Asher Roth
It’s a well-documented fact that one of hip-hop’s biggest audiences resides in America’s suburbs, yet you’d be hard-pressed to find an emcee willing to speak to these listeners’ day-to-day lives—even artists who grew up in these settings are quick to market themselves as products of the streets. Asher Roth, on the other hand, makes no secret of his unconventional background; a West Chester University graduate born and raised in Morrisville, Pennsylvania (a suburb situated roughly 10 miles northeast of Philly), the up-and-comer’s chosen to rap what he knows rather than erecting a hard-nosed facade, and, judging by his speedy ascent to buzzmaker status, he occupies a lyrical niche that’s long needed filling.
Thus far, most listeners know Roth as the artist who brought us hard-partying hit single “I Love College,” but, as he’s demonstrated on the follow-up, “Be By Myself,” and recently-featured iTunes bonus track “Perfectionist,” his artistic vision extends far beyond the frat-house walls. With the 4/20 release of debut album Asleep in the Bread Aisle, hip-hop fans everywhere will get to know him as a rising star with a unique lyrical perspective and an abiding love for the genre.
In an exclusive interview with our own DJ “Z,” Asher Roth steps into the Booth to discuss the liquor-soaked story behind his LP’s title, whether or not he’ll be able to find an audience in the inner-city streets, and how he plans to put the Eminem comparisons to rest once and for all.
