Planet Asia helped jump-start the West Coast independent hip-hop movement and has solidified himself as one of the most consistent and respected MCs in the game over his 20+ yr career. He dropped his debut EP with producer Fanatik in 1998 and followed up rapidly with the singles “Definition of Ill” (Stones Throw) and “Place of Birth” (ABB Records). In 2001, The Source Magazine gave him the ‘First Round Draft Pick’ and ‘Independent Album of the Year’ awards for How the West Was One, which was recorded with fellow CA rapper Rasco under the group name Cali Agents. This landed him a deal with Interscope Records, where he was signed until 2003 without releasing an album.

Planet Asia was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2002 for his feature on the song “W” by Mystic and was subsequently signed to Avatar Records, which released his official debut album, The Grand Opening, in 2004. It earned him another ‘Independent Album of the Year’ award from The Source. Later, he embarked on his own imprint Gold Chain Music, on which he has churned out multiple projects. He has also collaborated on albums with the likes of DJ Muggs (Pain Language), Evidence (The Medicine) and Madlib (Cracks In The Vinyl) among others and published songs by artists such as Linkin Park, Bun B, Talib Kweli and Ghostface Killah.

The Fresno MC is fresh off of a strong 2017 which featured well-received collaborative albums with producers DirtyDiggs (Dirty Planet) and Apollo Brown (Anchovies). In 2018, Asia teamed up with Bay Area producer izznyce for a true solo project, The Golden Buddha, sure to be considered the next classic in his huge catalog.

Tracklisting For Planet Asia’s ‘The Golden Buddha’:

1.) ‘Magnetic Lord’

2.) ‘Fireworks’

3.) ‘Hood Legends’ feat Cuts by The Architect

4.) ‘Smart Too Late’

5.) ‘You Are King’ feat Xiomara

6.) ‘I Climb’ feat Marvelous Mag, Xiomara & Hus Kingpin

7.) ‘Shots At Your Highness’ feat Turbin

8.) ‘Pieces Hittin’

9.) ‘Salute My G’s’ feat Marvelous Mag

10.) ‘Black Egypt’ feat TriState

11.) ‘Royal Blood’ feat Killa Kali

12.)’ Siddhartha’

13.) ‘Take It Higher’ feat Xiomara

14.) ‘Fast Not Slow’ feat AZ

15.) ‘Fly Writtings’  (CD Bonus Track)