Believe the Hype: Asher Roth - Asleep In The Bread Aisle

While some might be tempted to write Roth off as a novelty act or cult favorite, Roth puts in the necessary work to prove otherwise. If you were lucky enough to get a copy of The Greenhouse Effect, Roth's debut mixtape project, complete with an assist from DJ Drama and Don Cannon, you know what I'm talking about. Roth demolishes instrumentals for "Black Mags" by the Cool Kids, and "Cannon" by DJ Drama among others, putting his own creative spin on each.

The second single off of the actual album "Asleep In The Bread Aisle" is "Lark On My Go-Kart", which comes off like a psychedelic stream of consciousness with Mario Kart and Saved by the Bell references over production that sounds like a hip-hop video game. Though Roth's nasal voice and slightly over-pronounced delivery has drawn him some obvious comparisons to Eminem, but this comparison doesn't do Roth justice. There are vocal similarities, but Roth's college-boy sensibilities and alternative influences set him apart in his own lane. I would even put him closer to Kanye West or Kid Cudi musically.

The first single off of the album was "I Love College", a frat-house ode to beer, pizza, marijuana, and higher education. In the same vein, "Blunt Cruisin'", Roth's tribute to the suburban pasttime of driving with weed, delviers a feel-good vibe that isn't usually found in hip-hop today (think Pharcyde, Beasti Boys or De La Soul)."Lion's Roar", which features Busta Rhymes over what sounds like a Moby track, was in the words of Randy Jackson "just a'ight for me, dog". Though Roth's flow is effortlessly and the frenetic energy level is consisten throughout, the lackluster Busta verse leaves a lot to be desired and the hokey chorus keeps it from being a track I will want to play too often. "Perfectionist" is an awkward collaboration with Beanie Sigel and Rock City, where after Ash's verse, the song seems to become a whole different song. The chorus kills the potential of the track, with Rock City's lazy hook unfortunately sounding like everything else on the radio.

It's clear Asher Roth is at his best when left to his own devices, which says a lot nowadays when every artist features at least one other artist on every other track. He specifically shines on his more introspective tracks like the political tirade"Sour Patch Kids", the motivational "La Di Da", and the soulful, family-friendly "His Dream". Overall, this is a rock-solid debut with a lot of range from an artist who refuses to fit the mold of what is expected of a hip-hop artist, and with good reason. On "Asleep in the Bread Aisle", Asher Roth gives a voice to hip-hop heads who happen to be from the 'burbs and still doesn't alienate the backpackers and anyone else who appreciates authenticity.

Lord of the iPod: Volume 1...Constant Rotation

These are some songs that are on heavy rotation on the iPod at the moment and a little commentary on each. So we've established that I've got some time on my hands and I've accepted that...Anyway, hit up imeem.com and like I always say, get familiar.

Every Girl - Li'l Wayne & FriendsThough I think Wayne has started to stretch himself out too thin recently, I saw him perform this on MTV Spring Break with Drake, Jae Millz, and someone else and decided to download it based on that. This would have been better suited for a summer call-and-response anthem, though. It feels like it's too soon.

Lark On My Go-Kart - Asher RothI've been on Asher Roth since DJ Drama and DJ Cannon's brilliant co-signing of the dude on "The Greenhouse Effect Vol. 1" mixtape, which came with a vicious freestlye to the "Cannon" instrumental, among other jewels. On this track, Ash brags about Mario Kart skills, makes Saved by the Bell references, and Cheetos being his "choice of chip". You gotta respect a white rapper that reps for the burbs, especially when he does it with a real grasp of hip-hop and a seamless delivery.

Pennies - The Cool KidsThis beat bangs heavily on the right system. Though the Cool Kids are decidedly retro in references and fashion sense, they definitely take it to 2030 from a musical standpoint. The production is really where it's at on this track, with a hard bassline and what sounds like a loop of that beeping you hear when you leave an old car's door open, which surprisingly makes the song better and isn't annoying at all. Not to mention the catchy whistle which makes the song something you HAVE to rewind once it's done.

Look Up At The Stars - Kid Cudi f/ WaleThese dudes are generations ahead of most rappers in the game right now and this track demonstrates that to death. I'm not mad at the auto-tuned hook, either. For some reason, the movie TRON comes to mind listening to this.

Impress the Kid - Slick RickThis isn't new, but was a recent find for me. Slick Rick re-establishes that his delivery has only become better with age. Come get some, you little bums.

