Recently one of our journalist had the oppurtunity to interview a very talented rapper by the name of Planet Asia. Planet Asia is a rapper from Fresno, California who has distinguished himself in the Rap game in many different ways. He constantly won awards as an independent rapper, was signed with Interscope, a label who turned out stars like Eminem and 50 cent. Not to mention he collaborated with artists like Dialated Peoples, Korupt, and Ghostface. He was even nominated for a grammy, and to top it off he had a track in the movie “Stay Cool” which was directed by F. Gary Grey and boasts some very big stars. He now has his own Label called Gold Chain Music with Walt Liqour. Planet Asia is someone to be taken very seriously and we were able to interview this prestigious artist about his upcoming album releasing Febuary 28 2012, called “Black Belt Theatre.”
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TrueMag: Tell us what city you represent, and a few things about it.
Planet Asia: Honestly, coming from Fresno made me a better person. Even though coming from a place like that people would think it would make me closed minded; it actually had the opposite affect.
TrueMag: We know you’ve been in the game for about fifteen years now, what gives you your motivation to keep rapping?
Planet Asia: The people. I don’t rhyme just to be rhyming I rhyme cause people wana hear my shit. I like the energy I get, until the day I get up there and people are like , “ What are you doing?” then Ima keep rhyming. But once I stop getting that energy I’m done.
TrueMag: What was a performance you gave that you received the most energy from your fans ?
Planet Asia: In Toronto, this rave inSeattle, or Switzerland.
TrueMag: What do you want people to know about you through your music?
Planet Asia: That there will never be another one.
TrueMag: What gave you the motivation for your single, “Air Balloon”?
Planet Asia: It was the sample of that song, It’s an old 80’s song so I can’t remember who sings it. That’s the intro to the album.
TrueMag: Why did you pick the name, “Black Belt Theatre” as the title for your album?
PlanetAsia: Black Belt Theatre was my favorite show I used to watch after my soccer games. They would show Kung Fu flicks for like 2 and a half hours. It only came on during the weekend so if you missed it you would be mad! So say if I had a soccer game at like two, I would stay home until Black Belt Theatre came on. If I had to miss it I would just be hella mad. That was my show and not only that I used it for the Black consciousness you know, Black Belt, Bible belt.
TrueMag: Is that why your album comes out in February?
Planet Asia: Exactly. Black History, Black Belt Theatre…we just keeping it black.
TrueMag: How do the artist featured on it tie into the concept for your album?
Planet Asia: All those dudes are legends and they gotta cool vibe. They’re cut from the same cloth I’m cut from and that’s the Golden Cloth and you have to be of a certain caliber. That’s why I put it Black Belt Theatre cause all those dudes would be considered Black Belts in the art that we do.
TrueMag: Do you think we need to direct music towards a conscious movement?
Planet Asia: well, I would just say people need to be themselves. Being conscious should not be a style it should just be who you are. If you were born to be a stripper, be a stripper, you know… it’s not for everybody.
TrueMag: What were you working on between the time you started recording this album and your last retail album?
Planet Asia: I had a lot projects like the “Gold Chain Military”, “General Monk”, a lot of mix tapes, “Strong Arm Steady”, “Feel the Agony”, and I was doing a lot of touring. It was not that I hadn’t put out an album it was that this was the first Planet Asia album I put out myself.
TrueMag: When you drop a mix tape what motivates you to start writing for it?
Planet Asia: I start searching for beats and seeing what I come up with. Writing for me is second nature, in the beginning it was hard but now it comes as second nature.
TrueMag: What could you tell us about the process of putting this album together?
Planet Asia: It took like a year and a half. From beat collecting, to writing rhymes, going to the studio or going to other people’s studio. All the features I have on my album I was basically there for.
TrueMag: What studio session stood out the most?
Planet Asia: I would probably have to say the Paul Wall collab…I was sitting there buggin cause this guy has sold millions of records and he was cool enough to come and record in my homeboy’s closet. Paul Wall is one of the coolest dudes I know.
TrueMag: What song did you guys do together?
Planet Asia: We did a song called, “All Mines”, it’s basically about people who owe you money. When you see ’em they act like it ain’t happen. Basically we were tired of the shit. It’s funny to hear Paul Wall rap about it ’cause then you get to hear it from his perspective you know?
TrueMag: Has there been any situations that you have encountered where people have owed you money?
Planet Asia: I think we all have. That’s why I was like “yo this is a topic everyone could relate to.” Next time somebody owes you money you don’t even gotta say nothing, just play them that song.
TrueMag: Name your top 3 songs from your album?
Planet Asia: It would have to be “Bruce Lee”, “All Mines”, and the last one is in between “The Raekwon” and the intro joint.
TrueMag: Are there any other projects that you have coming out this year?
Planet Asia: I got the “Du Rag Dynasty Clique” album coming out produced by Alchemist, a Cali Agents reunion and a couple other things.
TrueMag: What else would you like to say to the fans?
Planet Asia: “Yo, go pick up that Black Belt Theatre February 28th !”
Article by Rebecca Cruz, Interview by Bee Blackwell
