Behind Closed Doors (Intro) - Cali Agents, Roberts, R
How the West Was One
Cali Agents: The Anthem
Crash the Boards
Up Close and Personal - Cali Agents, Brewer, K.
Neva Forget
Interlude - Cali Agents, Brewer, K.
This Is My Life - Cali Agents, Brewer, K.
Faces of Death - Cali Agents, Green, J.
The Good Life - Cali Agents, Brewer, K.
Just When You Thought It Was Safe
Talking Smack
Real Talk
Fuck What You Heard
Outro - Cali Agents, Unknown
Answering the East Coast critics who think Cali's all about surf and turf are the Cali Agents--Rasco and Planet Asia. Anchored by staccato beats courtesy of M-Boogie, Paul Nice, and His-Panik (among others), the dynamic du... more »o lay a verbal smackdown from the start and don't let up for 15 tracks. Their braggadocio is impressive, but it threatens to leave the listener punch drunk, as it's the only real style on How the West Was One. As two of the West Coast's fiercest rhyme slingers, they are impressive on one level, but still have to reach for greater depth to become multidimensional MCs. --Oliver Wang« less
Answering the East Coast critics who think Cali's all about surf and turf are the Cali Agents--Rasco and Planet Asia. Anchored by staccato beats courtesy of M-Boogie, Paul Nice, and His-Panik (among others), the dynamic duo lay a verbal smackdown from the start and don't let up for 15 tracks. Their braggadocio is impressive, but it threatens to leave the listener punch drunk, as it's the only real style on How the West Was One. As two of the West Coast's fiercest rhyme slingers, they are impressive on one level, but still have to reach for greater depth to become multidimensional MCs. --Oliver Wang
CD Reviews
Dopest and ill tracks for the mind.
wangalb@hotmail.com | 06/29/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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!"
Just brilliant
Geoffrey | Hasselt, Belgium | 12/30/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"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"
Street Credibility
Abstract Analyst | Winston Salem NC | 05/13/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"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."
NON-COMMERCIALIZED SUCCESS.
Marcus Bautista | Germany | 06/10/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Now thats Hip Hop!
saksta | Howell, MI United States | 12/16/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1