Published: Thursday - December 21, 2006
Words by Starrene Rhett
Planet Asia (Photo: BallerStatus (file))
Planet Asia really does lives in his own world -- a world of success. The California native has been in the game for about ten years and is an independent favorite, ironically hiding in plain sight. He's been nominated for a Grammy and has worked with everyone from Black Thought to Linkin Park, yet he still remains humble and un-famous. His latest album, The Medicine, is in stores now and a Cali Agents album out as well. He stays busy making money and paying the bills. Working incessantly with a lot of product to show for it, he remains humble through it all.
With a loyal fan base and impressive accolades under his belt, he may never become a superstar, but that's ok with him because he likes his privacy. He can walk down the street and some of his fans don't even recognize him, but that doesn't stop the music, and it doesn't stop him from being real. Not only does he collab with big names, but he gives up-and-comers a chance as well. He spoke frankly in a candid interview with BallerStatus about his new album, forthcoming projects, working with unknowns, and why ladies need to get their self-esteem up. Take a journey to Planet Asia.
Ballerstatus.com: You have a new album is called The Medicine. What can people expect?
Planet Asia: The album is out. Evidence from Dilated Peoples produced the whole record. I got Black Thought from The Roots, I got Prodigy from Mobb Deep, I got my crew, Cali Agents, I got Turban and Strong Arm Steady. This is the only album where I got a lot of features. I don't usually get a lot of features on my album because I don't like my album to sound like a compilation, but all these people are placed in the proper order where it doesn't sound like every song has a feature on it.
Ballerstatus.com: Why did you choose to only work with one producer?
Planet Asia: A lot of times, when I'm recording an album, I don't really like to go to too many different studios because when you mix it down, you have to EQ them all; get them all to the same levels. So this time, I wanted to keep the same vibe through the album. All the albums that I love had a vibe and even though they might have had different producers, they were recorded in the same spot. But due to the fact that they don't sign MC's like me no more, I can't waste time in no hundred thousand dollar studio, so I have to do what I had to do, that's why I chose Evidence.
That's what I'm kind of on right now. The albums that I do, I basically work with one producer on a lot of them. That's why I have so many projects. Most producers that I work with, I have at least an album's worth of material with them. I shouldn't be saying this, but I'm working on a Madlib record right now and his album is gonna have its own sound. But right now, I'm dealing with Evidence and a lot of people don't really know the different styles that Evidence has. They only know him from the Dilated Peoples beats. Evidence is a well-rounded producer. He's not just a beat maker, he's a producer. There's a difference between beat makers and producers. A beat maker will just make some sh--, loop it up and say, "Here, rhyme over is." A producer is gonna be like, "Yo, right here, you should say it like this, you should put a bridge right here," or after the song is finished recording, they add extra sounds and what not.
Ballerstatus.com: You open up the first song on your album by asking, "Who's the hardest independent artist?" What makes you the hardest independent artist?
Planet Asia: By next year, it will be ten years of putting out records independently. I've seen a lot of people come and I've a lot of people go. I've seen a lot of people come from the bottom to the top, and I've seen a lot of people go from the top to the bottom. But, I've managed to stay right in the middle of where I started off. I haven't really lost the respect that I've obtained in this game.
Ballerstatus.com: Didn't you have a major label deal at one point?
Planet Asia: Yeah. I had a deal with Interscope Records when I first came into the game. The funny part about that is I wasn't even as developed as I am right now. I was still learning. To keep it real with you, a lot of the early recordings, I don't even feel... I feel like I'm way better than I was when I got signed to Interscope. And the crazy part about that is a lot of the sh-- that people are doing now is sh-- that I was doing when I was on Interscope, as far as the whole neo-soul type sound. I was on that in '97, but cats at that time wasn't trying to hear that.
Ballerstatus.com: We touched on the fact that you're in the middle as far as the where you are and the work that you've done. You've done a lot of stuff. You were nominated for a Grammy, you've worked with everyone from Black Thought to Linkin Park, but it's like you're still hiding in plain site. You have quite a few fans, but does it bother you that you may not be as successful as other people who reach levels of superstardom that are less talented or that don't work as hard as you do?
Planet Asia: Nah, I'm just paying these bills. I'm always touring or whatever. I kind of like my life because I can live a regular life and still be like a halfway superstar, but I like that I'm going to 1-2-fifth (slang for 125th St. in Harlem) and ain't nobody about to bother me because nobody really knows what I look like that [laughs]. Even some of my own fans don't really know what I look like even though they see pictures of me all the time. I don't think they realize that I'm 6'3". I'm not a short cat.
Ballerstatus.com: It's funny you say that because I think I saw you last night. Were you at Fashion 40 for the unveiling of Kool Herc's Blue Butterfly?
Planet Asia: Yep, I was there.
Ballerstatus.com: [laughs] I think you walked past me and you were taller than I thought. Now I have a whole new set of questions. Kool Herc is a hip-hop pioneer. Why did you decide to go? Was it important for you to be there?
Planet Asia: As far as Kool Herc go, he's a pioneer, but I'm always in his vicinity for some reason. I don't know what it's about, but I just happen to end up in his vicinity a lot. I don't know why. I had a great time though. I like to see Herc because I plan on being buff like that when I'm that age.
Ballerstatus.com: Do you feel like you were paying homage to Kool Herc by being there?
Planet Asia: I always pay homage to Kool Herc. I did a song for Kool Herc's birthday last year with KRS-One. Me, KRS-One and Busy Bee did a track when we was in LA and they gave it to Kool Herc for his birthday.
Ballerstatus.com: Ok, back to your album. You have a song on The Medicine featuring Rasco. Are the Cali Agents still in effect?
Planet Asia: Yes, we have a new album out called Fire & Ice. It's in the same vein as How the West Was Won because we didn't really go outside to get no name producers. We stuck to our guns and got the no name producers, the hungry dudes, you know what I mean?
Ballerstatus.com: Yep. You work with a lot of unknown cats anyway right?
Planet Asia: Yep, especially producers. I like hungry producers because a lot of these dudes, they be making beats and then they get a couple of tracks placed and they think they Dr. Dre all of a sudden. And then they have a new attitude and making new comments. I don't really like that sh--. Then you don't really hear about these dudes later because they fail to realize they sell MPC's at Guitar Center. It's always a dude at home making beats. There's always gonna be another hungry cat, so you should always be humble to the cats you started out with.
Ballerstatus.com: As far as unknown rappers, do they reach out to you?
Planet Asia: I get that a lot. That's how I keep my lights on a lot of times.
Ballerstatus.com: Here's a random question for you. Is there a current trend in Hip-Hop that you wish would go away?
Planet Asia: I wish them funny ass color hoodies would go away. I'm tired of them sh--s.
Ballerstatus.com: So, I'm assuming you have to put in a little bit of work with the ladies, huh?
Planet Asia: I gotta put in a lot of work; it ain't easy for me. You know what it is? I think the reason why it's not easy is because every girl thinks that it is easy. They look at me like, "Oh, I bet he gets a lot of women," and it ain't really like that.
Ballerstatus.com: So, maybe some of them will read this and know what the deal is.
Planet Asia: You know what I'm saying? Get your self-esteem up. Stop having low self-esteem. I'm tired of meeting women who tell me, "You got a lot of women, you probably say that to everybody," like they surprised that I'm saying that to them. That's the most unattractive thing a woman can say to a man of any kind of status. And don't compare yourself to other women, that's not the business.
Ballerstatus.com: Last words?
Planet Asia: My website is Planetasia.com and you can hit me on myspace, of course. That's the new record label. Myspace.com/planetasia.
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