Planet Asia
Restlessly prolific emcee Planet Asia is revered by underground hip-hop fans for his linguistic skills and cunning wordplay. He often combines Five Percent Nation-informed lyrics with pure bravado -- his long-standing obsession with gold chains and jewelry seems to subvert mainstream rap commercialism. Born Jason Green, the rapper rose from the uncharted hip-hop territory of Fresno, California to become one of the stars of the West Coast "true school" generation that emerged in the late '90s. He made guest appearances on records by artists like Peanut Butter Wolf and Dilated Peoples, and collaborated with Rasco as the duo Cali Agents, additionally releasing solo EPs and mixtapes in front of his official debut album, 2004's The Grand Opening. He participated in collectives such as Strong Arm Steady and DJ Muggs' Soul Assassins, as well as other groups like Gold Chain Military and Durag Dynasty. He's continued to ramp up his productivity since 2010, releasing a torrent of solo albums and mixtapes as well as collaborations with Gensu Dean, 38 Spesh, Apollo Brown (2017's Anchovies and 2023 sequel Sardines), and many others.
After breaking onto the national scene in 1998, Planet Asia quickly gained a reputation for his crisp, intense rhyme delivery, his versatile lyrical content, and his consistent productivity. The rapper moved from Fresno to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1998 at the age of 22 and met up with producer Fanatik, whose sparse, relaxed beats provided a fitting backdrop to Asia's battle-tested flow. The two appeared together on Tripek Records' Rules of the Game compilation alongside veterans like the Living Legends and the Coup, creating instant national buzz.
Planet Asia released his self-titled debut EP soon after and never looked back, appearing on over 20 releases in the next two years and working with countless artists, big and small. He and Fanatik parted ways as Asia's sound evolved and he found more uptempo, New York-influenced beats to his liking. Collaborations with Rasco showcased a special chemistry, and the two formed a group, Cali Agents, and released a full-length, How the West Was One, in 2000. After releasing his acclaimed second solo EP, The Last Stand, Planet Asia scored a deal with Interscope Records. However, 2001 single "Pure Coke" was his only release for the label, and he left soon after.
Asia signed to Avatar Records in 2003, and his long-awaited proper solo debut full-length, The Grand Opening, appeared in 2004, garnering further praise from the hip-hop press. Two more Cali Agents (Head of the State and Fire & Ice) records appeared, in addition to Pain Language (with DJ Muggs) and numerous solo releases and mixtapes on labels like his own Gold Chain Music, Copter Records, and RBC Records. Asia released Jewelry Box Sessions under his King Medallions alias, and issued The Sickness and The Medicine in 2006.
He became even more productive during the 2010s, collaborating with Tri State, Madlib, G_Force, and numerous others, in addition to solo releases like Crack Belt Theatre, Black Belt Theatre, and High End Cloths. Abrasions, in collaboration with producer Gensu Dean, was released by Mello Music Group in 2013. Collaborations with Tzarizm (Via Satellite), DirtyDiggs (Nautica Nagas, Egyptian Merchandise), and DJ Concept (Seventy Nine) followed. In 2017, Asia returned to Mello Music Group with Anchovies, a full-length with Detroit producer Apollo Brown. The Golden Buddha and Mansa Musa appeared in 2018, as well as releases with Killa Kali (Border Brothers) and Copywrite (Unfinished & Untitled). 2019 efforts included Initials on My Jewelry and A.G.E. (All Gold Everything).
Trust the Chain, with Rochester, New York's 38 Spesh, was released in 2020, followed by efforts with DirtyDiggs, Calvin Valentine, A Plus the Kid, and the Musalini. Holy Water and Rule of Thirds (with Evidence) were among Asia's 2021 releases. He teamed up with Jay Ef for 2022's Cash or Caskets, issued solo effort Medallions Monarchy, and recorded Heist the Crown with Body Bag Ben. Additionally, he released EPs with NugLife and Germany's Snowgoons. Sardines, a second album with Apollo Brown, appeared in 2023. Asia also released the solo effort Kings Chamber, with guest appearances by Guilty Simpson and Tristate.
© Luke Forrest & Paul Simpson /TiVo
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