July 5, 2013

My Gut Reaction: Action Bronson - Saaab Stories (June 11, 2013)

As rapper-slash-chef Action Bronson's name has popped up several times in the comments section of many of the posts on HHID, it's only fair that I try to explore his catalog a bit further.  And, being as lazy as I am, I choose to continue my AcBro write-ups with another one of his EPs, the goofily-titled Saaab Stories, instead of a full-length album or mixtape.  Which definitely sounds like something I would do.


Continuing his assault on hip hop blogs the world over, Ariyan "Action Bronson" Arslani released Saaab Stories, an EP recorded exclusively with producer Harry Fraud, in June of this year.  According to Fraud, this project, the first of many he has planned with our host, was originally called the less-ridiculous Saab Stories, but was probably changed because of copyright infringement (I'm just guessing here).  

The short project features seven tracks built to showcase Bronson as a rapper worth giving a shit about, his Ghostface Killah-esque flow serving as a mere gateway into his world of sex, drugs, crime, food, and everything else that makes life worth living, I guess.  Saaab Stories was signed off upon by a major label: Atlantic Records, who picked up Bronson's contract after his record label, Vice, switched their distribution deal from Warner Bros. to its current home.

Saaab Stories has already made a sizable impact on the Interweb, mostly due to the A-list guest stars Bronson managed to strong-arm into participating.  However, his sense of humor shines through on the tracks themselves, and having everything produced by the same dude gives the EP a sense of continuity that is flat-out missing from hip hop these days.

You can tell I obviously didn't have much to write about for these opening paragraphs.  Let's go!

1.  2 VIRGINS (FEAT. BIG BODY BES)
Half actual song, half shit-talking interlude.  Over Fraud's weirdly hypnotic instrumental, one that envelops your mind until you're somewhat cognizant that there are hardly any drums and you don't really mind, Bronson spits a quick verse about having to take out a peer whose loyalty has been compromised (a topic which every artist who specializes in crime tales gets to pretty early in their careers), but before long he hands the track over to Big Body Bes, whose boasts reach hilarious new heights and really deserve to be experienced for yourself.  A weird way to kick things off, but at least it's short and to the goddamn point.

2.  TRIPLE BACKFLIP
As with nearly every Bronson song I've heard thus far, "Triple Double" isn't about much of anything, but two things our host excels at are shit-talking and goofy pop culture references, so it was enjoyable anyway.  Fraud's instrumental is more relaxed than I would have liked, but AcBro sounded so at home that I was left halfway hoping that Harry Fraud can eventually connect with Ghostface Killah for at least a single song.  Because Bronson and Pretty Toney sound alike, you see.  However, I'm ready to concede that, now that I'm a bit more familiar with the dude's work, there are obvious differences between the two that help Bronson stand out on his own.

3.  NO TIME
Although he throws you off the scent at the very beginning, Fraud turns in a very 1990s-sounding instrumental, complete with the type of pounding drums that I tend to gravitate toward.  Ariyan runs through his verses like a hot knife through most things (hey, a hot knife can potentially cause a lot of damage, don't sleep), delivering his bars with the confidence of a rapper with twice as long of a career.  Runs a bit too lengthy for my taste, and the skit at the end is beyond useless (is it truly necessary to include a skit on an EP?  Discuss), but this was still pretty enjoyable.

4.  THE ROCKERS (FEAT. WIZ KHALIFA)
The first guest of Saaab Stories isn't one of the artists bubbling in the underground that our host tends to frequently work with or any of those guys on A$AP Rocky's "1 Train" (that song turned into shorthand for "an underground posse cut that features a bunch of people you should be paying attention to, and also Yelawolf" really quickly, huh?): instead, it's major label stoner darling Wiz Khalifa, who hasn't managed to replicate the success of his breakthrough "Black and Yellow", although he certainly hasn't stopped trying.  Wiz and Bronson unleash unconvincing threats underscored with an annoying-as-shit hook, which would make "The Rockers" the first slip-up on here, except that the verses themselves sound alright otherwise over Fraud's melodic backdrop.  Not bad, but most certainly not good.

5.  STRICTLY 4 MY JEEPS
The single, inspired by EPMD's LL Cool J-featured "Rampage", and it bangs, even though the hook threatens to destroy the momentum.  We get it, dude: you like sex.  You don't need to talk about it all the goddamn time: it'll sound like your overcompensating for something.  Anyway, Fraud runs the sample at a slower speed than Erick and Parrish did, which allows Bronson to spit at his regular tempo, instead of forcing him into something absurd such as speed-rapping.  This shit works for me: it's simple, it's catchy, and it's entertaining as fuck.  The video (which, admittedly, was my actual introduction to this song: I don't spend as much time on other rap blogs as I used to) is also silly as shit.  It's obvious that Action Bronson is confident enough in his own abilities that he can take hip hop seriously while not taking himself seriously, which is goddamn refreshing.

