Planet Asia – “King’s Dominion” review

Celebrating the birthday of Fresno, California veteran Planet Asia with either his 27th full-length studio LP. Emerging as 1/2 of the duo Cali Agents, he would also go on to have a very successful solo career & has made a lengthy yet consistent discography for himself. This includes The Grand Opening, The Medicine, the DJ Muggs-produced Pain Language, Abrasions, the Apollo Brown-produced Anchovies & Sardines backed by Mello Music Group, the 38 Spesh-produced Trust the Chain & it’s sequel, the Evidence-produced Rule of 3rds and the Snowgoons-produced U.Z.I. (Universal Zeitgeist Intelligence). It’s already been 14 months since Trust the Chain II & my anticipation for King’s Dominion increased once it was announced DJ Scratch was fully producing the whole thing.

“Not Allowed” aggressively opens by talking about sucka shit not being permitted around his premises while the title track works in some strings to compare his rhymes to words sent from an angel. “Big Guns” talks about sending his shooter at anyone who speaks badly on his name & after the spoken word “Knowledge is Power” interlude, he doesn’t waste a split second “Coming for the Title” with his authenticity.

Starting the 2nd half, “You All Know” soulfully talks about possibly charging for reflections leading into “Produce a Seed Through You” chops up more soul samples & discussing wanting to knock up a Hispanic woman. “St. John’s Park” brings some rap rock undertones to the table murdering mics while Rigz & Rome Streetz appear for the closer dropping off some “Ghetto Gospel”.

Reminding the world of what a hip hop project’s supposed to sound like, Planet Asia teams up with the former disc jokey of EPMD & the Flipmode Squad for an album coinciding with celebrating the west coast lyricist turning 49 that rivals Trust the Chain II last summer. DJ Scratch’s production exemplifies why he’s considered amongst the most underappreciated beatsmith within the culture today & lyrically, the Fresno penman makes another example of his own getting sharper with time.

Score: 4.5/5

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Planet Asia – “Trust the Chain II” review

Fresno, California veteran Planet Asia back with 38 Spesh to produce his 12th EP & a sequel to one is his best EPs in recent years Trust the Chain. Emerging as 1/2 of the duo Cali Agents, he would also go on to have a very successful solo career & has made a lengthy yet consistent discography for himself. This includes The Grand Opening, The Medicine, the DJ Muggs-produced Pain Language, Abrasions, the Apollo Brown-produced Anchovies & Sardines backed by Mello Music Group, the Evidence-produced Rule of 3rds & the Snowgoons-produced U.Z.I. (Universal Zeitgeist Intelligence). Now with the 1-year anniversary of Sardines approaching in a few weeks, Trust the Chain II is finally here.

“Checking Traps” sets the tone of what’s to come with a rich instrumental talking about the whole team out here getting fat whereas “Inertia” takes a cloudier route expressing his gratitude to be alive serving a purpose. “Crumble Cake” works in some pianos preparing everyone for the poisonous arrows that have yet to be unloaded, but then “BBQ” goes head-on boom bap talking about bringing out the drink & partying.

Starring the EP’s other half, “Players & Dons” has a blaxploitation flare to the beat telling us the difference between the 2 types of people while the sample-driven “Illuminati Money” by the General Monks featuring Klass Murda calls out everyone on their weirdo shit. “Upscale” featuring A Plus tha Kid & The Musalini brings a blusier vibe to the table refusing to do deals with bitches in the field & “Greatness” ends Trust the Chain II peacefully brushing off that he’s on some fake shit.

Of the small handful of projects that Asia has given us in the last 11 months, Trust the Chain II easily stands as his best of 2024 so far surpasses last month’s God’s Timing or even last weekend’s Mother & Gun as my personal favorite from the TCF camp. Spesh’s production is more consistent than some of the Fresno emcee’s output in these last 8 months, the features are toned down significantly & the dude himself sounds as focused as he was on the predecessor 5 years ago.

Score: 4.5/5

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Planet Asia – “Sardines” review

This is the 24th full-length album from Fresno veteran Planet Asia. Emerging as 1/2 of the duo Cali Agents, he would also go on to have a very successful solo career & has made a lengthy yet consistent discography for himself. This includes The Grand Opening, The Medicine, the DJ Muggs-produced Pain Language, Abrasions, the Apollo Brown-produced Anchovies backed by Mello Music Group, the 38 Spesh-produced Trust the Chain, the Evidence-produced Rule of 3rds & more recently the Snowgoons-produced U.Z.I. (Universal Zeitgeist Intelligence) only last fall. So when it was announced that Apollo Brown was returning so he & Planet Asia could drop a sequel to Anchovies, that was more enough to go into Sardines with high anticipation.

