Action Bronson

Blue Chips 2

BY Aaron MatthewsPublished Nov 5, 2013

6
Ghostface Killah, a rapper Action Bronson was once frequently compared to, once revealed the secret for making great rap: saying fly shit over official beats. Queens, NY rapper Bronson sticks to this formula on the sequel to his 2012 star-making vehicle Blue Chips, as BC2 again pairs the rapper with producer Party Supplies. Supplies' oldies samples on the prequel have given way to a virtual tour through an eclectic record collection. To get more specific would be snitching. Nonetheless whether rapping over "Tequila" ("Pepe Lopez") or a host of '80s radio classics ("Contemporary Man") Bronson displays a sense of joy rarely heard in rap these days.

The portly spitter is clearly in his zone here, and the highlights are high; from the hazy acoustic funk of "Midget Cough" or the glorious horns of "Twin Peugeots", Bronson has found his DJ Premier in Party Supplies. Blue Chips succeeded by balancing Bronson's foul and hilarious food references, boasts and crime stories with flashes of heartfelt sincerity; to its detriment, the mixtape sequel loses the emotional impact of songs like "Thug Love 2012" for increased bravado and silliness. As absurd as it might sound, by the time Bronson has made his fifth reference to lamb, one starts to get a sense of diminishing returns. With his recent glut of paid and gratis releases, Bronson has proven his skill and ability to balance quantity and quality. Now it's time to push outside of his comfort zone to reach his full potential.
(Fool's Gold)

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