Asher Roth

Asher Roth wants you to stop calling him the next Eminem.

Although the 23-year-old's flow and race reminds many of Slim Shady, Roth insists those attributes are about all they have in common. While Eminem rose out of Detroit's underground rap scene with his over-the-top lyrics and ghetto swagger, Roth is a middle-class suburban kid who says his music is "all smiles and good times." He's not kidding. Watch the video for Roth Boys, a remake of Jay-Z's hit "Roc Boys," and you'll see Roth grinning from ear to ear as he rides his bike to IHOP.

Roth got his big break through MySpace, where he posted mp3s of himself rapping over popular beats. Impressed with his off-the-wall verses, MySpace friend and Atlanta-based promoter Scooter Braun offered to become his manager. Braun eventually scored Roth a deal with SRC Records, days after Jay-Z took a pass.

After signing with SRC, Roth and his friends moved to Atlanta, "Entourage style," where he hooked up with fellow Pennsylvania natives DJ Drama and Don Cannon to drop the Greenhouse Effect Mixtape. On "The Lounge," Roth plays with his "corny white boy" image: "Cocaine or college, tell me what's the rule? I'd like to know what makes a rapper… I think it might be me, but I don't think it really matters."

Roth's debut album is scheduled for release later this year. His first single, an ode to parties, weed and beer pong called I Love College, is currently streaming on his MySpace.

See: myspace.com/asherrothmusic