The Queens rapper almost didn’t go to the show where he met Roth. By Steven Roberts Asher Roth and Consequence in the music video for “Childish Games” Photo: Motown The video for Consequence’s “Childish Games,” first featured on his mixtape Movies on Demand, recently debuted on MTV, but the collaboration between the Queens, New York, rapper and Asher Roth almost never popped off. Directed by Rik Cordero, the clip captures the song’s comparison of popular schoolyard activities to the games adults play. A split-second decision to perform a show — and skip a hyped Diddy affair — led to the duo’s joint effort. “We were doing a concert in Flint, Michigan, for [the city’s] local radio station,” Consequence said. “They were the first [radio DJs] who stepped out on ‘Whatever You Want’ and added it, before we even went for adds. They asked me to do the concert, and I was like, ‘Cool.’ But the week I was doing that concert was the same week that Diddy was having his birthday party out [in New York City], and I really didn’t put two and two together until the last minute.” More than simply partying, Con was actively trying to secure Diddy and the LOX for what would become the Bad Boy remix of “Whatever You Want.” He was browsing the Louis Vuitton store for a possible ensemble, Con said, when it finally hit him that the concert date coincided with the mogul’s bash. “Long story short, I just had to eat not going to the Diddy party or whatever,” Con said. “I flew out to Michigan. When I get to the hotel, I see Asher’s road manager. He introduces himself. He’s like, ‘Yo, we really love you. You’ve got this slogan you say, and I don’t know if you know it’s a slogan, but it’s our slogan, and it’s ‘I’mma do me regardless.’ ” Con explained that the slogan was from an episode of his YouTube channel Cons TV. Choosing work over partying meant Consequence got a chance to enjoy Asher’s set and really pay attention to him as an MC. After the show, Con played a rough version of “Childish Games” for Roth, who was happy to jump on the song. “He was like, ‘Yo, that’s totally where I’m trying to go with the next record,’ ” Con recalled. The Asleep in the Bread Aisle rapper really wanted people to embrace him as a lyricist, he told Con. “Lo and behold, he came with the verse, and I was like, ‘I hope I ain’t get “Renegade”-d, man,” Con joked, referring to the Jay-Z song, on which many fans think he was bested by featured rapper Eminem. Which rapper should Consequence collaborate with next? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Consequence Asher Roth
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Consequence Reveals How Asher Roth Ended Up On ‘Childish Games’
