Asher Roth is set to drop his latest mix tape, "Pabst & Jazz" on December 20th. Yesterday as a little taste, he dropped the tape's title track and, after a few listenings, it's hard to believe it's really the same Philly 'burbs rapper who once was thrust into the limelight as the poster boy of party/college blog rap scene.

Call it growing up (Roth's 26; I'm the same age and college seems pretty far in the rearview mirror) or artistic evolution, that's definitely not a bad thing. At all. There's nothing worse than watching an artist capable of big things in the music game sideline himself by repeating one's previous successes over and over again. Without naming names, sadly this happens quite often with many rappers pigeonholed in the party boy frat rap scene.

In "Pabst & Jazz," Roth spits about John Coltrane and Miles Davis with Hassani Kwess and Kenny Keys over the laidback groove lead by a Fender Rhodes. It's a mature sound that would make Herbie Hancock smile and a far departure from flowing with lyrics like "Drink my beer and smoke my weed but my good friends is all I need." Hopefully this mix tape makes a nice splash next week. Meanwhile, listen and download after the click.