6.  ALLIGATOR
Nothing about "Alligator" worked for me, until it suddenly did.  Allow me to extrapolate: at first, I hated this shit.  Fraud's instrumental sounded like everything I cannot stand about modern hip hop, and Bronson's bars seemed crafted merely to fit the mold, which was frustrating as fuck.  So I stopped giving a shit and drifted off.  This means that I sort-of missed the point where Fraud shifts everything into dim lighting, and a much calmer, sober, and downright somber Action Bronson adopts a reflective tone that I've never heard from him before, which brought me back completely.  "Alligator" ultimately adds layers and depth to the Action Bronson story, helping him add to his potential shelf life.  A very chill ending to what started off as the worst song on the EP.  It's weird that there hasn't been a song on here that I can dismiss outright, huh?

7.  SEVEN SERIES TRIPLETS (FEAT. PRODIGY & RAEKWON)
The only other guests on Saaab Stories just so happen to be New York heavyweights Raekwon (of the Wu-Tang Clan, duh) and Prodigy (of Mobb Deep), two guys who almost certainly inspired Bronson to rhyme at least a little bit, so their presence here is a pretty fucking huge co-sign.  Cellblock P is far removed from his Mobb Deep prime, but his verse actually wasn't horrible (it wasn't very good at first, especially with all that "he was so scared he took a shit" garbage, but it got better), and having the Chef on here may be as close as we get to a true Ghost and Rae collaboration in 2013 (aside from anything on the upcoming Wu group album, anyway, and by the way, I'm still pissed that Raekwon couldn't carve out time to contribute at least one verse to Twelve Reasons To Die).  But the true stars on this otherwise disconnected effort (as none of the rappers acknowledge one another, it's clear that this was recorded on several different planes of existence) are Bronson and Fraud, both of whom turn in good work to close things out.

THE LAST WORD:  As I mentioned above, there aren't any songs on Saaab Stories that I can dismiss outright.  Action Bronson's lyrics hardly ever approach anything beyond shit-talking, but this is hip hop, and hip hop essentially is shit-talking, except set to a beat, so that's usually okay.  His flow has continued to evolve; considering that the only other AcBro project I've listened to-slash-written about was his EP The Program, there's an obvious difference in his confidence level, although he probably wouldn't admit it.  Everything on Saaab Stories is worth listening to, some less so than others, but Fraud's production is a perfect vehicle for Bronson's tales.  Had he mixed in just a tiny bit more depth, such as from the second half of "Alligator", this could have been a beast; as it is, it's merely an enjoyable EP that won't take up too much of your day.  Worth the six bucks.

B-SIDE TO CHECK OUT: "STRICTLY 4 MY JEEPS (REMIX)" (FEAT. LL COOL J & LLOYD BANKS)
This non-EP remix plays exactly as it reads: Action Bronson managed to snag Queens natives Lloyd Banks (really?  There's tons of other artists in QB that could have filled this role) and NCIS: Los Angeles's LL Cool J (admittedly, this is a bit of a coup) for the official remix to a song which was inspired by Cool James's performance on EPMD's "Rampage" in the first place.  AcBro even graciously hands the opening verse to Mr. Smith (because you wouldn't?), who, to his credit, sounds refreshed and not so much like a guy who recorded "Accidental Racist" with country star Brad Paisley.  Bronson and Banks also sell the shit out of their performances, too.  Fraud retains his original (relatively speaking) instrumental, but mixes in elements of Mtume's "Juicy Fruit" to clearly remind the listener of The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Juicy", which was an interesting choice.  Worth looking for.

-Max

(NOTE: An earlier version of this post erroneously listed this EP as a free download.  If this were a major publication, I would say that I regret the error.  As it is not, I'll simply edit the post and move on.)

RELATED POSTS:
There's a bit more Action Bronson to be found by clicking here.


26 comments:

  1. Time to piss everyone off...i've never cared for Action Bronson. The guy can rap but something about him makes me lose interest. I'm not a fan of most modern day underground rappers who only care about showcasing their ability to make words rhyme, so i guess thats it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I find his music incredibly boring.
      And on top of that, he's a particularly nasty misogynist.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJuly 08, 2013

      That fucking cover...