Pop Champagne (Remix) - The Clipse f/ Ab-LivaSo just when I was getting sick of "Pop Champagne" (I swear it took a month for me to admit I kinda liked it in the first place), the Clipse drop verses to it and put Ab Liva on it. Ab is one quarter of the Clipse' side project the Re-Up Gang and is one of the most underrated lyricists doing it right now.

Buggin' Out 2009 - Consequence f/ Kid CudiI don't even think I have the full version of this, but when I first heard this, it sounded like some mid-90s Tribe Called Quest, possibly some De La Soul. Coincidentally, Consequence has been around and been associated with Tribe since he guest-starred on the Midnight Marauders album. He and Cudi both drop crisp verses over what sounds like various jazz loops on some Pharcyde ish.

Walking On The Moon - The Dream f/ Kanye West - If you didn't know already, the Dream just recently dropped a masterpiece and this joint serves as case in point. Dream's in a lane of his own making, but this track (like a few off the last one) smells like Prince to me, mixed with a little Michael Jackson circa Thriller.

Me & Nas Bring It To You Hardest - Slick Rick f/ NasAnother not-that-old Slick Rick joint, the Ruler joins with Nas on this one for a track that sounds like mid-90's New York hip-hop. It almost sounds like a sample RZA would use for a Wu-Tang track, with a strong piano presence and a looped vocal.

Electric Feel Remix - MGMT f/ Jim JonesI don't even know what genre to categorize the original song in, but MGMT did the damn thing with this jam. It's like Brand New Heavies meets the Killers, but don't quote me on that. This is so unique, it warrants no comparison, really. The Jim Jones verses on the remix strangely don't take away from the song at all and I actually prefer that version.

Chillin' - Wale f/ Lady GaGaI've heard a lot of buzz around Lady GaGa, but never really heard her until this track. Wale kills the verses, as usual, while Lady GaGa lays the hook. Is it just me or does she sound a little like Santogold?

Hustle - Nipsy HustleThe coast is back! This track is as California as folding up your Dickies and stuffing them under the mattress to keep the crease in. Reminds me of a cross between Snoop Dogg and The Game. This joint almost makes you want to buy a gold herringbone and a pair of blue Chucks...almost.

Wrong Lover - J. Holiday f/ Rick RossWith a surprising Elton John "Bennie & The Jets" sample, Holiday follows up the babymaker single "It's Yours" with this track featuring Rick Ross. Ross is on his overweight-lover, B.I.G. starter kit swag and Holiday lays down solid vocals.

Renaissance (Remix) - Q-Tip f/ Busta Rhymes, Raekwon & Lil WayneLastly, I don't know where this track came from, but these are four excellent verses in my opinion, which well outweigh the track's obscurity. Probably one of my top five rappers of all time, Raekwon steps up after Bus' rock-solid verse and kills it before Wayne closes with a verse that almost makes you not mad at the fact that he's overexposed.

Underappreciated Black TV & Film Roles

Show: Seinfeld
Character: Larry the Cook, owner/manager/cook at Monk's Diner, played by Lawrence Mandley
Quote: (to Jerry)"We don't allow any...outside...syrups in the diner. And if I see it again, I'm going to confiscate it." Also threatened to make George into his "personal hand puppet"
This is the anti-magical Negro, the one who is depicted just as white people see most Black men: not having it at all. Larry was there on more than one occasion to intimidate Jerry and George with actual threats for the most minor of coffee shop offenses. When’s the last time in your adult life that someone has threatened to “confiscate” something from you? He could do that because he was Black.

Show: Thundercats
Character: Panthro, voiced by Earle Hyman
In addition to voice talent provided by Grandfather Huxtable (Earle Hyman), Panthro showed us a lof of Negroid tendencies on this show. First, Panthro was a mechanic...which could also make him Mexican, but that baritone I-used-to-sing-with-Harold-Melvin-&-the-Blue-Notes voice is unmistakable. On one episode, if you watch closely, Panthro can be seen at a monitor in the background watching Showtime at the Apollo.

Show: Seinfeld
Character: Rebecca De Mornay (!)
Rebecca De Mornay was a heavy-set Black woman who (surprise!) didn’t take no mess. She is the director of an NYC homeless shelter and gets upset when Elaine drops some bags of muffin stumps (you’d have to see the episode) off at the shelter without their tops. “…oh, so they’re homeless…they’ll eat anything! Why not drop off some lobster shells and chicken skins while you’re at it!!!” She knew damn well she wanted those chicken skins. I’d take ‘em.

