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Action Bronson | |
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.jpg) Bronson performing in 2016 | |
| Born | Ariyan Arslani (1983-12-02)December 2, 1983 (age 41) Queens, New York City, U.S. |
| Other names | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2008–present |
| Television | The Untitled Action Bronson Show Fuck, That’s Delicious Traveling the Stars: Action Bronson and Friends Watch Ancient Aliens |
| Children | 3 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | East Coast hip hop |
| Labels | |
Musical artist | |
| Website | actionbronson |
| Signature | |
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Ariyan Arslani (born December 2, 1983), better known by his stage nameAction Bronson, is an American rapper, chef, and television host.[4] Born and raised inQueens, he released his debutmixtapeBon Appetit ..... Bitch!!!!! in January 2011 and independently released his debut album,Dr. Lecter, in March 2011. In August 2012, Arslani signed his first major-label deal withWarner Bros. Records, but was later moved to theAtlantic Records-distributed labelVice Records.
Arslani went on to create two self-released mixtapes,Rare Chandeliers (2012) with American record producerThe Alchemist, andBlue Chips 2 (2013) with longtime collaboratorsParty Supplies, before releasing his major-label debut, an extended play (EP) titledSaaab Stories, with frequent collaboratorHarry Fraud, in 2013. He released his major-label debut album,Mr. Wonderful, in March 2015, debuting at number seven on the USBillboard 200 chart.
Aside from his career in music, Arslani hostedThe Untitled Action Bronson Show, a talk/variety show, and still hosts his travel programFuck, That's Delicious, onViceland. His frequent collaborators and lifelong friendsMeyhem Lauren,The Alchemist, andBig Body Bes are regulars on both of his television series. Renowned chefs such asMario Batali,Andrew Zimmern,Daniel Boulud,Rick Bayless,Grant Achatz, and others have been guests on his television series.
Ariyan Arslani[5] was born inFlushing, Queens, New York City, on December 2, 1983,[6][7] to anAlbanian Muslim father and an American Jewish mother.[8] Growing up he was raised in his father's Muslim tradition.[9] He attendedBayside High School, inBayside, Queens, and graduated in 2002. Before embarking on a career as a rapper, which was originally just a hobby, Bronson worked as a cook at his father's Mediterranean restaurant inForest Hills. He hosted his own online cooking show,Action in the Kitchen. After breaking his leg in the kitchen, Bronson concentrated solely on rapping.[10]
Action Bronson's debut studio albumDr. Lecter was independently released by Fine Fabric Delegates on March 15, 2011. The album,produced entirely byNew York City-basedmusic producer Tommy Mas. In November of that year, Bronson followed up withWell-Done, a collaborative effort with American hip hop producerStatik Selektah.[11] On March 12, 2012, he released his second mixtape, titledBlue Chips, withParty Supplies.[12]
In August 2012, it was announcedPaul Rosenberg signed Action Bronson to a management deal withGoliath Artists.[13] In the same month, Bronson was featured onOdd Future-rapperDomo Genesis and American hip hop producer The Alchemist's collaborative albumNo Idols, on tracks "Elimination Chamber" (featuringEarl Sweatshirt andVince Staples) and "Daily News" (featuringSpaceGhostPurrp and Earl Sweatshirt). Later that year Action Bronson joined bothWarner Bros. Records, via media companyVICE, and concert booking agencyNUE.[14] On November 15, 2012, Bronson releasedRare Chandeliers, a collaborative mixtape with the Alchemist.
