Planet Asia latest digital release offering The Bar Mitzvah isn’t exactly a long player but nevertheless delivers what it promises - bars upon quality bars. Despite only being EP length with a couple of remixes and a dodgy title, Asia’s slightly off-kilter flow and barb-like lines will keep this little gem on heavy rotation.
Fresno’s finest makes a bee-line for the gutter on the lead-off track The Great. Sounding disarmingly like an Inspectah Deck of the west coast, he launches into the track from the get-go and doesn’t let up. Even the sword clash stab and warm orchestrations sound distinctly Wu-like, but this doesn’t detract - it simply provides a headnod soundscape for solid lines like ‘I pull the tool out / make you move out / find a new route / jewels out; I’m something to see / Glock 50 on the waist bulging under my tee’. Gutter indeed. Good to hear some good work on the ones and twos as well - not enough of that these days.
If The Great was a little east-sounding, then Dig It goes straight back to the west with large horn samples and live sounding percussion as a backdrop to some searing bars. King Marvey X supplies some ragga-assistance to the sample-heavy On The Regular, on which Asia cements his place as one of the Left Coast’s premier hitters with lines like ‘California’s finest / Your highness / straight out the Gold Chain dynast / a bunch of juggernaut rap giants’.
The title track is probably the most west-sounding track, assisted by a capable John Robinson (who even recognises the Wu-influence; ‘he debuted in that Wu era’). A little slower on the tempo, Asia delivers his trademark monotone flow with straight-shooting old school brag.
Great Adventures is a posse cut that sees Asia doing what he does best, and supported by Lewis Parker, East Coast and Ty Born over an unpolished, sample-reliant beat. However in this instance, Asia’s ability clearly outshines both his support cast and the sub-par production.
Perhaps the most solid track on the EP, Best of Both Coasts again stands testament to Asia’s coast cross-over appeal. Here the Queen’s late Killa Sha shines with one of his last recordings. Asia is as on-point as ever, and ably followed by Tragedy Khadafi and King David over an ill piano-and-string beat. A solid effort.
The Audible Doctor Remix of On The Regular doesn’t really improve on the original with a repetitive horn-based track and a snappy snare, but it’s good see a full remix again. The Now or Laterz remix of the title track is far more successful and offers the EP’s smoothest moment. A Madlibesque vocal sample underscores a heavy low end and tinkly piano that somehow works a little better than the original.
The closing track Champion features an uneven Sav Killz and a piano-driven instrumental. Asia spits as normal, but this does feel a little like filler material.
Bucking the trend of late to steer away from samples (‘can’t stand n-s that give me beats with no samples’), The Bar Mitzvah is just what the odd title suggests - a celebration of lyrics. Don’t expect deep consciousness or social issues addressed, but do expect 90s style straight spitting with supreme confidence from one of California’s best. Much like his fellow Cali Agent Rasco, Medallions has his lyrical heart set firmly in the Golden Age and to his credit isn’t afraid to let it show (‘specialise in chains and four finger rings’). And that’s what fans of Planet Asia want - great slabs of that true school lyricism.
4 outta 5. Won’t disappoint.
S-killz (Esseven) 01.04.11
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