Movie: The Mission Impossible series
Character: Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell
"...this is Versace."
Before they even cast this role, it was clear that Luther Stickell would be played by a Black man. First, his name is Luther. Second, the character has a part in Mission Impossible II where he gets pissed about a bullet-hole in his Versace jacket. A surprisingly realistic role, to be honest.

Movie: Return of the Jedi
Character: Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian
When Billy Dee shows up, you just automatically expect him to say something extra cool or to at least plug Colt .45 one good time. His character is actually pretty deep. When confronted with the decision of giving up Han Solo and the gang in exchange for the safety of his city, Billy Dee gives up Han (though he does redeem himself later). He put on for his city.

Movie: Office Space
Character: Door-to-Door Magazine Salesman played by Orlando Jones
So they pretty much went balls to the wall with this one, making one of the only Black actors in the film a vacant-faced door-to-door magazine salesman whose spiel is that he was addicted to crack and trying to turn his life around. He eventually admits that he was never addicted to crack and actually had a decent job, but was laid off.

Show: The Office
Character: Darrell Philbin played by Craig Armstrong
Though Stanley is a more integral part of the show’s dynamic, Darrell, who works in the stockroom and dated Kelly for a while, is always a hilarious addition to any episode he’s featured in. Darrell frequently takes advantage of Michael Scott’s stupidity, teaching him imaginary gang signs and slang.

Movie: Napoleon Dynamite
Character: Lafawnda
Lafawnda was Kip’s pen pal who later in the film came to visit him in Idaho. Lafawnda is a statuesque specimen of a woman, which contrasts with Kip’s pasty, underdeveloped man-child physique. She’s the one who lets Napoleon borrow the famous Jamiroquai tape that he ends up dancing to at the assembly.

I know I'm late, but congratulations, Mr. President.

Black People Starter Kit: The Must-Haves

There's a few things we can't live without as a people. I won't be surprised if a few of these things end up in the White House this year for the first time. Once Obama's presidency ends, wouldn't you love to get your hands on the first hotcomb ever used in the White House? It would go for millions, I'm sure.

Luster's - Ahh, the benefits of Pink Oil moisturizer. If you have never greased your man's scalp at some point, ladies, I have to question the validity of your relationship. Fellas, if your lady has not greased your scalp at some point, you need to put your foot down and say "dammit I coulda had a white girl for this!" (these are just jokes, calm down)

Houseshoes - The corduroy houseshoes in black or tan with the back flattened down under the heel. Infinite comfort, no traction whatsoever. Good not only in the house, but anywhere within a 0.5 mile radius of the home.  Wear with tube socks for best results.

"Fruit" Flavored Beverages (see photo)- They don't even have to taste like fruit, as long as they're colorful. Tampico orange drink was a staple at my grandma's house and I don't even know what fruit that was supposed to be made from, if any. Remember Dave Chappelle? "Juice? N*gga what the f*ck is juice? I want some drink!!!...Ingredients: sugar, water, purple."

Ball Barrettes - Various sizes. More colors than a box of Rainbow Nerds. So many unwarranted, overly elaborate hairstyles. Celly Cell, Mack 10, and MC Eiht ruined it for everyone and took it way too far. This was never intended for men.  Fun Fact: In Black neighborhoods, ball barrettes and actual weave can be bought at gas stations, corner markets, and convenience stores, all affectionately known as "the sto'".

Obnoxious Snack Foods - Flamin' Hot Cheetos. David Sunflower Seeds...BBQ flavor if they got it. Salt & Vinegar chips. Basically, we like anything that dirties your hands, makes a lot of noise when eaten, or leaves a lingering scent and/or complete mess.

Oprah - Walk into any hair salon and say something bad about Oprah (even something minor..."Oprah's feet stink") and see if you don't get beaten like a rented mule. From "The Color Purple" to the present, Black women have been rollin' with Oprah from day one. Do not test that loyalty.

White Ts - This is one of the best things we ever came up with. I mean at what point can you buy four shirts for $20? It's the most cost-effective style the Black community has ever brought into style. Unfortunately, a man could get shot in the face for spilling some "red drink" on your white T. But wait...I mean, we are the same people who produced George Washington Carver. We also came up with the black T!!!  Designed for evening attire.

Blunts - Sure, it is less healthy than using a bong, pipe, or Zig-Zag, but brothas love the blunts. Dutch Masters. White Owls. Phillies. Swisher Sweets!!!! Something about the tactile experience of rolling the blunt itself makes it a valid life skill for us. I actually took Introduction to Blunt Rolling for a semester at Howard.  You had to work your way up from Phillies to Backwoods.

