Planet Asia’s history is one of perseverance but it is still somewhat unknown to many. The emcee has been representing for Fresno, California for years, bubbling as loud as the underground act can. Granted, he landed a seat at the Interscope table, but was never pushed as heavily as many felt he deserved. Leaving the Iovine machine meant more freedom but less recognition for the Cali Agent. Still, the acclaim kept pouring. It seems Planet Asia could never truly be held back from praise, lauded for his rhymes and respected as an independent hustler in the culture for years. With his latest release, Crack Belt Theatre, he tackles rhymes with an ongoing theme, crack, which serves well as a cohesive force throughout.
That ongoing theme comes from rhymes but it also comes from various audio excerpts that follow nearly every cut. The various film excerpts lend consistency throughout, a factor that many artists tend to forget about. The theme flows smoothly from the opening cut, “Air Balloon,” a standout for its use of a melodic sample to compliment Asia’s more gritty voice and street-enriched rhetoric. “I can feel y’all waiting on me to make my next move,” he says. “I just keep getting better.” The theme allows the album to transition through a soul sample and a more uptempo “Be Careful”
without losing a step. This also helps as Mr. Medallions maneuvers through topics. On the more serious “Inspiration,” his ink seems fueled by personal issues. “This year, I had some crazy drama / I never thought I’d have a vendetta against my baby’s momma.” Later, “Black Frost (Retro Mackin’)” brings a laid back and vintage vibe as horns allow Asia to rhyme freely, even dropping rhymes inspired by Big Daddy Kane and Rakim at times. “Gold Chain Medallions,” “Mixtape Madness” and “Boil Makers” follow the classic vibes.
For listeners not looking for lyricists, this album is not for you. The rhymes are intricate and patterns are well-crafted. Whether rhyming every word in a bar or bringing multisyllabic schemes, Medallions makes it a habit to bring clever lines to the table. For instance, on “Boil Makers,” he notes, “Your style of fighting is amateur, when this shit is UFC / With the connect like USB / The new Wesley / Snipe you out your bootleg tee.” It’s this type of lyrical dexterity that has allowed Planet Asia to maintain a relevant presence despite a lack of mainstream approval.
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Crack Belt Theatre is not your friendly Rap album and it’s not supposed to be. Planet Asia’s lyrics aren’t timidly written. Sometimes, they beg to be closely analyzed. The beats are meant to create a vintage feel, often a gritty one. Together, Crack Belt showcases the skill Planet Asia still possesses, a talent that may be overlooked by some, but one still deserving of respect.
