Similar features, different styles: Asher Roth is no Eminem

12Aug09

y ED CONDRAN / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Amusing, white and suburban are the adjectives often used to describe Asher Roth.

No wonder the emerging player in the hip-hop community is compared to Eminem.

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Much like the controversial rapper, Roth, 23, is clever and charismatic, and the similarities are so evident that he even addresses the issue during his catchy track “As I Em.” ” ‘Cause we have the same complexion/and similar voice inflection/It’s easy to see the pieces and the reach for that connection/I’m constantly on defense/defending my own name/Explainin’ we’re not the same.’

“I respect Eminem,” Roth said while calling from Los Angeles. “He’s great; but if you really look at us, you can see we’re different.”

Indeed. There’s a palpable danger inherent in much of Eminem’s work; fans never know what might slip from the rapper’s tongue. However, Roth, who will perform Wednesday at the House of Blues, entertains while treading safer terrain. Having a good time is the hot topic throughout Roth’s debut disc, Asleep in the Bread Aisle, which was released in April.

The suburban Philadelphia native actually has more in common with black rapper Shwayze, who is from Malibu, than Detroit’s Eminem.

Roth’s infectious and funny “I Love College” is a frat anthem, which revels in drinking, getting high and hooking up with undergrads. The cut, which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 100, was Roth’s big break.

“It’s great that the song has done so well,” Roth said. “But I’m not the song. It’s an ode to alcohol. It’s about alcohol abuse. It’s something that happens in college.”

Roth, who left West Chester University after two semesters, sought a degree in elementary education. “I wanted to teach,” he said. “I wanted to have an impact on kids.”

The eloquent performer seems to be having just as big of an impact as a recording artist. “There’s no question about that,” Roth said. “I can have a huge effect on those into music. But I’m not trying to change the world. I’m on the same tip as ever, just trying to be lighthearted and to have fun. I don’t want to be serious. I want to have a good time. It’s a good deal focusing on boobs, blunt and booty. Music is my life. I grew up on it.”

Roth was weaned on Motown and rock as a child. “My parents listened to Paul Simon, the Temptations and Bruce Springsteen a lot when I was growing up,” Roth said. “That all hit me, especially the words to the songs written by those guys.”

A decade ago, Roth became enamored of the Dave Matthews Band, Korn and the Deftones. During his latter high school years, Roth graduated to the sounds of rappers Jay-Z and Nas.

“I just kept growing. I really loved hip-hop. At 17, I just started messing around making up my own raps.”

Within four years, Roth found that he had a new career.

“All of a sudden there was an alternative to teaching,” he said. “I just kicked it into gear. I found something in which I could let out my own dweebiness and just have a good time. So far, so good.”

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