Action Bronson

Action Bronson, born Arian Asilani in 1984 to an Albanian Muslim father and a Jewish hippie mother from New York, is one of those rappers whose legend precedes them. The guy is massive and heavy, just like his rap and his cooking. A handsome, red-haired 320-pounder, very similar to Ghostface Killah in his flow. And a world apart from Alain Passard in his cooking. Because it was in the kitchen that Action got his start.

As the head chef of his restaurant in New York, Action shares his culinary secrets in “Action in the Kitchen,” a show filmed on a phone and uploaded to YouTube. Burgers, tuna, a tutorial on chopping onions—nothing too crazy, just well-balanced dishes, all narrated in a flowery hip-hop style. It’s 2010, and Action raps just for fun; his fame remains limited.

It was during his recovery—after slipping in his restaurant and breaking his leg—that he began to consider a career in rap. He released his first two albums in 2011, Dr. Lecter and Well-Done, followed by his critically acclaimed mixtape Blue Chips in 2012. He thus made his mark on US rap with his sincere rhymes, his vivid vocabulary, and his lustful love for luxury, fine dining, and marijuana.

He collaborated with the Alchemist and Domo Genesis, and eventually signed with the Vice label in late 2012. In fact, it was with Munchies, a food website part of the Vice network, where his series “Fuck, that’s delicious” is filmed. There, you can follow him on his international tour as he visits the various restaurants he’s reviewed. And to say the least, it’s making our mouths water.

To wrap up the musical section, Bronson released his latest album in 2015 Mr. Wonderful. Even more striking, he oscillates between playful rap and raw intensity—a great example of “subtle yet silly” rap. He has also appeared in the Smokebox, an interviewee sitting in a lowrider with the windows rolled down.

Action is just as famous for his outbursts:

• He doesn't hesitate to walk out of his own concert to go grab a quick fried chicken

• Action doesn't really like it when people climb onto his stage. And he makes that clear by tossing the intruders into the crowd. It has, of course, become a game and a highlight of his concerts.

• Above all, he puts on a show like few other artists in the rap game.

Fucking delicious« Bronson action.