After the “Bird Food” intro, the first song “Get the Dough Off” really opens the album with a drumless beat likening himself to a product pusher whereas “Panama Sun” featuring Detroit battle rap veteran Marv Won finds both MCs joining forces over a more sample-based instrumental admitting that their grind is deep rooted to the point where they can’t turn away. “Stones” continues to strip the drums once more in favor of strings making it clear he’s still in office like Castro that is until “Fly Anomalies” shoots for a darker approach cautioning not to be confused by the monsters.

The General Monks link up on “Wizardry” jumping on top of a flute so that both members Planet Asia & TriState of the Durag Dynasty can compare themselves to wizards with both of their pens just before “Jungle Juice” brings back the soul dropping some late night rugged shit. “Wide Awake” cooks up a more smoother beat painting exotic portraits of the 3rd dimension leading into the organ-laced “Acid Rain” featuring Sick Jacken asking who else is bringing they type of pain that they do.

“Peas & Onions” weaves a bare sample into time fold reminding that it’s self explanatory & that we all know what does while “Broad Dayin’” talks about how the game is fake like these Hollywood bitches’ upper-lips ties into more heavy sampling within the production. “’88 S-Curl” featuring another Detroit vet Ty Farris brings back the drumless vibes displaying a back-&-forth chemistry with each other while “Bazookas” shoots for a creepier atmosphere boasting that he’s firing missiles in the studio. “Can You Believe It?” ends the album with some jazzy undertones pledging allegiance to his region of humble beginnings.

If Planet Asia & Apollo Brown were looking to do Sardines better than when they put out Anchovies together 6 years ago, they could very well have just done that here. Apollo expands on the drumless/chipmunk soul sounds of the predecessor with some jazzier undertones this time around & the lyricism from not just King Medallions but even the 4 features all go harder than galvanized steel.

Score: 4.5/5

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Planet Asia – “U.Z.I. (Universal Zeitgeist Intelligence)” review

Planet Asia is a 46 year old MC from Fresno, California who came up as 1/2 the duo Cali Agents. He would also go on to have a very successful solo career & has made a lengthy yet consistent discography for himself that includes The Grand Opening, The Medicine, Pain Language, Abrasions, Anchovies, Trust the Chain & Rule of 3rds. But for his 10th EP over here, Planet Asia’s enlisting the Snowgoons to produce the whole thing top to bottom.

“Splashing” sets it off with a holy instrumental & Asia boasting how great his style truly is whereas “Pistol Grip Pump” with Jay Royale takes a more rugged route from the boom bap sound to the lyrics letting y’all know they ain’t on fake shit whatsoever. Flash tags along for the creepy yet dusty “Metabolism” talking about both having high chemical reactions when it comes to the streets while the song “Scud Missile” returns to a more rugged sound providing information to everyone listening. The penultimate track “Brick & Motor” keeps it in boom bap turf to give it raw & uncut with “The Office” accompanied by A Plus tha Kid ending the EP with a guitar-based beat taking through another day at the titular location.

Of the 5 projects that he’s given us throughout the year, U.Z.I. (Universal Zeitgeist Intelligence) has to be my favorite one of them all & possibly amongst the best bodies of work in Planet Asia’s ever-growing discography to date. The Snowgoons’ signature sound compliments his lyrical style well in my personal opinion & even though the features are kept to a minimum, the verses that Jay Royale & Flash both spit on this EP go as hard as those of the seasoned West Coast vet.

Score: 4/5

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Planet Asia – “Trust the Chain” review

This is the 19th full-length album from Fresno veteran Planet Asia. Starting off as a member of the duo Cali Agents, he would go on to have a very successful solo career & has made a lengthy yet consistent discography for himself. Including albums such as The Grand Opening, The Medicine, Pain Language, Abrasions & Anchovies. And to kick off his 2020, Rochester’s very own 38 Spesh is being enlisted to produce Trust the Chain in it’s entirety.

The album kicks off with “Body After Body”, where Asia reclaims his prowess over a triumphant beat. The next song “Resurrect Pharaohs” with The Musalini sees the 2 talking about how superior they are to their opponents over a suspenseful beat while the track “Mystery School” talks about running the game over a colorful soul sample. The song “God Degree” is filled with knowledge backed by an atmospheric beat & while the track “Passport Player” has some dope mob-bars over a boom bap beat with a luxurious piano lead, the hook is horrendous.

The song “Snake Charmer” talks about pushing drugs over a prominently icy flute lead while the track “Learned from OGs” with Elcamino & Fred the Godson sees the 3 showing love to those who came before them over a boom bap beat with an incredible orchestral loop. The song “Tec & a Mink” talks about how hard it is to be a good dude over a melancholic instrumental while the penultimate track “Juggernauts” talks about his crew shining over a victorious beat. The album finishes off with “Wintertime”, where Asia reflects on his childhood over a euphoric instrumental.

Personally, I find this to be one of Planet Asia’s best efforts yet. Could’ve been a bit longer as it only only runs for a half hour but in that short amount of time, he quickly reminds us of his place in the culture as a west coast legend with a ferocious pen-game & 38 Spesh backing him up with some very rich & grand production.

Score: 4/5