Action Bronson

Ariyan Arslani (born December 2, 1983), known professionally as Action Bronson, is an American rapper, chef , and television presenter of Albanian and Ashkenazi Jewish descent, raised in Flushing, Queens , New York.

After working as a professional chef in New York City , where he specialized in gourmet cuisine , Bronson suffered a leg injury that prompted him to pursue rapping more seriously, initially as a hobby shared via online videos and mixtapes . His music, characterized by vivid food metaphors, braggadocio, and collaborations with producers like The Alchemist, gained underground acclaim through releases such as the mixtape Rare Chandeliers (2012) and the collaborative album Rare Chandeliers with Party Supplies.

Bronson expanded into television with Fuck, That's Delicious , a Viceland series documenting his culinary adventures and interactions with chefs and artists, and briefly hosted The Untitled Action Bronson Show . His debut studio album, Mr. Wonderful (2015), peaked at number 27 on the Billboard 200 , blending boom-bap production with references to his pre-rap life.

Despite commercial success in niche hip-hop circles and BET award nominations, Bronson's career has faced backlash over lyrics in tracks like "Consensual Rape" (2011), which some interpret as endorsing violence against women , leading to event cancellations at universities and festivals citing concerns over misogyny , homophobia, and transphobia.

Ariyan Arslani, professionally known as Action Bronson, was born on December 2, 1983, in Flushing, Queens , New York City . His father immigrated from Albania as a Muslim, while his mother is American and Jewish, creating a bicultural household that blended Albanian and Jewish influences on his early worldview and cultural exposure.

Arslani grew up primarily in Forest Hills, Queens , as an only child in a neighborhood characterized by its ethnic diversity and urban density. This environment immersed him in a multicultural setting, with interactions across various immigrant communities that reflected Queens ' demographic mosaic of over 100 nationalities.

Action Bronson, born Ariyan Arslani, initiated his culinary pursuits in his teenage years at his father's Mediterranean restaurant in Forest Hills, Queens , where he gained foundational experience in kitchen operations and cooking techniques influenced by his Albanian heritage. His father, an Albanian immigrant, owned the establishment, providing hands-on exposure to preparing dishes rooted in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean traditions, supplemented by basic skills learned from his mother and grandmother.

After dropping out of Bayside High School, Arslani continued working at the family restaurant, honing practical skills amid the demands of professional cooking. He subsequently enrolled in culinary school at the Art Institute of New York in Manhattan , formalizing his training before returning to full-time roles in Queens-area kitchens, including as a head commissary chef at local delis and restaurants. Over approximately a decade in the industry, he developed proficiency across diverse cuisines, navigating physical challenges such as obesity that characterized his early adulthood.

While maintaining full-time employment as a chef , Arslani began exploring rap music , integrating his deep-seated passion for food into his nascent artistic endeavors; this period culminated in a 2011 leg injury sustained in a slip at his father's restaurant , temporarily halting his culinary workflow but underscoring the physical rigors of the profession. His chef background, marked by rigorous daily practice and expertise in ingredient sourcing and preparation, laid the groundwork for the culinary persona that would later define his public identity.