Mona Sanei taps into her tandem cultural upbringing on her second album as CHAII. Having grown up in Iran before relocating to New Zealand at age eight, the rapper/producer is acutely aware of the role both places played in shaping who she is today. Made in collaboration with her husband and co-producer Frank Keys, VIP is set in the self-styled realm of Planet Persia. That conceptual aspect especially comes out on the bravado-laced “Persianality” and amid the dual-language rapping of “Ain’t Nobody.” Meanwhile, Sanei channels coming of age in Auckland during the 2000s on “Call Me on My Cellular” and taps Auckland rapper Savage—who rose to fame in the mid-2000s—on “I Need That.” The album’s production often echoes that era as well, taking playful cues from era-defining tastemakers like Timbaland and The Neptunes. That dynamic approach provides a fitting backdrop for Sanei’s self-empowering lyrics, which hit home even when she slows her flow down for a few mellower tracks.