Kool G Rap, Noreaga, Mobb Deep, and Nas all have one thing in common – other than being some of the greatest entities in Hip-Hop, they all hail from Queens, New York, just like Action Bronson.
After releasing his critically acclaimed debut, Mr. Lecter, last Spring, Bronson’s star profile has been furiously rising. He has appeared on a number of projects, including Statik Selektah’s upcoming Population Control album, as well as on the recently released Wu-Tang’s Legendary Weapons. Not only is he a verbal “cook” in the studio, fans might also be surprised to know that he is also an employed chef in New York City.
AllHipHop.com caught up with Action Bronson at his headlining show at Brooklyn’s The Knitting Factory to talk about how he became “Action Bronsonelli,” his upcoming album with Statik Selektah, who he’s currently feeling in the rap game, and what means more to him: being the greatest rapper alive or the greatest chef alive. Find out what he had to say below:
AllHipHop.com: You’re certainly a one-of-a-kind personality in Hip-Hop. If you could describe yourself in a couple of words, tell me, who is Action Bronson?
Action Bronson: I’m like the Mario Batali of the rap game man. You know. There’s really, there’s no words to pretty much describe it. It’s just, you know, it’s just another level type thing man. I don’t even know yet. We’ll have to see as it develops.
AllHipHop.com: In terms of your own stuff, you seem to always stick to working with only one producer per project. Why is that?
Action Bronson: I just like for an album to have a sound. I don’t like a cut and paste type of project, and I like to work exclusively with one person because it’s like a comfort level type of thing, you know. Like, you just get that album feel that you don’t get when you hear 20 different producers on one album you know. You just get that flow. Like listening to N.W.A. albums back in the day, you hear how it has that sound? Everything goes into each other. Everything is mixed properly. That’s what I’m trying to do.
AllHipHop.com: You work with Statik Selektah a lot. What about him is so special to you personally?
Action Bronson: Well, Statik is just a good dude man. He was one of the first dudes to start f*king with me in this rap game s### so, you know, I have much love for Statik. Much love for my man P.F. Cuttin. Much love for my homie Tommy Mas. Much love for DJ J-Love. You know, like those are the people that started f*cking with me since the beginning.
AllHipHop.com: You’ve surely heard the Ghostface comparisons time and time again, and I’m sure he and the rest of Wu-Tang influenced you coming up. Who were some other major influences that helped create and mold Action Bronson into who he is today?
Action Bronson: Of course, Kool G Rap is my favorite rapper ,period. If anyone was to compare me to someone, I wish it would be him. I mean that Ghost sh*t is cool, but at the end of the day, I am me. I don’t sound like nobody; it’s just me. Nothing is taken from anybody. Nothing is f*cking borrowed from anybody. I just grew up in the 90s man, so Queens sh*t, Mobb Deep, Cormega, Noyd, Nas.
AllHipHop.com: What can you tell me about the new project that you have coming out with Statik Selektah?
Action Bronson: The album’s been done for a minute. It’s called Well Done, and it’s 15 f*cking bangers, man. It should be out in November.
AllHipHop.com: Did Statik produce everything on there?
Action Bronson: Statik produced everything, man.
AllHipHop.com: Any features that the fans should be looking out for?
Action Bronson: Mostly just features from the family and just Meyhem Lauren, AG Da Coroner are on there. I got Lil Fame from M.O.P. on the hook of a track. That’s pretty much it. I don’t need a lot of features, man. I like to shine on my own. At the end of the day, motherf*ckers get a lot of people on their albums to try and sell it. I don’t want that. I want it to sell for my own merit, you know?
AllHipHop.com: Definitely respect that. Who are some other artists out there right now that your feeling?
Action Bronson: Well, I just recently met Termanology through Statik [Selektah], and he’s one of them. My people man, like, AG Da Coroner, Meyhem Lauren, Matthew Raggazino. I f*ck with Danny Brown. My homeboy Party Supplies.
AllHipHop.com: If you could be the “greatest rapper alive” or the “greatest chef alive,” which would you choose and why?
Action Bronson: Greatest chef alive, man. This rap sh*t is easy, but being the greatest chef is not easy. That takes a lot of work. This rap sh*t, it just comes kind of naturally. I didn’t know it happened, until it started happening. You know, for the most part, I would rather be the best chef in the world, 100%, because I don’t have to fight after the club. I want to get p*ssy after the club. I don’t want to f*cking fight. So, I want to eat good food. You know, p*ssy and lamb.
AllHipHop.com: What does 2012 have in store for Action Bronson?
Action Bronson: Time will tell, man, you know? You might see me on the cover of Food & Wine.
Action Bronson’s Dr. Lecter is available now on iTunes. Statik Selektah and Action Bronson’s Well Done drops November 11th! Follow Action Bronson on Twitter at @ActionBronson.