“Mario Kart skills are outrageous/play me any day and I’ll be the best racist. Wait no erase it/ meant to say racer.”

These lyrics from Asher Roth’s song, “Lark on My Go-Kart,” are quite clever because of his use of words, but after a little mishap Roth had on the night of April 23, hip-hop fans began to wonder: when does a joke go too far?

While performing at Rutgers University in New Jersey, Roth posted a controversial comment on his Twitter account.
“Been a day of rest and relaxation, sorry Twitter – hanging out with nappy headed hoes.”

As if Roth wasn’t already getting enough criticism for being a white rapper and an Eminem-wannabe. Now he has this big meatloaf on his table.

And while many people will jump on the opportunity to bash on Roth for the comment he posted, which more than 44,000 of his fans read, Roth is clearly not a racist in the eyes of the hip-hop community, but a rapper who made a bad joke.

There have been many mistakes and regrets in the music world. Remember when the hip-hop world found out about a couple of old songs in which Eminem used the N-word?
In 1966, Beatle John Lennon angered Christians worldwide when he said, “Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I do not know what will go first, rock’n’roll or Christianity.. We’re more popular than Jesus now.”

Legendary rappers such as Too $hort, Snoop Dogg and Tupac have been in controversies for using offensive words toward black women throughout their career.
But if a black rapper like them would have posted the comment Roth posted online for everyone to see, would it have had the same effect?

While many would have still found it offensive, wouldn’t have had the same shock value because of the fact that Roth is white and made a comment that offended so many black people two years ago.

The comment, of course, referring to the one made by Don Imus about the Rutger’s womens’ basketball team.

Nevertheless, Roth is no Don Imus.

So, why the dumb comment?

Well according to the “tweet” (comment) he posted after taking down the controversial one, he was just trying to make a joke that obviously didn’t get any laughs.

“Totally just making fun of Don Imus – Sorry Scoot, not trying to be offensive.I’m extremely apologetic to anyone who took offense to my immature, bad joke.”

Roth’s publicity team then took down the second “tweet” in “an effort to prevent more people from being offended.”

About a week after the incident, Roth released a statement explaining his actions and how apologetic he was to anyone who was offended by his comments on Twitter.

Roth is clearly not a racist; he just doesn’t know the difference between a joke and crossing the line. Maybe he needs to think before he speaks.

All Roth can do is learn from his mistakes. After all, Roth very well knew, getting into the industry, his place and the lines he shouldn’t cross. He’s a minority in predominately black and intelligent hip-hop world.

And while Roth may not be so big in the music world, the music industry is fairly liberal, and artists get away with strange hairstyles, attire and wild behavior, the industry is becoming less tolerant of lewd and offensive remarks. And rightfully so.

Roth made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. And an immature comment, which was meant to be funny, shouldn’t be taken to heart.