‘’PLANET FROG’’ sounds like a rap album made inside an abandoned Blockbuster stocked with protein powder.
STREAM
TOP 5 SONGS
5. MY BLUE HEAVEN
My favorite beat on the project easily belongs to “MY BLUE HEAVEN.” The production is vibrant, bouncy, and funky as hell, sounding like something that would play during the smoothest non-horror scenes in Candyman. Action Bronson mostly rides the instrumental well, though there are moments where he slurs like the edible kicked in halfway through recording. Lyrically, he jumps between flexing on people, eating foods only rich folks can pronounce, and riding four-wheelers on the moon. There is also this random dinner-party sounding section that feels tailor-made for a packed wine bar somewhere in D.C.
4. LEBRON HENNESSY
“LEBRON HENNESSY” rides on top of soulful production that feels made for candlelit slow dances and freshly moisturized jheri curls. That smoothness oddly becomes the perfect playground for Action Bronson, who spends the track sounding as unfiltered as ever. Over the lush instrumentation, Bronson casually tosses out bars about his wife preferring dirtbikes over Birkins, putting belt to goats and then eating them, and doing choreography to Soul for Real tracks with armed dudes nearby.
So why do I rock with the track? It is the contrast. The production is buttery smooth and genuinely beautiful, while Bronson’s bars are completely absurd. Somehow, those two worlds blend together perfectly, making the song ridiculously entertaining to listen to.
3. MANDEM (Ft. Meyhem Lauren)
“MANDEM” is driven by an edgy, action-packed beat that instantly brings to mind two buddy cops spinning out of a car in slow motion before somehow landing on their feet. Over it, Action Bronson slides in as Mr. Cool, casually rapping about blasting Haitian music, attending Knicks games under the influence of mushrooms, and flexing his taste in exquisite footwear.
Meyhem Lauren follows in a similar lane, matching Bronson’s energy with bars about sneaker culture, gourmet eating, and obscure name-drops that feel like they belong in a different universe. Compared to the rest of the project, “MANDEM” leans more traditional in structure.
2. PEPPERS (Ft. Roc Marciano)
“PEPPERS” runs on a cool, midnight-like beat with a smooth tempo that feels built for dimly lit drives through questionable neighborhoods. Bronson approaches it with a more subdued delivery, practically putting his head down while tossing out weirdly entertaining threats, fly talk, and bars that make him sound a shakier doctor than Phil.
Roc Marciano slides in naturally, sounding gritty as hell while rapping like he has a hoodie tightened over his face. His verse leans into slick storytelling, casually talking about taking women who are not his while making the whole thing sound serious as hell.
1. TRICERATOPS (Ft. Lil Yachty & Paul Wall)
Of course, “TRICERATOPS” comes with a weird beat. The production feels like a 1970s funky dating show theme colliding with Pac-Man sounds in a smoky basement.
Action Bronson opens the track exactly how you would expect, unloading random, off-the-wall bars with obnoxious confidence. One second, he is talking street business, the next, he is referencing eating mice and putting love juices in pages.
The baton gets passed to Lil Yachty in one of the smoothest transitions on the song, and he absolutely runs with it. He floats over the beat with confidence, touching on Molly, money, luxury taste, and tossing in a very controversial Charlie Kirk line that will definitely make some listeners rewind. In my opinion, he delivers the best verse on the track.
Paul Wall closes things out with a veteran presence. He sounds slightly off-kilter at times, but still brings punchy delivery and plenty of braggadocious energy. He may not be the most natural fit for the instrumental, yet he still finds moments to shine.
I’m not sure I’ve heard a track with this many acquired taste rappers.
SONG BY SONG RATING
1. PLANET FROG (N/A)
2. LEBRON HENNESSY (3.5/5)
3. OLYMPIC VINCE CARTER (3/5)
4. VHS (3/5)
5. TRICERATOPS (4/5)
6. PEPPERS (Ft. Roc Marciano) (4/5)
7. CONDOR (4/5)
8. MANDEM (Ft. Meyhem Lauren) (4/5)
9. MY BLUE HEAVEN (3.5/5)
10. IGUANA (4/5)
11. MUTATIONS (3.5/5)
12. CHUTNEY (3/5)
13. SIMONE (Ft. Clovis Ochin) (3/5)
RGM RATING
(71%)
Do you know something you can say about Action Bronson? He never sounds different. His verses are always ridiculous, his production is always left-field, and his rapping always comes across as raw and unfiltered as it gets. On PLANET FROG, Action Bronson is as unconventional as ever.
Usually, I can find production styles I can bump in my car or really get jiggy with, but there aren’t many of those on this album. A lot of the beats are stripped-down, packed with dusty Blockbuster movie elements, and built around weird tempos. There are not many obvious bangers or tracks you can casually throw on in the background. Personally, I think the production is beautiful, but you definitely need a certain taste for it.
From a rapping standpoint, Action Bronson sounds as ridiculous as he ever has. At times, he barely flows, while his bars feel completely random. In particular, he references a bunch of random ‘90s NBA players, usually through the brands they endorsed, while also tossing in bars about drug use, extravagant food, and sleeping with women in ways that feel impossible to relate to. Interestingly, there are moments where he sounds more aggressive, but for the most part, he comes across like a rapper trying to freestyle his way out of quicksand.
Is the album bad? No. Will I listen to it again? Probably not. It is just a little too wacky, too random, and probably not my flavor. Still, if you are adventurous, it is the kind of album worth letting sit on your tongue a little longer.
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
