off the more Bluesy and trippy jaunt of a B-side. The song is a live-sounding Prog Rock jam, a wonderfully frenetic jolt attributable to 88-Keys. Bronson’s singing is labored and a little strained though, shortcomings that aren’t isolated to the song and are a far cry from the ease with which he raps. “The Light In The Addict” was originally released as a Party Supplies record but fits here as a druggy reflection from the rapper. “Sittin’ first class, feelin’ like shit though,” Bronson raps, “Starin’ out the window with the mind of a schizo.”
It’s not a damning problem, but Bronson’s eclecticism plays out at the expense of continuity. On face value, the unabashed drama of the ‘80s Pop-Rock Party Supplies churns out for “Only In America” doesn’t belong on the same project as some of the songs mentioned above and not much effort has gone into making it fit. The album ends logically with “Easy Rider,” a Psychy, Harley-through-the-desert trip that channels the rapper’s charisma perfectly. Mr. Wonderful isn’t everything for everybody, but it seems to belong completely to Bronson. Whatever you take from it, he’d probably just say, “It’s me.”
Pure dopeness
amazing album start to finish
Got this and the Kendrick album. Listened to the K.Dot album 3x in a row. Thought it was a dope azz album that I probably won’t really listen to again. Got the Bronson joint. Had it on repeat. I’m sure I’ll listen to joints off this in 5 years or so. Not that either album is better than the other but this is definitely that joint. Bronson come wit it on this one. 5 stars.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
I thought Kendricks album was dope too, I listened to it 5x in the same day and then bumped it some more the next few days. but I dont think I will listen to it again for a while…
Tetsuo and Youth I actually played more, it has better replay value.
I will definitely get Bronsons album
nice!!!. Bam Bam has done it again.
I hate to say that this album was “surprisingly” good, because I’m not really surprised. I love Bronsolino, and I think Rare Chandeliers was a fuckin masterpiece and I love all his appearances and his Munchies and Fuck That’s Delicious episodes, etc… I was just worried about his “debut studio album” sounding forced or out of character or something.
But no, he fuckin killed it with this album, and like the review says, the uncharacteristic moments on the album aren’t some forced attempt to appease radio or mainstream, but rather a true creative experiment, and that’s true artistry. Just trying new things and being ORIGINAL.
There’s nothing more “Hip-Hop” than that.
I’m conflicted.
Love almost all of Action’s work, my favorite being Bon Appetite Bitch; it’s got so many fierce, borrowed instrumentals (they’re almost all classics that heads will immediately recognize) and AB seems to elevate his rhymes to match and honor his idols.
I don’t get the same sense of inspiration on Mr. Wonderful, and it seems too short. Still goes hard and I enjoy it, I was just hoping for the classic that Bronson alludes to his desire to make in interviews. I don’t think this is it. Just a solid album from one of my favorite artists. Perhaps I’ll get my classic whenever it is that AB focuses on recording, as now it seems like he’s super busy with touring (I need to see him live..) and filming Fuck, That’s Delicious (which I love)
3.5/5
The man is an entertainer. Between Vice’s “Munchies” and the music, Action Bronson is a full blown entertainer. Album is dope.
Mr.Wonderful > To Pimp a Butterfly
Agreed.
Mr. Wonderful is a solid album. Easily 4/5. But it’s a far miss from To Pimp a Butterfly. TPAB has live instrumentation, solid concepts, hidden meanings, and a bold stance in racial inequality that has completely gone over some people’s heads.
With that being said, give Bron his credit. HIS ALBUM IS GREAT!! 4X
They are both really, really good but I do agree that Wonderful is better than TPAB.
Love Action but I think only whites think To Pimp a Butterfly isn’t better than Mr. Wonderful because of the sensitive topic of Race spread across the whole album. A better comparison would be Ras Kass’s Blasphemy versus Kendrick’s TPAB
Congrats on the EP bro
This is why i hate reviews and why hip hop fans are the worst fans of any genre. First off, Action is on of my favs right now….but this is his worst project to date. Can we please stop giving out these stellar reviews “just cause”? just cause its Action….just cause its Kendrick, 5 stars…just cause its Drake, lets all hate no matter what….how can this album be a 4 out of 5, blue chips be 4 out of 5, rare chandeliers be 4 out of 5….(you get my point) when all those are better?
such a Ghostface ripoff. Go eff your daughter you sleazy kyk
Great album. Loved it all. Nuff said.
blehh
notgood
shit sucks
Dont sleep on the kid! make sure you buy the album if you like it and support fly art like this .. If you are reading this Bronson’s people we’re hanging for a vinyl version!
Dope as fuck!!!
Albanians are fat dirty hairy primitive goat fuckers. I ain’t feeling this Albanian hipster rap.
Bronsellino is that you?
I gotta say as a Bronson fan I was pretty disappointed in the album. Shit is mad short and between the instrumental interludes and weird singing, not too much replay value for me
Album is good. A little short, but solid.
