Planet Asia 'The Grand Opening' album

Planet Asia is well known throughout the hip-hop community. It wasn't always like that - he was determined to hit the big time.

After moving to the Bay Area, Planet Asia hooked up with Rasco and formed the rap duo Cali Agents. Following the independent album release "How the West Was Won," major labels started to call. The Source Magazine named him First Round Draft Pick and gave him their Independent Album of the Year award for "How Was the West Was Won" in 2000. He was even nominated for a 2002 Grammy Award for his collaboration with hip-hop diva Mystic on "W." His collaborations have included everyone from Black Thought of The Roots, BT, the Dub Pistols, Talib Kweli, and Ghostface Killah of Wu-Tang Clan. His versatile skills on the mic resulted in a collaboration with the multi-platinum selling rock group Linkin Park on their hugely successful "Re-Animation" LP.

Asia's perseverance soon landed him a record deal with Interscope Records. Coming from Fresno California, not many people make it out to a huge record label, home to some of the biggest artists in the world, like 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, and Eminem. However, being signed to one of the largest labels in the world has its drawbacks.

Interscope, with many artists on its roster, and a huge bureaucracy to deal with, could not focus properly on the release of Asia's CD. After waiting for his debut CD to be released for three years, Planet Asia decided to take his future into his own hands. He walked away from the hottest record label in the business. It took confidence. It took determination. But most of all it took courage. Within days the aggressive RED/Sony distributed independent label Avatar Records came calling and Asia had a brand new contract.

Avatar, having a smaller roster than Interscope, is able to give Planet Asia the attention he deserves. He immediately went back in to the studio to finish recording his debut solo album, "The Grand Opening."

With some of the hottest producers, including DJ Khalil, Evidence, Architect, J. Wells, Jake One, and Supa Dave West, "The Grand Opening" is a true testament of Planet Asia's lyrical prowess. Asia's music shows depth and range with tracks like "16 Bars of Death" and "Real Niggaz" featuring Ghostface Killah. Planet Asia also proves he can mix it up with the melodious vocals of Goapele on "Upside Down." But this album is not built upon the guest appearances of others. "The Grand Opening" is Planet Asia's time to shine and he definitely rips it!

Be sure to check out his full length LP debut - "The Grand Opening" - in stores February 24, 2004 on Avatar Records.

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Tracklisting

Planet Asia - The Grand Opening