How the West Was One is the debut album by the rap duo Cali Agents. It was released in 2000 via Nu Gruv Alliance and Ground Control. It contained production from Paul Nice, His-Panik, M-Boogie, Madlib, R'Kasha, Protest, Memo, 427 and Roddy Rod. The album did not make it to any Billboard charts, but a single titled "Good Life" made it to No. 36 on the Hot Rap Singles.
The Source listed the album as one of the top six independent records of 2000. The album has sold over 50,000 copies without any major distribution.
In May 2004, Rasco's Pockets Linted records re-released the album with bonus tracks.
Critical reception The A.V. Club wrote: "How The West Was One is an endless battle-rap session that serves as little more than a thorough assertion of the duo's lyrical dominance. Thankfully, Rasco and Planet Asia are battle-rappers of the highest order, excelling in nearly every aspect of rapping other than lyrical diversity." Exclaim! thought that "the focus on slinging hard-hitting verbals means that the sum is ultimately less than its parts, preventing this fundamentally sound collaboration from being great." CMJ New Music Monthly stated that the duo "swims in uninspiring four-track production."
Track listing
#TitleLengthProducerPerformer(s)1"Intro: Behind Closed Doors"2:332"How The West Was One"4:14DJ Paul NiceRasco, Planet Asia3"Cali Agents: The Anthem"3:18His-PanikRasco, Planet Asia4"Crash The Boards"4:34M-BoogieRasco, Planet Asia5"Up Close and Personal"4:31MadlibRasco, Planet Asia6"Neva Forget"3:46His-PanikRasco, Planet Asia7"Interlude"1:058"This Is My Life"3:36His-PanikRasco, Planet Asia9"Faces of Death"4:27R'KashaPlanet Asia10"The Good Life" 5:25ProtestRasco, Planet Asia11"Just When You Thought It Was Safe"4:17MemoRasco, Planet Asia12"Talking Smack"4:51427Rasco13"Real Talk"4:12ProtestRasco, Planet Asia14"Fuck What You Heard"4:44Roddy RodRasco, Planet Asia15"Outro"0:45Bill Baren
Bonus tracks on 2004 release
#TitlePerformer(s)1"Point Blank Range"Rasco, Planet Asia2"Who Thinks The Style Is Fresh"Rasco, Planet Asia
References