Posted on 04/27/2009
Some believe Asher Roth is a breath of fresh air in the ever-changing climate of mainstream hip-hop. Others believe he was grown in a test tube by Viacom as a means of lining their already stuffed pockets with more cash. The content of the Morrisville, PA newcomer's major label debut, Asleep in the Bread Aisle, provides droplets of validity to both arguments. Song titles like "Sour Patch Kids," "La Di Da" and "Lark On My Go-Kart" have "commercial" written all over them. What angle Roth is coming from with the fluid yet silly lyrics on said songs depends solely on the ears of the listener.

The bulk of the production is handled by another newcomer, Oren Yoel. His funk infused melodies and rhythmic, head-nodding drums make the frivolous rhymes on tracks like the lead single, "I Love College," easier to choke down. Roth has accumulated a number of co-signs in his short timescale and he puts them to use throughout the album. But with the exception of Beanie Sigel and Slick Rick's appearances on "Perfectionist" and "Y.O.U.," respectively, the other big name features fail to intensify the listening experience and come off as formulaic, especially on "Lion's Roar," a mess of a track with confusing rapid-fire wordplay from Roth and Busta Rhymes. The overall happy-go-lucky aesthetic turns into pure buffoonery, thanks, in part, to Jazze Pha's coon crooning on the horrendous "Bad Day."

Roth does get serious briefly to address the primary complaint that's been a thorn in his side since his first mixtape dropped. "As I Em" is a deep introspection into the Eminem comparisons and claims of his attempt to capitalize off Slim Shady's fame. "I'm constantly on defense defending my own name explaining we're not the same; not much that I can say except I'm sick of it." More serious tracks like this may have helped to quell the disparages of Roth's carelessness for the artform.

The song "Blunt Cruisin'" and its correlation with those who understand the significance of the album's 4/20 release flatly attest to Roth's love of the "green." Cynics, however, will dispute that the "green" he truly loves isn't the kind you smoke, but the kind you spend. Calling Asher Roth a fake MC is still a bit harsh, and shunning his existence due to his innocuous phrases puts him in the same category as artists like the Fresh Prince. Perhaps Roth will follow the footsteps of Mr. Smith to Hollywood, and those who hate him (for logical reasons or not) won't have to worry about anymore music coming from the savior to some, pariah to others.

- Kendred Spirit