Jewels and gems

>>The exceptional microphone mastery
of Planet Asia is pure fire

SPITTING STRAIGHT FLAME: Planet Asia

by SCOTT C

It’s hard to front on Planet Asia. The Fresno-based MC has an airtight reputation as one of the most consistently incredible MCs to come out of California, not to mention his excellent work with Rasco as half of rap supergroup Cali Agents. Riding off the underground success of LPs like The Sickness and The Medicine, Asia is on his way to Montreal to sound the alarm about his new project Jewelry Box Sessions: The Album, now available on RBC Records. The Mirror reached Planet Asia at his home in Fresno.

Mirror: Tell me the truth, man. Do you mess with Facebook?

Planet Asia: I don’t use Facebook, but I do use MySpace. But who doesn’t?

M: Do you use the Internet to its fullest capacity when it comes to getting your music out there?

PA: Hell, yes! It’s never been so easy to get my music out there to DJs and fans alike. Just the click of a mouse can get what used to take millions of dollars to do. You can find all of my videos on YouTube. And you can buy my old and new material directly from my MySpace and Web pages. It’s an independent man’s game now.

M: Is there a 12-inch or a track that you’ve recorded that you wish you’d never done?

PA: Nope. I always put my best foot forward. Every bar I spit is straight flame. Even if I didn’t like the track or the artist that much, I make it a point to make people say, “Damn, Asia came hard on that track!” Even if everything else about it is wack.

M: What’s the best live show that you’ve ever seen?

PA: Busta Rhymes. He’s the best live act with a DJ and hypeman.

M: I spoke to Ice-T last week and he said he couldn’t believe he was still doing this shit 20 years later. With all the young cats and the ever-changing face of the music industry, can you see yourself hitting the 20-year mark?

PA: Yes, I can. I didn’t see myself hitting 10 years in the game at first. But now that I’m here, it’s easy to see myself doing what I do for another 10 or 20. This is who I am. As long as I’m alive, I’ll be doing what I do.

M: What do you think is more important in this business, knowing when it’s time to get serious, or a good sense of humour?

PA: There ain’t much funny about the music business. I say knowing how and when to get serious about your career is most important.

M: What’s the first thing you did when you’d made some money-making music?

PA: I made an investment in moving to L.A., because I knew the only way for me to get further was to get in the centre of the business.

M: What MC can you honestly get excited about in 2007?

PA: Honestly? Me. Go get my new album and see why.

With Grand Analog, Mugz,
Clermont, Dialekt and more at
Saints Showbar on Friday,
July 27, 10 p.m., $14