Hip-Hop icon and legendary rapper/producer Andre “Dr. Dre” Young has partnered with Interscope Geffen A&M Records Chairman Jimmy Iovine and Monster, a leading manufacturer of professional audio and video accessories, to create the “Beats by Dr. Dre” headphones.

A consummate producer with a penchant for details, Dr. Dre’s newest innovation is designed to maximize the listening experience for consumers by capturing the subtle nuances hidden in most musical recordings. Featuring powered isolation technology created to reduce external noise and enhance sound quality, the former Death Row Records co-founder and Aftermath Records boss conveyed his confidence that “Beats by Dr. Dre” meets his standard for the way headphones should perform.

“Artists and producers work hard in the studio perfecting their sound, but people can’t really hear it with normal headphones. Most headphones can’t handle the bass, the detail, the dynamics. Bottom line: the music doesn’t move you. With Beats, people are going to hear what the artists hear and listen to the music the way they should – the way I do.”

Years in the making, Jimmy Iovine expressed his satisfaction in the final product, explaining: “Dre and I have been developing these headphones for a while and in Monster we found a partner that could work with us to crystallize his vision and develop them to the quality level he expects.”

The stylish black high-definition headphones emblazoned with a red “b” logo enclosed in a white/metallic/silver circular design are retailing for $349.95 at Apple and Best Buy locations. To entice shoppers to sample the “Beats by Dr. Dre,” listening stations have been set-up at select stores so that consumers can hear and experience the difference in audio engineering.

On September 3, New York City’s Hot 97 held its monthly “Who’s Next Live” music series at S.O.B.’s, hosted by the station’s own, Peter Rosenberg. The event was headlined by one of hip-hop’s newest and most talked about MCs, Asher Roth. Joining him on the bill was Shalone and the classic group Heltah Skeltah.

Opening up the night in front of a packed house was the lyrically talented and rhythmic assassin, Homeboy Sandman. Next to do his thing was Shalone, assited by a couple of associates on stage, getting the crowd warmed up for the main attraction. Following Shalone’s set, Peter Rosenberg issued some commentary for a few minutes about the man that packed the venue - Asher Roth.

After the introduction, Asher made his presence felt immediately. Joined by a band of herbalist (they passed the weed like it was the mic), the Morrisville, Pennsylvania rapper, delved into songs from his mixtape, “The Greenhouse Effect,” performing “Roth Boys,” “They Know,” “Cannon,” and an acapella of “Just Listen.” After concluding his set, the crowd encouraged Asher for one last song, in which the rapper signed to SRC decided to do his rendition of “A Millie,” graced onstage by fellow up-and-coming artists - Mickey Factz and Charles Hamilton.

Although “The Industry’s Guide” departed before Heltah Skeltah rocked the stage, we now know that the comparisons to Marshall Matthers need to stop (the only thing the two artists have in common is that they’re both talented white rappers; if anything, he’s more comparable to the Beastie Boys ). However, our verdict is in, Asher Roth has the talent, stageshow and charisma to make some headway in the world of hip-hop.