“He’s not original, he’s just another rapper without a distinctive sound.”
That’s a very close paraphrase of my reaction while Asher Roth was still onstage last year at 103.9 FM’s Fall Frenzy. I wasn’t paying complete attention because nothing was compelling me to do so. I pretty much had tuned out. It was a completely different style from the rock-heavy three-day set, and something in my brain told me he was there just to appease someone or a favor to a label.
Still, Janell, who had elicited my response said she liked him and she has generally quality taste in music. It was either that, my affinity for second chances or just my general curiosity that made me want to revisit Roth’s music a few months ago.
As a whole, his music canon thus far, proves my initial reaction wrong.
Just over a year ago, Roth released his debut, “Asleep In The Bread Aisle.” He released “The Greenhouse Effect” before that, free, as part of the infamous and celebrated (and stunning) Gangsta Grillz mixtape series by DJ Drama and Don Cannon. In March this year Roth released a second, free mixtape, “Seared Foie Gras With Quince & Cranberry” (download, via here). And Vibe magazine reported back in February that a new CD is due in August.
The main thing I notice now that I didn’t notice with him onstage back in September was his lyrical adeptness. I had heard, “I Love College” before and he was playing that to an ASU-college heavy crowd at Fall Frenzy so that got the biggest reaction. And if this was all you knew about his music, your opinion wouldn’t be high either:
… That party last night was awfully crazy
I wish we taped it
I danced my ass off and had this one girl completely naked
Drink my beer and smoke my weed
but my good friends is all I need
Pass out at 3 wake up at 10
go out to eat then do it again.
(dapersgtpo You Tube video, I Love College)
The song shows absolutely no capacity for reflection (and live, it doesn’t have the same slow laconic pacing). Yet, as it turns out “I Love College” is just one aspect of the man’s music. These days, there’s Roth songs I go to, to play first thing in the morning, to start my day off with bounce. Like “Lark on My Go-Kart.”
That song belies the goof of the title to jump through a pop culture litany of a day in the life of Asher or someone like him. The rhymes? Free, quick and tight. It’s a pleasure to listen to, though no great meaning exists.
“His Dream” stuns, with a soulful Miguel mixed in with a slow “ballad rap” overlay about Roth’s father.
“His only son, is only 21 / And focus as a poet has only just begun / Pappa isn’t done, he understands what this means / His dream is my dream, my dream is his dream / I close my eyes and I can see,
(His dream) / The sacrifice he made for me (His dream) / Put it aside for his family (His dream) / Yeah, So I’m a keep it alive.”
Whenever a singer, a rapper can talk about something other then themselves, about a role in society and throw in self-awareness and self-deprecation, it offers a greater array of emotions and jump off points for potential listeners.
“Be By Myself” crashes living a party life together with thoughts of the future, and operating solo. It’s sweet and its doppelgänger, “She Don’t Want A Man” (with Keri Hilson) exudes confidence and a slamming beat.
“The Lounge” is a favorite, while it drops the question of who, these days, really is a rapper? Roth colorfully zips through a series of stereotypes to indirectly address the fact, that, yep, he’s different – from a comfortable background – but anyone can play in the rap game if they can drop rhyme and release reason. In another song, “As I Em” (video) Roth tackles the inevitable comparison and the life: “‘Cause we have the same complexion and similar voice inflection / It’s easy to see the pieces and reach for that connection.”
(ReaperX593 You Tube video of “The Lounge”)
Yo, does everybody in rap get arrested?
And with they sex, do they all have ho’s?
Or do some have a girl that they learn and they grow with?
I like to know, what makes a rapper?
It might be me, but I don’t think it matters.What does he look like?
Nobody knows.
He’s just a rapper, in plain clothes
When the curtain falls, after the show
Where does he go? Nobody knows.Yo, now it’s your call, short, fat, or tall
What if he’s a she and not a he at all?
Or does a bra have to be a C at least?
Or can it be decreased if she real up on the beat?
Like? Other pale powers to push on you: Apathy, Eligh, Eminem and JoJo if you want to broaden your white rapper listening repertoire.
Will Roth be around in 10 years?
Seems unlikely.
I’ve been wrong before.
(Updated with very minor editing, June 2, 15:27)