Daytime Television - Maury Povich is a Black show. I don't care what anyone says. Seeing a grown man do the Souljah Boy when he finds out he "is NOT the father" confirms it. Remember Ricky Lake? The Richard Bey Show? Sally Jesse Raphael? Jenny Jones? These were all marketed for us.  Don't even get me started on Jerry Springer.  

Do-Rags/Head Accessories - You don't even have to have a hairstyle requiring a do-rag to wear one anymore. Remember when everybody had waves, though? I remember in high school, like six dudes would be in class with wooden brushes constantly brushing their hair throughout the entire class. Mine were kickin' for a while too, but I don't have the dedication in me to put that much work into it anymore. My arms get tired.  Sidenote.  It isn't uncommon to see a do-rag coupled with a sweatband, baseball cap, or visor either.  If you see somebody doing this, do me a favor and kick them in the back of the neck for me.

Black Magazines - Did anybody REALLY read Jet? Jet magazine is the single most dangerous item found in a Black home due to sheer quantity. One Jet a month since 1977 is a housefire just waiting to jump off. For the uninitiated, Jet is basically a magazine that gives mostly news about Black celebrities the mainstream media didn't count.  ("Did you know Peabo Bryson just bought a new house?") Your grandparents kept Jet in their house, your parents subscribed to Ebony and Essence, and now we have Vibe and Honey and...wait...what do you mean Honey went under? They spent all the money? See, that's why we can't have anything nice...

The Lottery - Another way the Man gets our money. I know people who have played (and boast about having played) Lotto twice a week every week since 1983 and only won $75 total since. Think about what that expense could be if it was regularly added to a bank account, accruing interest over time?  Maybe some stocks and bonds?  You know, white people stuff.

Menthols - Newports have got to be the worst-smelling, worst-tasting cigarette ever made. Outside of prison, I really don't get why people ever buy these, but they are extremely popular.  In addition to the tobacco addiction, you also have the addiction to menthol to deal with. This is why I'm addicted to Carmex now.  I remember this place called Sarah's Seafood in DC near Howard's campus where basically you can get a shrimp & fries plate, a pack of Now & Laters, and a pack of Newports, all served with a smile through bulletproof glass.  

Nikes - Bills on the table. Tax season is coming up. Little Man-Man needs braces. New Jordans for the whole family.

Public Service Announcement: Beyonce Knowles Must Be Stopped!!!

Disclaimer: For those of you to whom Ms. Knowles is a personal hero, relax...these are just jokes. She is an excellent performer, so respect due, but the effect she has on her fans is ridiculous. Beyonce Knowles is making it difficult for brothas to function and has started some of the most irritating crazes and phrases over the course of her career. She must be stopped for the reasons listed below.

1. "Bills, Bills, Bills" - First off, the video is set in a hair salon...everyone I know who does hair makes a pretty decent living, as much as Black women pay to get their hair done on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. I've heard of taking someone shopping, but if you're paying bills for women you don't live with, you're messing the game up for everybody.

2. "Independent Women" - WTF...see #1. So let's confirm one way or another...either yo uare independent or you need your Comcast bill paid. Stop flip-floppin'.

3. "Soldier" - This is just great...so basically we're encouraging young ladies to only go for the thugs and drug dealers, which is what the lyrics imply word-for-word. How positive for the Black community. Thanks, B!

4. "Bootylicious" - Honestly, I wasn't mad at this song. I just want to know what "jelly" Michelle was referring to...that girl needs three square meals per day, nothing less, if she wants to achieve bootylicious status.

5. "Crazy In Love" - Don't get me wrong, this was a great song, but that dance she started was not for everybody, though everybody tried to emulate it. E'rybody ain't able.

6. "Diva" - OK, good song, but I'm just waiting to see the first girl in the club trying to wear those glasses that look like one of those hanging bead doorways you might find in a fortune teller's parlor. Stop it...before you even start.

7. "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" - Of course I was gonna feel some kinda way about this. Now every chick thinks they can say "if you liked it, then you shoulda put a ring on it", but this does not in any way apply to every situation because everybody ain't marriage material. If he didn't put a ring on it, believe you me, there's a reason. Diamonds are pricey and it's a recession. Listening to a song and throwing on some lycra does not make anyone marriage material.

8. That phone commercial where she is performing "Upgrade U" and looks up in the middle to talk to you about upgrading your phone plan while doing some form of shimmy...what the blood clot?

I'm sure I will think of more, but the moral of this story is this: BEYONCE IS BEYONCE...DO YOU!