In March 2013, Bronson performed at theCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festival[15] and later that month was featured onXXL Magazine's 2013 Freshman Class, a list of up-and-coming rappers.[16] In May 2013, Action Bronson was moved toAtlantic Records, and subsequently released anextended play (EP) titledSaaab Stories, on June 11, 2013.[17] The EP was produced entirely by American music producerHarry Fraud and features guest appearances from fellow American rappersRaekwon,Wiz Khalifa, andProdigy.[18] The EP was preceded by the single, "Strictly 4 My Jeeps".[19] In July 2013, he indicated a desire to collaborate with fellowQueens-bred rappersNas andKool G Rap on hismajor-label debut album, but was ultimately unsuccessful.[20] Also in July, Bronson announced his major-label debut album would be released in early 2014.[21]
On November 1, 2013, Bronson releasedBlue Chips 2, the second installment in hisBlue Chips series, in promotion of the album.[22][23][24][25] On October 28, 2013,Funkmaster Flex announced he would be hosting an upcoming Action Bronson mixtape. Production was revealed to be coming fromErick Sermon,Mike Will Made It,DJ Mustard andJahlil Beats.[22] In a November 2013 interview withRolling Stone, Bronson stated that he would have Kool G Rap andMobb Deep, featured on his upcoming album.[26]
In February 2014, Action Bronson,J. Cole,Kendrick Lamar and360 accompanied rapperEminem, on a brief tour of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.[27] On May 6, 2014, Action Bronson debuted a food-oriented monthly web series, titledFuck, That's Delicious in coordination withVice Records.[28][29]
On August 5, 2014, Bronson released the song "Easy Rider" as the first single from his second studio albumMr. Wonderful. The song was produced by Bronson's longtime producerParty Supplies. On August 20, 2014, the music video for "Easy Rider", was released. The video for "Easy Rider", which was directed by Tom Gould, pays homage to the1969 Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper film of the same name.[30] Bronson released "Actin Crazy" on January 20. He released the full album on March 23, 2015, receiving over 48,000 streams during its debut week.[31]
In October 2015, Bronson was hospitalized inAnchorage, Alaska, for emergency surgery after a concert on October 23. He remained in the hospital for several days.[32]
In March 2016, the Program Board of theGeorge Washington University announced that Bronson would be the headlining performer for the university's yearly spring concert, "Spring Fling". Controversy soon erupted as Bronson's song "Consensual Rape" came to light, as well as statements Bronson made that were consideredhomophobic,transphobic, andmisogynistic.[33] Student activist groups successfully pushed for the university to cancel the performance.[34] In April 2016, Bronson was similarly disinvited from theTrinity College Spring Weekend concert.[35] Bronson responded in an open letter, claiming that his songs "depict a story" and "aren't meant to be anything but an artistic expression," condemned all forms of sexual violence, and offered an apology.[36]
On Monday May 16, 2016, he presented at theWebby Awards.[37]
On August 25, 2017, he released his third studio album,Blue Chips 7000, which serves as a sequel to his 2013Blue Chips 2 mixtape. In September 2017, Arslani published acookbook based on his travel show, also titledFuck, That's Delicious.
On October 31, 2018, Bronson announced that he was parting ways with Vice, the media company that served as his record label and television network.[38]
In November 2018, Bronson announced a tour in support of his latest album,White Bronco. The tour ran from February 2019 to March 2019.Meyhem Lauren andRoc Marciano will be supporting.[39]
On August 9, 2020, Bronson revealed the title of his fifth album,Only for Dolphins, released on September 25, 2020. The cover art was painted by Bronson himself. Bronson described the album as "ANOTHER BRIGHT THREAD WOVEN INTO THE TEXTURE OF THE COSMOS".[40]
Bronson released his sixth solo studio album,Cocodrillo Turbo, on April 29, 2022.[41] The record's guest features included Roc Marciano andConway the Machine.[42]
Bronson released his seventh solo studio album,Johann Sebastian Bachlava the Doctor, on July 11, 2024.[43] This album marked Bronson's first independent record in over a decade. The album included collaborations withLarry June, as well as frequent guests Meyhem Lauren and The Alchemist.[44]
Action Bronson starred in two television series which aired on theViceland channel: the food travel showFuck, That's Delicious, and a nightly food talk show,The Untitled Action Bronson Show. He also starred in the comedy documentary seriesTraveling the Stars: Action Bronson and Friends Watch 'Ancient Aliens'.
