Pick of the Week #37: Asher Roth

When discussing Asher Roth international law dictates that one must mention Eminem no less than 6 times, so, let's see how we do...

It's funny, cause I think when I first started reading stuff about Asher Roth I felt a little offended about all the Eminem comparisons. Asher, like Em, is white, and after only hearing the "I Love College" remix ft. Ludacris I got a little indignant thinking, he's white, that doesn't mean he's like Em. Then, after getting through both The Greenhouse Effect Mixtape and his debut album Asleep in the Bread Aisle I'm definitely not offended, in fact, I think the comparison is dead on.

Don't get me wrong, Roth is not an Eminem clone, but the biting pop culture references, his flow, and his whole persona wreak of Em's influence. He is his own man though. Asher Roth grew up in Morrisville, PA and has no delusions about being anything other than a suburban white kid. He doesn't front (in the rap lingo that means that he doesn't pretend to be something he's not). He raps about stuff that he knows about: weed, partying, girls, and he does it all with some pretty spectacular word play and rhyming.

Although, if Roth was just weed/booze/girls I'm not sure I'd be so into him, because those things are fun, but its not something I'd feel particularly strong about endorsing. There are flashes, and they are just flashes, where he gets a little introspective "I am Em" (re: the comparisons to Eminem) or "The Lounge" (where he quizzes the listener about their stereotypes about rappers). On the whole though, Asher Roth is just a whole lot of fun and clever lines, and it looks like he's gonna be around for a while. Oh yeah, you can download the whole Greenhouse Effect Mixtape at theDailyKush.com fo free.

[mp3] Asher Roth - Roth Boys
[mp3] Asher Roth - The Lounge

Video: "Lark on My Go-Kart" (awesome!)
Video: "Be By Myself" ft. Cee-lo

"Roth Boys"


"Boom Boom Pow (Black Eyed Peas Cover)


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Pick of the Week #2: Rah Rah
Pick of the Week #3: Glasvegas/Animal Collective
Pick of the Week #4: Bruce Peninsula
Pick of the Week #5: The Antlers
Pick of the Week #6: The Darcys
Pick of the Week #7: Ohbijou (Swift Feet for Troubling Times)
Pick of the Week #8: Gentlemen Husbands
Pick of the Week #9: Chris Whitley
Pick of the Week #10: Alela Diane
Pick of the Week #11: K'naan
Pick of the Week #12: TOR/Sufjan Stevens
Pick of the Week #13: Timber Timbre
Pick of the Week #14: Justis
Pick of the Week #15: Hibiscus & Rosehips Compilation
Pick of the Week #16: Patrick Watson
Pick of the Week #17: Olenka and the Autumn Lovers
Pick of the Week #18: The Liptonians
Pick of the Week #19: Sunparlour Players
Pick of the Week #20: Black Hat Brigade
Pick of the Week #21: Howie Beck
Pick of the Week #22: Pink Mountaintops
Pick of the Week #23: Still Life Still
Pick of the Week #24: Hayden
Pick of the Week #25: Snailhouse
Pick of the Week #26: Dog Day
Pick of the Week #27: Ohbijou (Beacons)
Pick of the Week #28: Dog is Blue
Pick of the Week #29: Parkas
Pick of the Week #30: The Wooden Sky
Pick of the Week #31: Bowerbirds
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Pick of the Week #35: Diamond Rings
Pick of the Week #36: The Wilderness of Manitoba