The Audacity of Dope

While I don’t think this single is necessarily one of Asher’s stronger lyrical performances recently, I wonder if there are people out there that still don’t realize he can really rhyme.  If so, you must not have peeped the EP with Notttz, nor some of the random leaks from the past year.  I’m looking forward to Asher’s sophomore album solidifying his place in the game and erasing any thoughts that it was solely about “I Love College.”

I look forward to the day when Toby and Tunji are rich and famous so I can brag to people that I used to DJ for ’em when we were in college.  These guys played such an important part in the development of “DJ Hyphen” (yes!  first 3rd person reference on the blog ftw!) that it means a lot to finally see their first music video released to the public.  This is a great day…

Shout to everyone involved in this track (Oren Yorel and Paul Dateh killed it) and video (directed by rising star Donlee Brussel).  Go vote right now to help Inverse win MTVu’s Freshmen video contest this week and get it added to MTV – http://www.mtvu.com/music/the-freshmen/nominees-062909/

You can vote as many times as you’d like, so get on your grind people!  Sidenote, Inverse’s excellent So Far (The Collection) project will be re-released through QN5 Music on July 6th…you’ll need to cop that too.

You know, I’m pretty tired of the corny discussions going on all over the place about Asher.  Seeing people get all worked up about every little thing reminds me of when I used to post on messageboards in my high school/college days.  I’m too old and busy for all this pseudo drama.

Here’s what I know.  Asher is a cool dude, works with great people, and makes dope music more often than not.  This song is my ish and the video is ill.  If you want to write blog after blog attacking him or complaining about the system that helped him achieve his success, go for it.  I ain’t gonna read it though.  Way more important things in the world right now.

LOL @ comparisons between Em and Asher right now.  Asher’s actually making songs.  Em’s making the same joke of a single for the 6th time.  Shrug.

This is the next single by the way, featuring Cee-Lo if you couldn’t tell.  Footage shot by the homey Tunji and the alley oop from GregTheDude.

Across all genres, there might not be an artist with more buzz right now than Asher Roth.  Sadly, it seems like most people, industry or not, are stuck on the smash single, “I Love College,” and the image that track represents.  In reality, Asher is much more than a one hit wonder responsible for the new frat boy anthem.  Instead, he’s a really dope MC, a thoughtful businessman, and an all around cool ass dude.

He took a minute from his busy schedule last week to call into Sound Session right before we all headed down to SXSW.  In the interview, we talked all about his upcoming Asleep In The Bread Aisle debut, the misrepresentation that “I Love College” brings, his producer and secret weapon, Oren Yorel, why being a white rapper is like being the Highlander, and much more.  Plus, we ran his new “Lark On My Go Kart” track and reminisced about everyone’s favorite Saved By The Bell moment.  You can check it out right here:

Asher Roth on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?yiw2fzdilyo
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/578401220336b51f/)

If you’re still hating on Asher, I hope you can peep Asleep In The Bread Aisle with a clear mind, because the music and talent are there in bunches.  Don’t get it twisted.