Customer Reviews

How the West Was One [Vinyl]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This album is just da bomb. Blazing beats and Rasco together with Planet Asia is just the perfect combination. If you think that hiphop has changed into commercial sh** then this album is perfect for you because it just shows how good hiphop can be without all the mainstream mumbo jumbo. So just pick this album up cause this is true hiphop

Let me start by saying, Cali Agents aren't your typical cats in this hip-hop industry. They're hungry for the cash, yet still, they refrain themselves from "selling out" in the game.

Rasco (Cali Agent #1) is my favorite of the two, but most would disagree. This dude has one of the best flows I've heard in a good while. Planet Asia (Cali Agent #2) is the other half of Cali Agents. This dude's more on that lyrical tip. Both cats are extremely gifted with their own unique techniques.

How the West Was One isn't exactly classic material, but it's one of hip-hop's better albums of 2000, but if you're not really into the underground scene, don't expect How the West Was One to be a work of art. The production was solid from my view, but most rap fans wouldn't buy into it. The beats are a nice blend of the dark side of rap, mixed with a dash of that battle tip music. I found it fairly ear pleasing.

These cats have some major street credibility, not just on the West, but all across the entire map. You'll never see these two incredibility gifted emcees on 106 Park, but keep your ear to the street, and you'll eventually see why these cats are so vastly respected.

The lyrics are fairly complicated although they are mainly battle lyrics. I was surprised when I got this CD used and listened to it. Definitely the CA underground is blowing up and this isn't at all anything like the LA gangstar Dr. Dre or Xzibit but pure old school funkiness at its best. Of course, the title track is beautiful definitely with a piano loop and interloped vocals of "hit it hit it". There is a lot of jazz loops and tons of piano samples (where in the heck did they find the originals?) and laid back approach to their dopest. Of course, I admire these cats for their nonskippable CD!

THE "CALIFORNIA AGENTS" ARE DOPE,THEY ARE STRAIGHT FORWARD,TELL YOU IF YOUR WACK TO YOUR FACE,SLICK RHYME HIP-HOP, THIS ALBUM IS DOPE,FACES OF DEATH BEING MY FAV.TRACK, JUST BUY THE DAMN ALBUM, IM RECOMMENDING IT, ITS A GOOD ALBUM.

Planet Asia and Rasco are great. This is one of my favorite albums of all time, and not just beacuse I am from the West. The beats are great, and both MC's do an even better job flowing to them. This is a must for anyone that is into hip hop.

The Cali Agents are two experienced emcees from the West Coast, Planet Asia and Rasco. Both of them have released solo work. How The West Was One is different from most West Coast rap albums though, it has the West-oriented funk flavor, but also is very straight ahead. This works very nicely because both emcees are solid and have recognizable styles. Planet Asia is probably the better emcee of the two, he has an immediately noticeable abstract delivery, and a voice that sounds like a combination of Common Sense and Kurupt. Rasco has more of a simplistic style but he is straight to the point in his rhymes and flows well, which is the perfect complement to Asia's style. It's good to see they made this record out of the love for hip-hop music, and not for the money, despite the fact they are taking an exodus from the underground "back-packer" image. Production on the album varies from straight up hip-hop tunes, laid-back piano loops, and jazz backdrops. People like His-Panik, Paul Nice, Mad Lib and a host of others (mostly small-name producers who make good beats) are behind the boards. Asia and Rasco rap about evenly throughout, and there is only one guest here, Chuck Taylor. How The West Was One was released in 2000. Track-by-track review:

1. "Behind Closed Doors Intro" - Funny, in a stupid sort of way. You just have to listen to it.

2. "How The West Was One" - Solid track preparing the listener for the album to come. The beat is straight and Rasco shines especially although both emcees come with heat. Well-done.

3. "Cali Agents: The Anthem" - Probably would be the first single, if there were any singles released from this album. Excellent complex piano-loop produced by His-Panik, and both Asia and Rasco spit perfectly with it. A definite highlight, one of the better tracks.

4. "Crash The Boards" - A real head-nodder, some of the best production for a good track that really let these two jam. Good use of scratching on the chorus, which also makes the song a lot better.

5. "Up Close And Personal" featuring Chuck Taylor - Battle flow on here, everyone comes off viciously over a more gangsta-flavored beat. Everyone gets a piece on this track, the only one with a guest appearance, which makes it special.

6. "Never Forget" - A lot of people mentioned this as being one of the better songs on the album. I personally disagree, although it's a good track. The concept of the song is excellent though, to never forget where you came from and stay true to yourself, and discusses what happens to people in the music business when they don't stay true to themselves. However, the beat is a little generic, which gets in the way of the song but lyrically the track is superb and Planet Asia shines especially with this line, "I heard you went platinum on your first album, then why is it on your next you only sold about two-hundred thousand".

