Fresno, California veteran Planet Asia back with 38 Spesh to produce his 12th EP & a sequel to one is his best EPs in recent years Trust the Chain. Emerging as 1/2 of the duo Cali Agents, he would also go on to have a very successful solo career & has made a lengthy yet consistent discography for himself. This includes The Grand Opening, The Medicine, the DJ Muggs-produced Pain Language, Abrasions, the Apollo Brown-produced Anchovies & Sardines backed by Mello Music Group, the Evidence-produced Rule of 3rds & the Snowgoons-produced U.Z.I. (Universal Zeitgeist Intelligence). Now with the 1-year anniversary of Sardines approaching in a few weeks, Trust the Chain II is finally here.

“Checking Traps” sets the tone of what’s to come with a rich instrumental talking about the whole team out here getting fat whereas “Inertia” takes a cloudier route expressing his gratitude to be alive serving a purpose. “Crumble Cake” works in some pianos preparing everyone for the poisonous arrows that have yet to be unloaded, but then “BBQ” goes head-on boom bap talking about bringing out the drink & partying.

Starring the EP’s other half, “Players & Dons” has a blaxploitation flare to the beat telling us the difference between the 2 types of people while the sample-driven “Illuminati Money” by the General Monks featuring Klass Murda calls out everyone on their weirdo shit. “Upscale” featuring A Plus tha Kid & The Musalini brings a bluesier vibe to the table refusing to do deals with bitches in the field & “Greatness” ends Trust the Chain II peacefully brushing off that he’s on some fake shit.

Of the small handful of projects that Asia has given us in the last 11 months, Trust the Chain II easily stands as his best of 2024 so far surpasses last month’s God’s Timing or even last weekend’s Mother & Gun as my personal favorite from the TCF camp. Spesh’s production is more consistent than some of the Fresno emcee’s output in these last 8 months, the features are toned down significantly & the dude himself sounds as focused as he was on the predecessor 5 years ago.

Score: 9/10