With a flair for the eccentric, Action Bronson performed in front of his tight-knight fan base at Milwaukee’s Rave on Nov. 9. That isn’t to say there weren’t many people present, but the crowd of a few hundred were clearly affixed to both Bronson’s antics, scholars of his ample discography, so much so that they felt like a throng of thousands.
After rapper Mayhem Lauren and hardcore-punk, California-based band Trash Talk performed, the man who takes cooking as seriously as he does rapping, Bronson, wowed. Showcasing an infectious character, one teeming with irony just as much it did charisma, Bronson performed for about an hour to an ecstatic crowd, one that slipped in every lyric behind the whiny delivery of their godsend.
The Flushing, N.Y., rapper mainly performed tracks from his favorably received commercial debut, Mr. Wonderful, which was released in 2015, and the latest installment of his Blue Chips series, Blue Chips 7000, from earlier this year. Tracks included “Baby Blue,” “Easy Rider,” “Durag vs. Headband,” among others.
Given the experimentation that has backed the emcee throughout the 2010s — thanks to the emcee’s wide Rolodex that includes producers from the Alchemist to Party Supplies — the live setting is the perfect place to expose such carnal guitars and catchy piano rolls, underneath his stage presence. While dodging fan-deflected mini beach balls, Bronson did everything from shout out his Albanian heritage to saying the reason he secured his food and travel show (“****, That’s Delicious,” which is on Viceland) is because he can rap laps around any rapper. A part-time salesman and comedian, a satirical Bronson also pitched his other show, “Action Bronson Watches Ancient Aliens,” and noted that people who like tremendous food, unbelievable music and happiness should enjoy it.
Before he went off stage, he said he’d be back in Milwaukee relatively soon.
He is, unquestionably, in on the joke, of which is peddled by people who see him more as a vacuous celebrity than a true rhymer. But, there is no bones about it: he does epitomize the role of an artist, affecting his audience with his lyricism and laid back aura. Since being called out in his early mixtape days as a facsimile of the Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah, Bronson has exhibited his influences. He is somebody who informs his audience, crosses generational gaps with his material, that’s included voices from Sean Price to Styles P to Chance The Rapper. (Side note: he interpolated Biz Markie’s “Just A Friend,” amidst “Baby Blue.”)
The once-widely underground rapper is climbing the ranks with each release, and there’s no consensus as to what realm he’ll wander into next. I’m sure, though, it’ll quickly become an earworm for one enjoys lighthearted and, most importantly, blue-ribbon rhymes.