7. "Interlude" - Pointless introduction to the next track. I don't understand the point of it.

8. "This Is My Life" - Another good lyrical track, the chorus fits perfectly with the backdrop which is a definite plus. Both emcees come off nicely on here, although it's not one of the main highlights.

9. "Faces Of Death" - A good battle track that has Asia going solo, and he rips it. Classic battle form here, the usual braggadocio used also, but it's a great showcase for Planet Asia in battle mode.

10. "The Good Life" - Jazz-flavored track, with subtle pianos and the female vocalist on the chorus somewhat reminiscent of an old club. This track is one of the best on the album because of the good lyrical content shown by both emcees and the creative production atmosphere.

11. "Just When You Thought It Was Safe" - A darker feel on this song, not really a rewind track but sounds almost similar to a Wu-Tang backdrop. Memo produced this song, it's basically decent, not a rewind song but not bad at all either.

12. "Talking Smack" - Typical Cali Agents track, solid battle lyrics over a tight beat, this time produced by 427. The beat changes slightly as Rasco and Asia rap on it, which is a nice touch. Overall a nice track.

13. "Real Talk" - The worst track on the album, and the only bad song on How The West Was One. It almost has a Ruff Ryders-like feel to it, which is a bad thing. The beat is corny and sounds happy-go-lucky and doesn't suit Asia and Rasco's style at all, even though their lyrical prowess isn't shown as well here because of the bad production and commercial feel.

14. "...What You Heard" - Classic track in every form, probably the track with the best replay value (except for maybe the "Cali Agents Anthem"). Planet Asia really shines here over the beat which is amazing. The track is about how back-packers hate that they are not staying in the "underground" stereotype. A personal favorite.

Overall a great album lyrically with some pretty good production to match. The album is not quite classic but definitely has some excellent material. A lot of good rewindable tracks. Both emcees go off on nearly every song and only one truly bad track. - 4.5/5.0 - One of the better albums of 2000.

Another Underground Gem from two of the best MC's still holdin it down today. Rasco & Planet Asia both had solid releases after this record dropped, so why wouldn't you check them out when they were droppin science together? You need this as a fan of hip hop music!!! A++

Planet Asia and Rasco are two really good emcees, so the idea of them coming together as the Cali Agents should create excitement for a very good album. This is a solid album, but there are a lot of missed opportunities. Songs like "Up Close and Personal" ft. Chuck Taylor and "Faces of Death" are amazing. Two of the best songs of the year, no matter whose album they appear on. Chuck Taylor's guest appearances is a huge addition to this album. Another plus was this albums intro. This has to be the funniest intro/skit I have ever heard.
On "Talking Smack" Rasco drops one of the dopest verses of the year:
"you can just save the little praisin' accolades/
I'm more concerned with my bills getting paid/
I'm not in the game to try to brake my neck/
my little baby girl can't eat your respect/
and that's real and I don't care how you feel"
However, that verse tends to contrast a lot of their album as they rap about money and selling records more than most so called "underground" groups. This leaves the listener wondering whether they are representing underground hip-hop or are bitter over their failure to sell a lot of albums.
Most will probably agree with their past work that they're happy doing work off of independent labels. But that leaves the album with some lazy subject matter.
Despite these downsides the album is still very good. The good songs are extremely well done and the majority of the album constitutes of solid songs. The only real "bad" song that shouldn't have been included is "Real Talk" where they try to create an underground party song that doesn't work.
All in all, anyone who is a fan of Rasco and Planet Asia will be satisfied with this album. Others should definitely check the sound clips before buying.

I would have to give this a 4.5 out of 5, yet 5 is better than 4 and I love this album.....Rasco is dope, he knows what sounds good and goes with it, Planet Asia is a good lyricist yet together they feed off one another and prove to make a damn good album......the skit with the record producer is almost enough to go buy the album, anyways buy it, support good artists that are true to their messages in music............Adios

Everyone says that Rasco can't rhyme and only has one style. Although this is somewhat true, it still sounds dope. This in fact has been the one CD that I always find myself listening too, when I am in the mood for some California/San Fransisco hip hop. Rasco's strength is that he only raps over the sickest beats, which are tailor made for his flow. This album is great album to get you pumped up, a definite head nodder. These guys may not be the tightest MC's, on the planet, but they know the sound of a dope beat and how to flow over them properly. Listen to tracks "this is my Life" and "Neva Forget" if your not sold. Definitely worth picking up..