He has had cameo roles in the filmsThe Irishman (2019), playing a coffin salesman,[45] andThe King of Staten Island (2020).[46] Bronson also made an appearance forAEW's All Out on September 4, 2022, and wrestled his first professional wrestling match atGrand Slam, teaming withHook to defeatMatt Menard andAngelo Parker which aired on September 23, 2022.[47]
Action Bronson cites fellow American rappersKool G Rap,Nas,Cam'ron,Mobb Deep,UGK and theWu-Tang Clan, as major influences.[48][49] Other artists includeMichael Jackson,Carlos Santana,Queen as well as Albanian wedding singers.[50]
Bronson frequently raps about food in his songs.[51][52][53] He is also well known for his frequent, and often obscure,allusions to athletes and sports teams. Bronson's lyrics often make reference tosports in New York City but also touch on more obscure subjects such as professional wrestlers,[54]bodybuilders,figure skating andsports betting.[55][56][57]
Early in his career, Bronson gained recognition for lyrically, tonally, and stylistically resembling fellow New York rapperGhostface Killah of Wu-Tang Clan (with whom he collaborated, along with friend and fellow rapperTermanology, on a song called "Meteor Hammer", from the 2011 compilation albumLegendary Weapons). Ghostface Killah himself has admitted to confusing Bronson's rapping for his own.[58] In a 2011 interview withHipHopDX, Bronson was asked about how it was to be compared to the Wu-Tang rapper, and he responded with,
Yeah, I mean at the end of the day, it's all good because Ghostface Killah is one of the best rappers alive, so if I sound similar to the best rapper alive then that is fine. To me there is no comparison; he is a legend and I am a newcomer. If I would try and emulate with anyone it would beKool G Rap, he is the person I look up to the most. I am not upset but at the end of the day I am my own person and no one can take that away from me.[59]
Bronson has two children with a former girlfriend.[60] Bronson's current girlfriend gave birth to a son in November 2019.[61][62]
In mid-2020, prompted by having reached a body weight of 400 pounds (180 kg), and having a myriad of associated health problems, as well as the birth of his son, Bronson began a regimen of healthier eating as well asboxing andhigh-intensity interval training. As of December 2020 he had lost 127 pounds (58 kg).[61] He took upBrazilian jiu-jitsu in 2021,[63] training under Ryron Gracie.[64]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Last Call with Carson Daly[65] | Himself | |
| 2014 | The Eric Andre Show | Musical guest (Episode: "Ryan Kwanten; Beyoncé & Jay-Z") | |
| 2015 | Lucas Bros. Moving Co. | Uncle Taco | Voice role (Episode: Lucas Burgers) |
| Late Show with David Letterman | Himself | Performed "Baby Blue" withChance the Rapper[66] | |
| Ridiculousness | Episode: "Action Bronson" | ||
| 2016–present | Fuck, That's Delicious | Creator, host | |
| 2016, 2019, 2020 | Late Night with Seth Meyers | 3 episodes | |
| 2016, 2022 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | 2022: Performed "Jaguar" | |
| 2016-2019 | Traveling the Stars: Action Bronson and Friends Watch Ancient Aliens | ||
| 2016-2017 | The Rachael Ray Show | 2 episodes[67] | |
| 2017 | Desus & Mero | Episode 131 | |
| 2017 | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Performed "The Chairman's Intent" | |
| 2017-2018 | The Untitled Action Bronson Show | Host | |
| 2017 | The Chew | ||
| Most Expensivest | Episode: "Treat Yo' Self" | ||
| The Wendy Williams Show | |||
| 2018-2019 | Strahan & Sara | 2 episodes | |
| 2022 | AEW Dynamite | ||
| AEW Rampage |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Game Over, Man! | Himself | Cameo |
| 2019 | The Irishman | Casket Salesman | |
| 2020 | The King of Staten Island | Shot or Stabbed Victim | |
| 2025 | Caught Stealing | Amtrak |
TheBET Hip Hop Awards was established in 2006 by the network to celebratehip-hop performers, producers andmusic video directors.
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Action Bronson | Rookie of the Year[68] | Nominated |
| 2014 | Blue Chips 2 | Best Mixtape | Nominated |
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