Mr. Wonderful. Dr. Baklava. Bam Bam. Whatever name New York chef-turned-rapper Action Bronson is choosing to go by, his brand of hazy east coast hip hop excellence generally manages to turn heads. Now in his forties, ‘Planet Frog’ follows through on that promise thanks to its high-class aesthetic, although closer inspection reveals a record that lacks a fair bit of substance.
Adorned once more with Bronson’s own artwork, the trippy and colourful cover of his ninth LP is a fitting representation for the music within. Chopped soul samples and woozy brass lay the bedrock for weird and wonderful lyrics delivered with a sense of nonchalance that befits his braggadocio.
Throughout the breezy 32 minutes that make up ‘Planet Frog’, it’s all tales of jetsetting and fine luxuries. “Baklava been spotted in Rotterdam,” he intones on Peppers. “Chillin’ with Suriname women / smokin’ pot again.”
But that’s about the extent of it — cars, food, flights and vices spelled out in 13 different ways. More frustrating is that when he does toe the line of something real (“All alone in the M3 / need some time to think,” he raps on VHS) it immediately gets dropped and he’s back to the surface level stuff.
The features offer some great texture, though, particularly on Triceratops, which brings Lil Yachty and Paul Wall into the mix, their distinctive individual styles meshing into a top-shelf posse cut. Elsewhere, Roc Marciano’s turn on Peppers and Meyhem Lauren’s spot on Mandem put the spotlight on NYC hip hop to show they can still hang.
‘Planet Frog’ feels effortless, which is both a compliment and a criticism. The beats all hit, Bronson’s flow is easy to get lost in and it feels like a prime cut in his discography until it leaves you with an empty stomach. Come for the vibes by all means, but don’t expect nourishment.
Action Bronson Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed July 01 2026 - LONDON O2 Forum Kentish Town
Fri July 03 2026 - LONDON O2 Forum Kentish Town
Sat July 04 2026 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE O2 City Hall
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