Cali underground vet Planet Asia has been making a name for himself for a decade or so in the hip hop game and with the release of his latest effort, The Jewelry Box Sessions: The Album, seems to finally be getting the success he deserves. In fact, this fiery MC has made so much noise in both Los Angeles and the Bay Area over the years that many fans assume he hails from one city or the other, but as he explains in his Freestyle 101 interview, he was born in Fresno and had to venture up and down the coast to carve out a name for himself in the rap game.

And when Planet Asia (a.k.a. King Medallions) stepped into the booth at the Engine Room in Hollywood to spit fire over a Messiaz beat it was clear why so many MCs respect this dude– ‘cause he’s off the chain! But don’t ask us, just check the stats, baby!

He’s collaborated with the likes of Linkin Park, Bun B, Talib Kweli and Ghostface Killah, and his track "G's & Soldiers" with Kurrupt was featured in the John Travolta flick Be Cool. In 2001, he won The Source’s First Round Draft Pick and Independent Album of the Year awards for How the West Was One by his side-project Cali Agents with Rasco. In 2002 Planet Asia scored a Grammy nomination for the song "W" by Mystic, to which he contributed. His 2004 album The Grand Opening earned him yet another Independent Album of the Year award from The Source, while his 2006 CD The Medicine was produced by Evidence of Dilated Peoples and The Alchemist. Since then, Planet Asia has started his own label, Gold Chain Music, who issued his latest effort.

Not bad, eh?

Freestyle 101 is back in full effect every Tuesday at 3 p.m. EST. Make sure to tune in for webisodes featuring MC Frontalot, RBX, LMNO of Visionaries, Hangar 18, Pack FM, Insane Poetry, and many more every. Until then, check us on MySpace, dig our behind-the-scenes photos, and sound off in our Forums.

If you dig Planet Asia’s Freestyle 101, then check out webisodes featuring other west coast MCs such as Ras Kass, Glasses Malone, The Pack, Gift of Gab, Spider Loc, 40 Glocc, and more.