Easy rider is straight god mode … not a track from anyone in last 12 months comes even close it is pure fucking sex.
Agreed, that was instantly on my all time hip hop song list.
This shit is like prog-rap and hot fucking fire. 4.5 if I could 1/2.
greatness
amazing album. a lot better than the young trash rappers.
BOOSIE #tD2Ch wiLL be the best album of 2015 and 2016 watch what I tell you.
Facts. Bronson the shit tho
4everdating.com it might be rite at the edge of the earth in dating technology.But thats just the beginning of where it will take you.
this album sounds like wu-tang’s ghostface killah.
Jesus really? It’s summer of 2015 and you are just now spewing on about how Bronson sounds like Ghostface? You’re in front of a computer, do some fuckin’ research before you say some ignorant shit like this.
This album is aite. Not as good as If You Are Reading This It’s Too Late or Tetsuo & Youth, but it has some good songs. I give it a 3/5.
child please, that drake album was awful & Kendrick’s album isn’t better than Lupe’s. Action doesn’t get his props ever.
I produced Only in America not Party Supplies…
But I mentored you!
I fathered the both of you…
This album was never gonna be Kendrick; it’s unapologetically Bronson. Crazy samples, crazy rhymes, crazy stylish, crazy funny and crazy cool. Mr Wonderful.
Bronson is the most consistent rapper of the past 5 years, so many dope projects. if you like RAP music and you don’t like Bronson then you don’t like rap music..you prob enjoy bisexual ass childish gambino and kid cudi hipster ass mufuggas
Amen
It’s good to know hip-hop is Stoll alive and my dun Action Bronson is getting a little more recognition….Queens!
Super Dope !
Decent album, far more enjoyable than the Kendrick Lamar album.
Fantastic album, just as good if not better than Well Done. 5 Stars
amazing…fantastic…dope… no words to describe it…Bronnsonn
Album was garbage, this is coming from a Bronson fan.
FACTS! This ish trash!! But dude did make good points
This album was dope, my only complaint would be “Easyrider” was released way too early, and in general he leaked way to many tracks, like Baby Blue, Terry, and Acting Crazy, so we already heard half the album. Other than that this is dope not Blue Chips 1 or Well Done dope but good enough. This makes 7 good to great albums, because Rare Chandeliers, Blue Chips, Blue Chips 2, Dr. Lector, Saab Stories, & Well Done. ONLY LUPE AND K.DOT HAVE PUT OUT BETTER ALBUMS THIS YEAR! and fuk everybody on AmbroshiaForHeads that voted Joel Ortiz over Action Bronson because there’s no comparison.
|Terrib;e
Best album of the year!!!!
bs
solid
Great album….wish it was a little longer…but not disappointed at all…bronson!
He set the bar so high with Blue Chips 1 and 2, Well-Done, Rare Chandeliers, Dr. Lecter…..That’s what the fans want. We want Bon Appetit Bitch part 2! But this album still better than Kendricks lol
Great album. Would like to see him rap more sing less. He set the bar high with his previous work. Enjoyed the Big Body skits that guy needs to make his own Album!
MY RED BEAREDED BROTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY SON KILLLED THIS SHIT ARE YA’LL BRAIN WASHED WITH THAT WACK SAME FLOW ASS RAP MUSIC YA’LL USE TO? BEST RAP ALBUM OF THE YEAR REAL SHIT! YOU NIGGAS LIKE THEM FAV RAPPER YA LOVE THEY CANT KEEP IT REAL WIT THEM SELF. THIS WAS A MASTERPEICE FULL OF REAL INFLUNETIAL SHIT!!!!!!!! I WISH I COULD EAT N AMOKE WITH THIS NIGGA SON LOL BRONSON IS THE NEW CHEFFFFFFFFFFFF
Tight! I Love it.
Loved it. 4/5
Don’t you mean smorgasbord?
Bron certainly keeps surprising us, I was expecting an album like his mixtapes, but he exceeded my expectations.He showed he is not just a Ghostface Killa clone,he is his own many.
This album had 3 good songs. I was mad disappointed because I like AB. He shown potential, just not a cohesive project.
Too much singing. Im the type that want to hear a rapper rap. But it was allright.
album was disappointing, still….
Dont know how people think this was better than any of his previous efforts.
It’s better than Dr. Lectre but worse than everything else 3/5
This album was dope as fuck. if you’ve followed bronson, u shouldn’t be surprised with the music on it. with the blue chips projects, he was always experimenting with different genres, so i wasn’t surprised with the jazzy tracks at all. i was kinda impressed by them to be honest. and the thug love story musical could’ve been expected too cuz he’s made a thug love story track split into 2 beats before off blue chips. he wasn’t sticking to genres which is dope. he was worried about making good music. first 4 tracks were pure rap fire then went on to show mad creativity. he’s that dude in the city right now and NY’ers need to get behind this man