PLANET ASIA
Grand Opening
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· The Grand Opening has some of the same old swag, but you’ll buy it anyway.
After three years in record-label limbo, Planet Asia, a.k.a. one-half of underground rap duo Cali Agents, finally releases his highly anticipated solo album, The Grand Opening. But serious hip-hop heads may be, initially, disappointed with Planet Asia’s second full-length release.
The Grand Opening is not as strong as one would expect from Planet Asia. Once dubbed as a hip-hop name to watch, he made his mark in the underground by identifying with the cool and relaxed sounds of underground East Coast hip-hop acts such as Talib Kweli, despite being from Fresno, California.
It’s evident that Planet Asia is making attempts to break into the mainstream with I-wanna-get-jiggy-with-it tracks like "It’s All Big" and the danceable "Light Green." This will piss off underground hip-hop heads, because to them, Planet Asia does not represent the bling culture that is prevalent in rap music today.
Still, Planet Asia’s battle styles and cutthroat lyrics have never been more on point than they are in "16 Bars of Death," "Pure Coke," and "Real Ni**az," a track aptly graced by Wu Tang’s Ghostface. You can also hear and feel his East Coast influences on "Upside Down," a track that features underground soulful goddess, Goapele.
Again, The Grand Opening is not nearly as fierce as Planet Asia’s music with Cali Agents, but it’s still worth listening to.
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