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Cali Agents – Fire and Ice

JusHH — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 07:00:00 +0000

When you hear West Coast music, what pops into your head first? 90% of fans probably said something either to do with Dr. Dre or perhaps the Hyphy movement. The truth is, there’s more to West Coast Hip-Hop than what you’re used to, and for nearly two decades, Cali rappers have been trying to break out of those stereotypes. Planet Asia and Rasco, the duo that make up Cali Agents, are just that group to do it. With dope lyrics and incredible production, their album Fire & Ice is bound to turn some heads and alter some opinions.

There’s a difference between two guys rapping on the same song and two guys doing a song together. Without question these two artists have chemistry – Rasco’s raspy voice effortlessly compliments Planet Asia’s smooth delivery. They trade off each others words and flow on “Something New” and provide each other’s ad-libs on the title track. Many of the hooks are spit simultaneously for a more harmonious sound. Their rhymes are very punchline driven and are built for battles and ciphers anywhere in the country. “You need 100 years to hop in these Nike Airs/ to fight fair is a nightmare/ straight up eliminate you in your square”, Planet Asia raps on “Something New”.

The real eye openers however, are the beats. Soul Professa, who is responsible for all but three tracks, brilliantly blends drums and heavy metal guitar rifts with traditional basslines and scratching. Soul Professa captures that “live show” feeling when he spontaneously adjusts the tempo, pattern and volume to fit Asia and Rasco’s rhymes. Even the intro and interludes have an infectious rhythm that maintains the pace and intensity of the album. His style definitely gives the album an energy level that turns your iPod headphones into a 60 minute concert.

A few blemishes hold this album back. Some songs simply fall short of the bar. “Baby Girl” is an attempt to rap to the ladies but they approach it with the same tone as if they were battling her. There are also some rhymes that should have been reconsidered… “We keep feet to the street like Fred and Barney.” Rasco and Planet Asia are talented emcees, but they aren’t good enough to set them apart from the pack. However, when you combine their skills with Soul Professa’s beats, you’ve got yourself a solid album that provides you with a “G-Funk” alternative when you want to take a trip to the West.

Cali Agents – Head Of The State

D.T. Swinga — Tue, 18 May 2004 07:00:00 +0000

As forerunners of the independent hip-hop movement, Rasco and Planet Asia have both paid their dues over the last decade, however much like many other pioneers of the rap game, have suffered a similar fate – younger fans missing out on their classics, and therefore sleeping on the crew in across the board. Yet with Head Of The State, Ras and Planet Aish aim to take back underground royalty, just before they drop their official sophomore release due later this year.

Tearing the roof open is the intro track (and best track on the album), “Sharp”, Rasco and P.A. attack the mic with an angry hunger that is propelled by a raw and grimy track produced by VinRoc. Taking no prisoners, Rasco gets straight to the point as to where his frustration with the underground has stemmed from with the line “Three years in the cut for what? To watch white boys spit that noise? They shook with no poise?.. This is rhymes and beats / it’s time for heat / fuck all these cats, it’s time to eat!!” Producer Vinroc also lends his underrated production skills to “Cali Nights”, a smoother violin propelled selection that also sets up this EP nicely.

However with only 9 tracks on the EP, it leaves little margin for error. Both “In The Zone” and “Go Ladies” sport lackluster production, while Architect’s “Banger” and “Head Of The State” aren’t the best tracks from this producer’s catalog. Considering we’ve seen Rasco and Asia wreck shop in the past with high-powered tag-team tactics on tracks like “Take It Back Home”, when the beats lack energy, the rhymes do to. Still, it’s safe to assume that because this is an EP, the best tracks are being saved for the album, so in the meantime, this works as an appetizer that will still leave fans hungry for the main course.

Cali Agents – How The West Was Won

Matt Conaway — Sat, 01 Jan 2000 07:00:00 +0000

Rumors of an impending Rasco /Planet Asia collaboration have been floating ever since these two united to flip “Take It Back Home” from Rasco’s stellar debut. While that track gave us the first glimpse of what was too come, Rasco and Asia have been nearly inseparable since, spending the better part of the last year solidifying their ties on a number of Cali underground projects. However, with How The West Was One, two of the left coasts most promising emcees make it official, as the Cali Agents have finally brought their bond to fruition.

Though Rasco and Asia attack with contrasting styles, their undeniable chemistry is multifaceted, as it transforms into a subtle underlying balance, which in turn gives both the maneuverability needed to shine in their own distinct fashion. While there are not a wealth of topics explored here, there is certainly a statement made, as the whole concept of this LP revolves around reppin the coast they call home, and represent they do; highlighted by “This Is My Life” “Up Close and Personal” and “Neva Forget” all of which stress the importance of staying true to your roots. Staying true to your roots, the CA?s relay a bevy of mixed signals regarding that topic, as there are numerous references, which suggest that the group is ready to explore commercial avenues. Rasco uses his venomous solo-track “Talking Smack”, too chastise all the Internet naysayers, and he lets everyone know that there are higher stakes involved— “you can just save your little praise and accolades, I’m more concerned with my bills getting paid, I’m not in the game to break my neck, my baby girl can’t eat your respect, and that’s real, and I don’t care how you feel”. Yet, all of that talk seems to be nothing more then posturing. There is very little evidence of the CA’s compromising their artistic integrity, and with the exception of the oddly-placed clunker “Real Talk”, How The West Was One is a solid underground LP that will strike a chord with the backpacking populous.

Although Rasco and Asia prove to be a formidable, oft-times spectacular duo, their highly anticipated union is soured by bland production, as the minimalist grooves of “Faces Of Death”, and “Just When You Thought It Was Safe “, plow a monotonous course. While the West was founded on dope beats, and rhymes, the Cali Agents only bring one part of that equation (lyrics in abundance) to the table with their debut.