The first time I heard the music of Asher Roth was last summer in Chicago. I was visiting some friends from high school who had been listening to the Atlanta rapper’s mixtape for a few weeks. Kyle, Bryan, and John were as White as their names sounded, but one couldn’t let the Kappa soccer apparel, Maxim magazines, and beat-up New Balances fool you- these pot heads could talk rap shop with the best of them. “Deej” (my high school nickname deriving from my former Disc Jockey profession) ” Deej, you need to be up on Asher Roth” Brian exclaimed “He’s out of Atlanta and has DJ Drama and Don Cannon doing his mixtape. It’s called The Green House Effect. Shit’s tuuiight.” Sure enough, quicker than you could say Body Tap I was listening to the latest playlist on my former classmate’s itunes- a sound that took me by surprise and disappointment at the same time. After about two and a half songs I had made my opinion about Asher Roth. “He sounds like Eminem” I said nonchalantly “And he raps about as well as him. I’ll have to look out for him.” That was it. Not much more crossed my mind about the up and coming rapper.

Tonight I am watching Asher Roth perform in front of a packed Key Club. The MC has come up a great deal since I first heard his name back in Illinois. His music has graced millions of youtube and itunes eyes and ears since my buddy Brian first googled his name- and yes, he still sounds a lot like that other rapper. Yet despite the comparisons and potential shallow adversities that the Southern rapper could face, Asher Roth seems to carry a confident demeanor (and dare I say swagger?) in front of the Los Angeles crowd tonight. “Big ups to unprotected random sex” Roth shares openly, “I know I’m not trying to be in relationship yet so, until then…wrap it up.” Roth has been extremely open and sharing with the crowd tonight. His outgoing and relaxed stage presence fits his well structured and punch-line filled rhymes perfectly. He’s currently on a majority of radio’s top 100 playlist with his hit single “I love College” a musical bait that seems to be sticking with a lot of people. His execution of keeping the party going from city to city is doing wonders for him, shutting the mouths of doubters and fence riders (not ashamed to say) like my self.

The twenty-three year old’s focus on partying, weed, sex and drinking are laced well with the promotion of positive thinking, peaceful spirits, and even being conscious of what you eat. Roth spit an acapella verse detailing his choice on healthy eating habits and raising awareness to what we feed our youth-not just in the food sense- and being sure to maintain the mental and physical stability of one’s self. His set showed the multi-dimensional Roth, the charming, witty, fun, storyteller that you can’t find on a mixtape. Or maybe you can, but pompous shmucks like me don’t get past the two and a half songs.

Watching Asher perform is like seeing a group of college buddies hanging out on the ninth floor of the dorm. Onstage, he’s barefoot in jeans and a plain white tee, dancing around to some old school tunes, then busting out the old school dances that go along with those tunes (Asher and his band mates paused briefly in the set to break into the choreography for Candy Rain) – it was like being at the house party with all your drunk homies; kicking it and good times. He even had time to showcase his DJ and drummer, solos that brought down the house with the Humpty Dance and a cover of N.E.R.D.’s Spaz. Los Angeles received Asher with open arms.

Beating the stereotypes, critics, and haters are in Asher’s rearview. He’s an extremely talented rapper with a great lyrical gift. His spirit on stage appeals to any and everyone who watches him and his sincerity reflects that of a very wise and cool kid his age. Here’s a tip for those reading…keep him on your radar and don’t sleep on him. And a big thanks to Kyle, John, and Bryan for putting me on from day one.

A. Landon
www.loudvine.com