Asher Roth - "Asleep in the Bread Aisle" (SRC/ Universal Motown)

Asher Roth is one of the most hyped about rookie emcees this year. His debut album, Asleep in the Bread Aisle delivers exactly the looming expectations foretold-silly rhyme schemes, pop-friendly beats and part frivolous/part socio-politically conscious lyrics.

"I Love College" is the obvious choice for a first single. Roth's goofy wordplay "I am champion at beer pong, Allen Iverson, Hakeem Olajawon," and the Animal House video aesthetic is a surefire marketing scheme that is as serious as Will Farrell on Broadway. But this novelty track is only partly indicative of Roth's scope and range.

If the biggest insult to Roth is that he's whack because he creates "Suburban Rap," that is more of a reflection of his critics than of him. Roth claims nothing more than exactly who he is: an all-American white dude (and self-proclaimed dork) from the suburbs. Admittedly there is not much for you on Asleep in the Bread Aisle if your interests extend farther than smoking weed, getting shit-faced and taking advantage of drunken girls at frat parties. Rap intellectuals will inevitably have a field day with this one, but reducing him to limitations based on race or his privileged upbringing is missing the point of the album and the intention of Roth's work-which despite the lack of depth in subject matter-is still ample with self-reflection and his own form of philosophical contemplation (which "As I Em" vividly Illustrates).

If music is meant to reveal the unique subjectivities of the artists who create it, then who's to judge Roth for being a white kid who's glory years are defined by excessive debauchery and a fantasy filled Return of the Nerds-esque college experience? At the end of the day the most endearing quality of Roth is his minimalist outlook on life; Asleep is simply about having fun, being young and losing inhibitions on cheap beer.

With stovetop popcorn beats from newcomer Oren Yoel and help from Busta Rhymes, Estelle, Cee-Lo, and Don Cannon, Roth's got his share of namedropping and co-signers for added elevation. Whether you choose to love or hate him, relate or not relate to what he's about, Asleep will still be Roth's proverbial door to success.

Record Label: SRC/Universal Motown
Release Date: 4/21/09

-Boyuan Gao