Video: Homeless - "An Open Letter To Asher Roth"

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Download: Homeless - "An Open Letter To Asher Roth"
*MP3: Asher Roth - "I Love College"

I've had an essay kicking around in my head called "Why Atmosphere Must Destroy Asher Roth" for quite some time. I never got past the conceptual stage of it though, which would revolve contrasting the blue-collar anthems of When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, with collegiate-themed rapper Asher Roth's huge breakthrough hit "I Love College." (Discussed earlier here)

For those of you who don't know who Asher Roth is, he is a suburban-based rapper from Pennsylvania. He recently released his debut record, Asleep in the Bread Aisle (haha, white bread, get it?), which contains his aforementioned hit, which is basically all about how college is totally rad and filled with parties. Which, at times, it is. (Incidentally, I bet Asher Roth would totally hit on the overworked, overwhelmed waitress in Atmosphere's "You." Whether or not she'd dig it is a less clear proposition).

But, you know, and the risk of being Captain Buzzkill, there's also that whole studying thing, and not pissing away the multiple thousands of dollars spent paying for college, and working for study loans. But hey, why work, when there's a ubiquitous red cup that needs to be filled?

Naturally, given my ambivalence toward Roth, I was really curious when Midwest Broadcast posted a video by Minneapolis emcee Homeless posted a video called "An Open to Asher Roth." It pretty much lays out all the objections one could have to Roth, but does so in a constructive, thought-provoking manner. It's essential viewing for anyone who cares about popular music. Watch it at the top of the post.

Homeless MySpace Page

(Jon Graef)

Tonight: Hip-Hop For The Homeless At The Triple Rock

Download: Dessa - "Mineshaft"
Download: Heiruspecs - "5ves"
Download: Muja Messiah - "Get Fresh" (ft. Real Spit Rio)
Download: Big Quarters - "Lou Diamond"
Download: M.anifest - "Gentleman"
Download: Sha Cage - "Amber People" (ft. Truthmaze)

Even though it's tempting, even inevitable, for one to complain about the cold weather, at least most of us have a permanent place to stay where we can seek refuge from sub-zero temperatures. However, it goes without saying that there are those who are less fortunate: namely, the homeless. It may be tempting to dismiss the beggars we all see on the streets as being too lazy to work. But the simple matter is that statistics paint a vastly different picture. According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, 23 percent of the national homeless population are veterans, the vast majority of whom have received honorable discharges. Additionally, it is estimated that one-third of the nation's 744,000 homeless have untreated psychiatric illnesses.

Most of these statistics concern adults. However, there are also numerous teenagers and young adults who, because of broken homes, have no place to turn to when they are in need of help.

With this information in mind, as well as the demands of modern day society, one might feel overwhelmed and not think that they're able to help those who may need the help. But that's where you'd be wrong. Tonight at the Triple Rock, Radio K is sponsoring Hip Hop For The Homeless, an event hosted by I Self Devine featuring many of the Twin Cities' best, and most socially conscious, hip-hop artists such as Deena, M.anifest, Big Quarters, and Muja Messiah, amongst many others (listen to MP3s of most of the artists involved at the top of the post).

Tickets for the event are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Doors are 9 p.m. and the show is 18+. Proceeds from the event will go to YouthLink, an organization which is "one of the largest and most experienced nonprofit youth service providers in the Twin Cities."

Buy tickets here.

Dessa MySpace Page
Heiruspecs MySpace Page
Muja Messiah MySpace Page
The Chosen Few MySpace Page
Maria Isa MySpace Page
Big Quarters MySpace Page
M.anifest MySpace Page
Sha Cage MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)