5 Reasons Asher Roth Is Winning

Asher Roth is winning. Don't think so? Have a look at his iTunes sales numbers. And please believe that this guy's debut album is in line for an impressive first week when it drops April 21st. But why is Asher winning? Peep game.

"I LOVE COLLEGE"

Everyone loves college. Sure some people (or most people) love the partying more than they do hitting the books, but I've never met anyone that has said they hated college. You meet loads of people who say they hated high school but not college. So when Asher released "I Love College" as his first official single, it was a no brainer that it was going to be a hit. I remember talking to Asher's manager Scooter way before "I Love College" even came out. As a matter of fact, I had about an hour long talk with Scooter before 98% of the public had even heard of Asher Roth. And even from Scooter's description of "I Love College" and his breakdown of exactly who Asher was, you could see that this project wasn't going to fail. Asher REALLY does love college. As it has been told to me, Asher almost didn't even want to sign a record deal because he just kinda...well...loved college so much and didn't want to give it up. Some hardcore Hip-Hop heads are saying "yo this shit is wack." The thing is though, Asher didn't make it for the hardcore Hip-Hop heads...he made it for that white dude and girl that work at Abercrombie & Fitch...and they buy a lot of downloads.

HE'S WHITE

I've never heard Eminem deny the fact that him being white helped him sell records and do "black music so selfishly." The same goes for Asher Roth. Do you think a black MC could get away with a refrain of "KEG STAND, KEG STAND"...ummm...no. He would be laughed all the way off of NahRight.com and into obscurity. Even after all these years, white rappers are still somewhat of a novelty because none with the exception of Eminem and Vanilla Ice have been wildly, monstrously successful. Sure, there was Bubba Sparxxx...but the thing with Bubba is, he wasn't a "corny lookin' white boy" and he aligned himself with the Dungeon Family thus sort of falling into a huge pack of rappers....and he wasn't monstrously successful. He was accepted but not revered. Eminem and Asher on the other hand, they burst onto the scene screaming "I'M WHITE, LOOK AT ME! I'M A DORK...I'M A RAPPER BUT I SHOULDN'T BE." Now Eminem moved away from focusing on the colour of his skin and how out of place he was, but now there's Asher who rocks boat shoes, shorts...I mean shit...the guy doesn't even shave his head or have that close crop cut like most white dudes down with Hip-Hop do. He's kinda got a 45 year-old accountant hair-do goin' on. People love to support other people that remind them of themselves. On a much lesser (and opposite) scale, this is why people love Sean Price so much. He calls himself "the brokest rapper you know" and most of his fans are probably broke or not financially stable and they can relate to that.

HE'S A DOPE RAPPER

Having a great marketing push is sometimes all an artist needs, regardless of their skill level, to sell records. But Asher being a dope MC along with the fact he's of the Caucasian persuasion and has an excellent marketing push and management team behind him, all combine to make this Pennsylvanian born upstart an unstoppable force. I really don't think "I Love College" and some funny promo shoots would have been enough to propel Asher to top 10 on iTunes if he had been a terrible MC. Actually in that case, his skin tone would have worked against him. The buying public is way more likely to buy a bad song from a black MC than a white MC. Why? Who knows..it's just how it goes. Do you think a white rapper could have made "Low" by Flo-Rida? My point exactly.

HE FOUND A WAY TO REACH THE REAL HIP-HOP HEADS

Now while Asher might not be focused on reaching that hardcore, dirty, feet to the street Hip-Hop audience, he has made a noble effort of saying "while I might be making Hip-Hop for a Pop audience, I am aware of the culture." His first mixtape was hosted by DJ Drama and Don Cannon. You're talking about DJ's that have put out some of the grittiest street mixtapes with the likes of T.I., Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane and countless others...and then in strolls Asher Roth arrogantly to say "I belong here as well." Asher's "The Greenhouse Effect" mixtape with Cannon and Drama instantly legitimized the Asher Roth movement and put Hip-Hop on notice. And when the tracklisting for Roth's debut album "Asleep In The Bread Aisle" dropped, we saw guests such as Lil' Wayne, Cee-Lo, Estelle, and Jazze Pha listed. You can't get much more tastemaker than that. I mean a Lil' Wayne guest appearance alone is gonna get some Weezy stans on Asher's side. Point blank this guy and his team know exactly what they're doing. To watch this process is to witness the perfect execution of launching a new Hip-Hop artist in a new Hip-Hop climate. It's damn impressive...pay attention.

HE'S NOT OVERLOADING THE PUBLIC WITH MUSIC

Contrary to what many upstart rappers think, there is such a thing as TOO MUCH music. Now I know what you're thinking, what about Lil' Wayne? Weezy is a monster mega superstar and his rabid fan base can't get enough of him. But for a new artist, you need to burst onto the scene with something impressive, in Asher's case "The Greenhouse Effect" mixtape, and then leave the people wanting more while building anticipation for your debut. Sure, Asher has dropped freestyles sporadically but he hasn't hammered the public over the head with music every week. Instead he's let the video of his live shows and MP3's of his radio freestyles do the work. I mean this guy has rode the success of "I Love College" for months now. Too often new artists think that people need song after song after song...but why would anyone care? Do something great once instead of something mediocre 20 times and then the people will eagerly anticipate your next work even if it's weeks before it drops. It just seems like a lot of people jump into Hip-Hop without a long-term plan where in Asher's case, it's clear there was a concise plan before the first song was even released.

Comments

[R.E.]

Cosign.

[brendan]

hell yeah 4/20 can't fuckin wait!

[solool]

nahh, I still feel eminem e-shy cage way more over this fake kat. fake emcee, not a dope rapper the kid blushes when he rhymes, gay ass