Action Bronson: Crocodrillo Turbo | 4ZZZ Brisbane 102.1FM

- It has been a long time since I have heard a project from New York rapper Action Bronson but it feels right to finally dip my toes back in the water with his latest release Cocodrillo Turbo. Cocodrillo Turbo extends to the animalistic nature of Bronson’s rhymes, tricked out with elements of surf rock. Bronson remains a hilarious rapper with production from usual collaborators such as The Alchemist and Daringer who provide the boat ride down the bayou.

It's so weird to describe something as late 1950’s rap but that’s pretty much what opener Hound Dog is. Daringer catches the wave as his guitars rip open a surf instrumental reminiscent of Link Wray, but faster. I’ve always appreciated Bronson’s commitment to saying vile and stupid bars with a smooth, charming flow and it’s nice to see none of that personality's disappeared in my absence. He creates an immediate character in Hound Dog through only a few bars about smoking drugs, naked, while driving a fast car. As silly as that is, its just so damn likeable.

Estaciones feels as grand as popping the finest champagne on the most expensive yacht as Alchemist goes Liberace with the piano-backed production. Bronson makes quite an entrance with an exclamation about walking down the aisle solo. Everything that Bronson raps about feels random and unconnected bar to bar but as a whole picture it just works. The highlight of the song is the moment in which Bronson interrupts guest rapper Hologram’s verse to compare his height to an M16 forcing Hologram to start over.

SubZero is a -no pun intended- cold beat with keys that sound like '80’s era Herbie Hancock with a touch of Alchemist’s thick bass guitar riffs and distorted cymbals in the left ear. Bronson is braggadocios because of course he sleeps with your wife and smokes hash in four Rolls Royce; what did you expect? Once again, the humorous touches work for me: like Bronson claiming he’s still trying to contact Pitbull to get a feature.

Turkish is another solid Daringer beat with a quieter bassline and pounding drums backed by a sample of a woman wailing that is frankly operatic. Bronson is violent and intimidating as he threatens to punch you out and slide away like he’s Bo Jackson. I love that he takes it as far as to say he’ll even knock out the horse you rode in on, as if his cartoonish threats weren’t goofy enough already.

Closer Storm of the Century returns to the '50’s / '60’s surf-rock influences but this time with a focused tribute to its slower, more melodic outings. Bronson feels in his element over the relaxed production as he raps about his cars and his favourite types of food and his favourite types of food to eat while he drives his car. Once again, it feels like Bronson raps anything that comes to mind but as an overall experience, it’s just mind-numbingly relaxing to hear this man flow and there is a level of beauty to the pictures he paints while saying seemingly nothing.

I've quite enjoyed Cocodrillo Turbo. The project works, mostly, because it doesn't outstay its welcome, has fun production and, as always, Bronson’s commitment to being himself and saying whatever he feels. It's possible to take the idiocy a bit far: I do feel the inclusion of skits of animal noises at the end of most tracks tends to ruin the flow, especially towards the latter half. While nothing extraordinary, Cocodrillo Turbo is a fun half-n-hour spent with a rapper who clearly is having at least as much fun just doing what he enjoys; that alone is plenty infectious.

- James Chadwick.