Why I'm Not Mad At Hip-Hop

For years and years, I have heard people ask the question: "what's happened" in reference to the way that hip-hop has changed over the years, stating that it has become overly sexual, overly materialistic, or lacks substance. There have been moments where I've fallen in and out of love with hip-hop, but I always come back to it with all of the enthusiasm I grew up with.
I was raised on hip-hop. My parents were young, so it was nothing for my dad to pick me up from school playing N.W.A. or Ice Cube in the car. My dad was originally from South Central so west coast gangsta rap was always a staple ion the house, although Rakim, A Tribe Called Quest, and a variety of diverse artists were also played frequently, blended with everything from rock to jazz to reggae. Today, you can find everything from Sinatra to UGK on my iPod and I'm actually really excited about hip-hop right now.

"No More Good Music"

My feeling is that if anyone is complaining about not being able to find good music, they aren't looking hard enough. Radio and TV are big business at this point, especially when associated with hip-hop, so if you're listening to the radio or watching BET or MTV, you're allowing yourself to be force-fed the mainstream, which is not necessarily for everyone, particularly those who are more knowledgeable about music. I don't listen to the radio and haven't in about ten years. I do watch BET almost on a daily basis and I just look at it for what it is. 106 & Park comes on after I get home from work, so it's easy to just shut off the brain for a moment and enjoy the show. If something comes on I can't get with, I understand that their target age group is ten years or so younger than me and exercise my ability to change the channel! The way I go about finding new music is by either word of mouth, reading, or simply trial & error, which is the only way to really go about it in my eyes if you want more than what's being offered in mainstream media.

"Too Much Sex in Hip-Hop"

As far as hip-hop being over-sexualized today, look at society as a whole. EVERYTHING is over-sexualized. Hip-hop is a product of its environment and art imitates life. I wasn't mad at Nelly's "Tip Drill" video. As long as everyone involved was over 18 and was cut a check, what is the issue? Sure, it showed some crass behavior, but it's building a fantasy. Men see fully-dressed women every day, so what is TV for if not an escape from everyday life? If you're anything like me, you can enjoy the visual, but in real life, you wouldn't look at any of those women as relationship material considering their line of work anyway. I am willing to give most Black men the benefit of the doubt that they know the difference between a real woman and what is depicted in videos. It is up to us as a community to make sure our children know this too, but we can't allow for artists to take on that responsibility for us (and if your kid was up after 3am watching BET Uncut when it was on, then they're in trouble anyway).

Why I'm Not Mad At Souljah Boy

Souljah Boy falls into a relatively new category of artists who make what many would call "fluff" music, or music of little substance. Some would go so far as to say it's not hip-hop. What was "Rapper's Delight" if not a party song, even to this day? Would anyone question the validity of that song as hip-hop? Personally, I love Common and Mos Def and what people would call "conscious MCs", but if I'm getting ready to step out or if I'm in a club, that isn't what I want to hear. I want something to fit the situation. Black music has become extremely successful over the past 20 years, so it's only natural that the progression of many artists will be toward the celebration of their success. Souljah Boy's having the time of his life and making music on his age level, so I can't knock the hustle. Hip-hop was supposed to be fun, right? I think the best thing about hip-hop today is that there are so many facets to it and it represents everyone. Hip-hop is one of the only truly organic art forms. You notice that jazz, reggae, rock etc. all have distinctive sounds that make them what they are. Hip-hop can be infused into any other type of music and a hip-hop track can come totally out of left field with a new sound and still be credible. Lighten up, folks.

Leaders of the New School

I'm actually really optimistic about hip-hop. Hip-hop's grown into a genre that's got something for everyone. Just look at the following artists: Wale, Mickey Factz, Cory Gunz, Asher Roth, the Cool Kids, Lupe Fiasco, the Foreign Exchange, and Kid Cudi to name a few (I swear I was up on all of these long before the XXL article). Then look at the effect that hip-hop is having on R&B with artists like T-Pain and the Dream taking it in a different direction. There's even some influence from entirely separate genres (see Li'l Wayne's "Prom Queen" and Kanye West's recent "808s & Heartbreaks").

The point is that this is an organic art form and remaining stagnant or only making songs with a message would do our whole community a disservice by not allowing it to expand and be all-inclusive. If you don't like what you are seeing in the mainstream, go out and support the artists you care about...buy a CD, see a live show, or blog about it and let others know. The media presents what the public shows they want economically, so the dollar speaks in this instance. Just sitting back and complaining is counterproductive.

And if you still can't find any good music, holla at me and I'll burn you some CDs...no seriously, I will burn you a CD.