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Because I Got High

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This article is about the song. For the album of the same name, see Because I Got High (album).

"Because I Got High"
Single by Afroman
from the album Because I Got High and The Good Times
Released2001
Recorded2000
GenreComedy hip hop
Length5:10 (album version)
3:19 (radio version)
LabelT-Bones, Universal, Uptown
Songwriter(s)Afroman
Producer(s)Afroman, Headfridge
Afroman singles chronology
"Because I Got High"
(2001) 		"Crazy Rap"
(2001)
Music video
Afroman – "Because I Got High" on YouTube

"Because I Got High" is a song by American rapper Afroman from the album of the same name. The lyrics of the song humorously describe how cannabis use is degrading the narrator's quality of life.[1] The song, which was written in only a few minutes, rose from obscurity to popularity after it was featured on The Howard Stern Show and circulated on the Internet.[2]

Overview

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The lyrics relate the narrator's experience of planning to do several things, but failing to do so after having smoked marijuana.[3] The song was written in a few minutes, and was reportedly motivated by the singer's realization that "everyone talks about smoking weed, but no one ever really talks about the effects of marijuana".[4][better source needed]

In the August 20, 2001 issue of Time magazine, the song was described as a "tribute to pot". Afroman is quoted as commenting, "You know what, dude? I made this tape for all my homeboys. I didn’t think I’d be talking to Time magazine. I’m a little worried about Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich. I don’t want to get anybody riled up. I just figured, since I’m 'a pothead, why can’t me and the other potheads have a little joke between ourselves."[5] The singer refused to label the song "anti- or pro-pot", saying, "I told the reality of the story. I spoke about my individual experience smoking marijuana, and my summary was, if you don't watch it, it will be too time-consuming."[6] The song was said to have afforded Afroman one-hit wonder status.[7]

The music video was directed by Kevin Smith,[8] who features in the video alongside Jason Mewes as the duo Jay and Silent Bob smoking with Afroman, as well as a cameo by "Beer Man"[citation needed], and a glimpse of the Quick Stop where Clerks was filmed.[citation needed]

Reception

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Afroman released his album Because I Got High in 2000, distributing it mainly through concerts. The title track was featured on The Howard Stern Show, boosting its popularity, and was also widely shared on the file-sharing service Napster.[2] It was used as the theme song of the film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back[9] and was later featured in the films Disturbia, A Thousand Words, The Perfect Score and the TV show Snowpiercer.

After the success of the song, Afroman was signed to Universal Records.[2]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Joseph Foreman

CD single
No.TitleLength
1."Because I Got High" (Afrolicious Edit)3:18
2."Let's All Get Drunk"5:43
3."Back On The Bus"5:43
4."Because I Got High" (Afropulco Gold & Dirty)3:18

Alternative versions

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Afroman re-recorded the song in 2014, in the context of heightened debate around the legal status of cannabis in the United States, partnering with cannabis reform nonprofit Norml and Weedmaps and expressing a pro-legalization stance highlighting the purported economic and health potential of the drug.[10][1][11] This version was published ahead of several ballot measures dealing with the legalization of recreational cannabis, use scheduled for 4 November of that year in the American states of Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia.[1]

In 2024, the singer again released an alternate version of the song commenting on the Hunter Biden laptop controversy and allegations of his drug use.[12]

A song with a similar theme was released by Detroit Junior in 1980, titled "If I Hadn't Been High."[13][better source needed]

Parodies and references

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Musician Remy created a parody in 2024 about inflation called Because It Got High.[better source needed]

Bob Rivers included a Christmas-themed version, Be Claus I Got High, on the 2002 album White Trash Christmas, the fifth in Rivers's line of Christmas parody albums.[citation needed]

BBC Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles recorded a parody under the pseudonym "Afro-Blair" featuring Jon Culshaw and another impressionist singing in the guise of the serving Prime Minister Tony Blair, then Leader of the Opposition William Hague and former Prime Ministers John Major and Margaret Thatcher.[14][better source needed]

Parody artist Rucka Rucka Ali made a version of the song called "Because I'm White" about stereotypes of White Americans and white privilege in general.[15][better source needed]

A parody was made about British politician Michael Gove after his scandal involving cocaine use.[16][better source needed]

On the album Mobilize by punk band Anti-Flag, after several minutes of silence on the album's end track, a friend of the band called Spaz can be heard singing parts of the song with Anti-Flag.[citation needed]

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[68] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[69] Platinum 40,000*
Belgium (BEA)[70] Platinum 50,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[71] Platinum 60,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[72] Platinum 8,000^
France (SNEP)[73] Gold 250,000*
Germany (BVMI)[74] Platinum 500,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[75] Platinum 10,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[76] Gold 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[77] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[78]
Mastertone 		Platinum 1,000,000*
United States (RIAA)[78]
Digital 		Platinum 1,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Afroman's Because I Got High gets pro-marijuana remake". The Guardian. October 17, 2014. Archived from the original on October 14, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018. Afroman's novelty song which once sluggishly lamented the lethargy and uselessness of weed consumption, has been given a rework to promote the legalisation of marijuana.
  2. ^ a b c Nimmervoll, Ed (2008). "Afroman > Biography". allmusic. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  3. ^ Sierra, Sylvia (2021). Millennials talking media: creating intertextual identities in everyday conversation. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 74. ISBN 9780190931117. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  4. ^ Kansan, The University Daily. "Local Events". The University Daily Kansan. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024. In two minutes, eleven seconds, I had written a hit, but before that it had taken me nearly seven months to recognize I had a marijuana problem," says the now-reformed rapper. "It was only then that I realized everyone talks about smoking weed, but no one ever really talks about the effects of marijuana. We know about the effects of drinking beer, we know about the effects of looking at a naked lady, but nobody knew about the effects of smoking weed. Actually, the problem was more that the people who did know weren't songwriters; they were just dudes walking down the beach or whatever. So I decided to write that song.
  5. ^ Tyrangiel, Josh (August 20, 2001). "People: Aug. 20, 2001". TIME. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Mumbi Moody, Nekesa , Associated Press music (October 11, 2001). "Afroman doesn't want his pot anthem classified pro or con". New Bedford Standard-Times. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024. I wouldn't classify it at all -- It's a song, you know what I'm saying? But if you were to classify it, everything is there. I told the reality of the story. I spoke about my individual experience smoking marijuana, and my summary was, if you don't watch it, it will be too time-consuming.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Funny, He Doesn't Look Jamaican". Washington Post. February 19, 2006. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  8. ^ Geurts, Jimmy (January 17, 2018). "Afroman at Old School Bar and Grill". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
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  14. ^ [1] Archived December 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
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  16. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Michael Gove - Because I Got High". YouTube.
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  78. ^ a b "American single certifications – Afroman – Because I Got High". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
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