Have you heard this new Action Bronson song? It's great. And yes, simple. Constructed around a Spanish horns sample looped up by producer Tommy Mas, it doesn't have a hook or a chorus or anything. In making such a song, one called "Simple Man," I mean, Bronson takes his place in a long, if not always proud tradition in pop music. There are lots of "Simple Man" songs. They are usually quite simple, and they usually start with a sentence right along the lines of, "I am just a simple man." (Kudos to Bronson for avoiding that.)
People that would definitely not be named "Person of the Year" by Philadelphia rappers Black Deniro and Freeway: 1) The "Twitter Thug" 2) The "Fake Baller" 3) The "Bougie Chick" 4) The "Phone Gangster" 5) The "Goon Rat" 6) The "Sneaky Groupie"
Kids today. I remember when people thought it was crazy when Kriss Kross wore their jeans backwards. Currently there seems to be a new trend sweeping the hip-hop nation. As evidenced in a number of recent popular rap music videos, the new thing seems to be smoking two blunts at the same time. Or two joints. Two marijuana cigarettes. This would not be so remarkable [Ed.: it is actually not that remarkable], were it not for the fact that it flies in face of age-old conventional wisdom about pot smoking.
Are you in New York and looking see some live hip-hop and also do a mitzvah? Queens rapper Action Bronson and the folks at the I Am A Star organization are using 90 percent of the proceeds from tonight's concert at Sullivan Hall in the West Village to buy food for hungry people in Somalia. Action Bronson seems like a really good dude. And he raps crazy nice.
Longtime Mobb Deep and Eminem associate Alchemist (who grew up in Beverly Hills and was one-half of a teen-rap group with Scott Caan!) has formed a duo with L.A. indie rapper Oh No (who's given name is Michael Jackson and who is the younger brother of underground rap hero Madlib). They call themselves Gangrene, and for the title track of their first album, they've made a video in which Oh No is in a recording studio in the back of a U-Haul truck that becomes involved in one of America's most dangerous police chases. Alchemist is driving the truck. Lots of crazy stuff happens. Alchemist bails out and tries [...]
Seth Colter Walls: Hi Cord Jefferson! Is there any new rap music that you have thoughts on or that you like especially? And if you say "Tyler" or "Odd Future," I will stab you in your esophagus!
Cord Jefferson: Ha! Yes, I feel like I've said all I need to say. Everybody's said all they need to about Tyler and Odd Future.
Seth: Oh, they will pull you back in before long, I'm sure. But yes, let's talk Rap A.T. (After Tyler.)
Cord: Within the past two weeks, I have developed a deep, deep obsession with a rapper out of Queens called Action Bronson. I'm more excited about [...]
