Planet Asia goes all Black Dynamite on his latest release, Black Belt Theatre. Anchored in his appreciation for Kung-Fu flicks, littered with comedic injections and bombastic displays of controlled aggression – it’s like the Fresno-native put on a black leather jacket, a ’70s-era afro with matching mustache, and a vendetta against Anaconda Malt Liquor before stepping into the studio. The beats revel in unabashed boom-bappery. The rhymes largely resonate whether combative or introspective. At its best, it’s an able exhibition in vintage lyrical entertainment.
PA’s rugged, unorthodox delivery sounds especially vicious over souled-out dustiness like “Tell The World” and “Furniture” – even if the latter is a kinda-love-rap. “Big Fish” – with its detonating bass line and infectious hook – settles in early, immediately instigating a reach for the rewind button. As does “Fuck Rappers” featuring Willie The Kid, Fashawn, and one of Planet Asia’s most contagious stanzas:
“Champagne slush / My campaign Krush / Grooving / Powder Peruvian / Black Nubian maneuver…with more racks than Hooters / Wasn’t for rap I’d probably be head of the pack / Passing straps to shooters / Pockets lacking gouda / That’s when niggas pack the Ruger.”
Even when the production switches to more modern fare, The Five Element Ninja fortunately maintains character. “All Mine” juxtaposes a sample-free, key heavy, might-as-well-be-R&B backdrop with a gritty crime tale featuring Paul Wall. Sonically, it’s an absolute outlier from the rest of BBT and comes dangerously close to blatantly pandering towards corporate approval. But PA still comes away clean because he keeps the narrative cruddy.
The only real frustration is that BBT is about ten minutes too long and too smothered in crew love. “Golden State” feels unnecessary following “Bruce Lee” (featuring Rasco and Chace Infinite), for example. “Diamond Life” (featuring Camp Lo) invites ear nausea, for example. And while Raekwon, Paul Wall, Chace Infinite and Ras Kass (“Classical”) absolutely sound inspired and Willie The Kid’s ill assonance on “Fuck Rappers” nearly steals the spotlight – with 23 guest appearances over 20 tracks, diversity drowns in a sea of posse cuts. It wilts under the weight of redundancy. In spite of that, Black Belt Theatre is absolutely entertaining, just often enough.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. This is at least a 4/5. I’m outraged.
HAHA more like your an outflaming gay boy with that fuck boy comment. This rapper is still around??? worst video this year by far he cant even lip sing his own track, so many nerds in the world of hi hop who dont know shit about good music. Listen to the ne wlimp bizquit if you wanna hear some real tru hip hop YMCMB all day , drake alone bodies immortal tech, slug, anything from the living ledgends, or that wack ass mad lib such shitty music member when roscie bodied asia on every cali agent track lol!!!!!! FAGZ
I agree!
Shits dope!
Best cd of 2012…so far
MAX AGENCY, booking Planet Asia exclusively US & Canada since 2012… HUGE FAN since 1997. Black Belt Theatre, 5 star all day!
LOL.
For 3 months? Congrats…
Great album! I definitely recommend it.
This album is virtually unskippable!
One Of the top 10 slept on mcs of this generation
I’ve seen some inaccurate reviews on this site, and this one is no exception! This album deserves a 4 AT LEAST…4.5 for me
Some big hyperbole in the comment section. 4/5 all day though. I cry foul.
Man Asia is nice.. This album is easily going to become one of my favorites. I love this shit YO! Cop it and support the reals. LikWit Product… YO!
Wow!!! Shit has been in rotation for the last month (ya’ll late DX). I know its early but best album of 2012 thus far. Rhymes, features, beats they all in the right place. Its a 90’s feel and I hate saying that but the bullshit nawadays makes you want that feel and this delivers. 5 star all day.
Album is dope but I agree it’s a little too long for me
This album should have had “UP ALL NIGHT” as a bonus with Copywrite but wateva anyways this album gets a 8.5 / 10.0
Great album.
Nice album
Man eff what the reviews say on here.. I know what dope hip hop is and Black Belt Theatre is a dope album. Them Fresno boys (Fashawn) been nice and I tip my hat to 5 stars on this one. Still in CD rotation after a month. F*ck what anyone else got to say bout what I think. Peace
4/5 from me.
That album is the ish. True lyrical mastery
Thought this album was awesome, definitely deserves a better review than they gave it. “Whirlwind Patterns” and “No Apologies” (ft Raekwon) stood out the most for me but there are lots of great tracks on this check it out
Most slept on release this year. Excellent album. 4 stars minimum. The reviewer got it wrong.
The G.O.D. Goes In!!! The Beats, The Rhymes. You’ll See How many times U repeat The tracks on this Joint!!! Impressive!!!! I’m Going back to listen to “Whirlwind Patterns” Right Now!!! P.E.A.C.E.
good
classic
dope! 4/5
This album gets 5 mics, hands down man’s down!!! One of my favorite tracks is “Tell The World”!!!