Action Bronson and Human Growth Hormone

Like all great competitive warriors, Action Bronson uses every perceived slight as fuel to be even better. The rare rapper to marry critical acclaim with a devoted, rabid following, Action Bronson isn’t anyone’s idea of an underdog. And yet, on his brilliant new album, Cocodrillo Turbo, he sets out to prove that his lingual versatility is stronger than it’s ever been, that age has only made him a better rapper, and that anyone still sleeping on him as one of the best MCs on the planet better wake the hell up. “I don't feel like I'm given the fucking respect that I deserve,” Bronson explains. Cocodrillo Turbo is Bronson demanding that respect. He’s gotten in the reps, constantly refining his poetic flow and relying on the instincts he’s cultivated with over a decade in the game under his belt. Now, sit back and enjoy the show. With his boundless creativity and hustler’s work ethic, Bronson relies almost entirely on his intuitive grasp for rap music on Cocodrillo. The result is an album that is equal parts free-wheeling and tight as a snare drum. “At this point, I treat my songs like paintings. I know what they need,” he explains. “You’ve got to know what it needs to satisfy you. You can keep touching it up forever, but I’ve gotten better at realizing when I’ve captured the moment. That's it. Then I move on to the next moment.” Cocodrillo is, in this sense, a series of sketched vignettes. Bronson is a storyteller but his songs don’t move linearly.