Action Bronson is a big guy, and it looks like he's about to blow up. The 29-year-old Queens native — whose new EP, SAAAB Stories (with three As), is out this week — has been heating things up over the last two years, earning gushing accolades from The New York Times and Pitchfork. Born Ariyan Arslani to an Albanian father and a Jewish mother, Bronson grew up in Forest Hills and worked in his family's restaurant. After culinary school, Bronson started turning up on mix tapes with his humorous raps about cooking and food.

When he wasn't grilling he was dropping rhymes. He released his music online, for free (you can download the albums Bon Appetit and Blue Chips along with two others here). And people have been paying attention: Last year Bronson became the first artist to be signed to VICE/Atlantic (a joint venture between Warner Brothers and VICE Records). His world tour is currently under way, with a stop at Bonnaroo this weekend, and he just released the new video for "Strictly 4 My Jeeps."

We asked Action Bronson to list ten influential hip-hop albums from his hometown every man needs to hear. "New York was at the forefront of rap, so because of all the great people who have gone before me, being a rapper from Queens, I have to live up to those standards. I'm basically just a regular guy who says what he feels and likes to joke. I like long walks on the beach... and I love rap."

Here are Bronson's selections, all New Yorkers, with his comments. (Plus a Spotify playlist below that.)

Nas, Illmatic

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"First of all, the bass. But the lyrics took it to the next level. The things he was rapping about, the images he was painting with his words. He really influenced a lot of people. Plus he's from Queens!"

Kool G. Rap, Roots of Evil

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"Another Queens guy. This album was after 4,5,6 (his solo debut), but this one just destroyed. This guy influenced everyone. My homie had a Mitsubishi Eclipse that only had a tape deck and, man, did we live with this."

Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientele

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