      Delete
    3. To add to Funky and Michael, the dude is a Ghostface biter. Sounds like Ghostface, rhymes like Ghostface LOL. Can't do it. That's the epitome of wackness. I don't see how underground cats can hate on wack shit like Keef, which, despite the ignorance, seems to be coming from a genuine place, but celebrate silly watered-down versions of Ghostface's personality in a biter.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousJuly 05, 2013

    No Born Sinner?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Considering that I've never actually written about Cole myself...no.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJuly 07, 2013

      Put Dag Diligent on it then!

      Looking forward to your MCHG review.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousJuly 05, 2013

    pffffft some Jay-Z stan you are.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The album hasn't officially dropped for non-Samsung customers yet. (hint, hint)

      Delete
  4. AnonymousJuly 05, 2013

    Why the fuck wouldn't these two guys just make this shit a fucking LP. I fucking hate EP's there a waste of time. The only time I fucking listen to music is walking to and from fucking work which is an hour both ways, I need something a little bit meatier to fill the fucking time and gear me up for a day in a job that I fucking despise. Otherwise a pretty solid effort, can't wait for that LP though.

    p.s.

    As much as I enjoy the mushy mouthed son of Queens that is Lloyd Banks, I cant help but think that to perfectly encapsulate that classic hip hop feel that the track blatantly aims for, a guest verse form someone like Kool G Rap would have done nicely.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJuly 05, 2013

    To the anonymous above me this was a free EP so you cannot really complain. Max I totally agree with you. This EP is definitely a banger.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Max, this is definitely a for sale EP. Not sure who told you it was just a mixtape.

    Anyway, dope EP. Didn't like the track with Wiz (no shocker there) but the rest of it is fire. Excited to see what else he cooks up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right. Duly noted and corrected.

      Delete
  7. AnonymousJuly 06, 2013

    Saaab Stories is not a free download, as previously planned by both Bronson and Fraud. I cannot fucking understand why these guys would release an EP and charge you for it. That is some bull shit. the EP should have been free and then they follow up with the LP that we all gots to pay for.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You guys are correct. My information was wrong; as such, the post has been updated. However, I still recommend a purchase; there used to be a time when artists wanted you to pay for EVERYTHING they released. True, back then they didn't release nearly as much material, but still.

      Delete
  8. AnonymousJuly 06, 2013

    Magna Carta Holy Grail

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You guys just have no patience, huh?

      Delete
  9. This is a somewhat random question: I remember reading somewhere in your blog (I think it was for Jay-Z's American Gangster gut-reaction post) that you would be revisiting your gut-reaction posts after some time has passed or so. Does this mean in lets say 5 years or so you will be giving 'proper' reviews on your favourite (because I know there's a lot of) gut-reaction posts?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not that random at all. I did originally have that intention, but as the response to the Gut Reaction posts grew, causing me to increase the frequency of them, I quickly realized that there is no way I would have the time to continue writing new articles and revisit older ones and still have a fulfilling personal life. In short, as I've mentioned before, if I kept rehashing older posts, I would never finish what I started.

      Once again, if I choose to revisit anything, it wouldn't be for the blog. I don't know what exactly I would do that FOR if not the blog, though: kind of depends on reader response...

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJuly 07, 2013

      you ever listen to the 9th wonder remix of american gangster? it's much better imo

      Delete
  10. AnonymousJuly 06, 2013

    Gangsta gibbs....

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousJuly 07, 2013

    I feel like Bronson's shit gets a little more stale with each onslaught of new material. The beats and delivery are on point but his aura is far from enthralling like that of a Roc Marciano, Sean Price or Freddie Gibbs.

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousJuly 07, 2013

    awesome that you reviewed action bronson

    not his best effort though should of reviewed rare chandeliers or blue chips but cool what ever

    jay z new album sucks by the way

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousJuly 08, 2013

    Very nice write up, Max! You returned beleve in HHID for me lol. I joke.
    Regarding album (eh EP) this is my less favorite from Bam Bam because for me he kept that true NY boom bap sound on previous releases, but Fraud's (what a name) 808's is more south sounding. I'm still a fan of Bronson and count Dr.Lecter and ...Chandeliers almost rap masterpieces in modern times. Peace

    andrewfrumrusha

    ReplyDelete
  14. DJ Mixtape!?
    "DJ derbystarr presents ACTION BRONSON - 20min CERTIFIED MADNESS OneShot PromoMix"
    https://soundcloud.com/derbystar/dj-derbystarr-action-bronson-certified-madness-mix

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousMay 29, 2015

    I know of better rappers than this dude still in the underground. Don't even claim this dude is bringing hip hop back when it's not even dead and hip hop did not start with talking down to women and treating them like hoes. If anything you are keeping hip hop dead. The music behind his rhymes is awesome. His rhymes just portray him as an arrogant fat dick head that needs to be kicked in the teeth.

    I dare you to listen to Greydon Square.

    ReplyDelete