Because I Got High (song)
| "Because I Got High" | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||
| Single by Afroman | |||||||
| from the album Because I Got High | |||||||
| Released | 2001 | ||||||
| Format | CD single | ||||||
| Recorded | 2000 | ||||||
| Genre | Hip hop | ||||||
| Length |
5:10 (album version) 3:19 (radio version) | ||||||
| Label | Columbia, T-Bones Records | ||||||
| Writer(s) | Afroman | ||||||
| Producer(s) | Afroman, Headfridge | ||||||
| Afroman singles chronology | |||||||
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"Because I Got High" is a song by American rapper Afroman from his album of the same name. The lyrics of the song describe how cannabis use is degrading his quality of life. The song rose from obscurity to popularity after it was circulated around the Internet and was featured on a radio show.
Overview
The song explains how the author has forgotten to clean his room, failed his college class (which he plans to take next semester), sold dope (after losing his job), missed court dates, had his paycheck garnished due to missed child support payments, gambled away his car payment, is left masturbating after not having sex with his girlfriend, became a paraplegic as the result of a police chase, lost his family (including his wife and children), had messed up his "entire life", and is now homeless "because he got high" - he ultimately decides to end the song, "because he is high" and states that he is singing the whole thing wrong, "because he is high". After this, Afroman mentions his name and birthplace (East Palmdale), says the tumbleweed he smokes is "bomb as hell" and then says he does not believe in Hitler (this line is actually an interpolation of John Lennon's song "God"). The music video was directed by Kevin Smith and featured Jay and Silent Bob smoking with Afroman, a cameo by 'Beer Man' as well as a glimpse of the Quick Stop where Clerks was filmed.
Reception
Afroman released his album Because I Got High in 2000; he distributed it mainly through concerts. The title track was soon posted on file-sharing service Napster and made it to The Howard Stern Show.[1] This song was the theme song of the film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back[2] and was later featured in the films Disturbia, A Thousand Words, and The Perfect Score.
In December 2001, a Connecticut teenager Matthew Fournier was ordered to listen to the song and write a report about it as punishment for possession of marijuana.[3] After the success of this single, Afroman was signed to Universal Records.[1]
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.
Track listings
All songs written and composed by Joseph Foreman.| CD single | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||
Parody
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.
In 2006, talk show host Randi Rhodes introduced a parody of the song on her show in which a singer imitating the voice of George W. Bush sings about things that happened in Bush's life.
BBC Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles recorded a parody under the pseudonym "Afro-Blair" featuring Jon Culshaw and another impressionist signing 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.[4]
Three lead characters of the Turkish TV serial Leyla ile Mecnun sing a Turkish version of the song at the end of Episode 17, which was shot sometime in spring or summer of 2011 in Istanbul. The title of the Turkish version is 'Bu Kiza Kadar' (Until This Girl), and the theme is how the lives of the three characters have changed after they met their respective girlfriends.
In November 2013, American rapper Rucka Rucka Ali made a parody of this song called "Because I'm White".
2009 version
Afroman rerecorded the song with new lyrics for his new album Frobama Head of State.
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (2001) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| scope="row" | Australia (ARIA)[ 1] | 1 |
| scope="row" | Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[ 1] | 1 |
| scope="row" | Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[ 1] | 1 |
| scope="row" | Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[ 1] | 3 |
| scope="row" | Denmark (Tracklisten)[ 1] | 1 |
| scope="row" | Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[ 1] | 6 |
| scope="row" | France (SNEP)[ 1] | 2 |
| scope="row" | Germany (Media Control AG)[ 1] | 1 |
| scope="row" | Ireland (IRMA)[ 1] | 1 |
| scope="row" | Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[5] | 6 |
| scope="row" | New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[ 1] | 1 |
| scope="row" | Norway (VG-lista)[ 1] | 1 |
| Romania (Romanian Top 100)[6] | 35 | |
| scope="row" | Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[ 1] | 3 |
| scope="row" | Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[ 1] | 2 |
| scope="row" | UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[ 1] | 1 |
| scope="row" | US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[ 1] | 17 |
| scope="row" | US Billboard Hot 100[ 1] | 13 |
| scope="row" | US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[ 1] | 40 |
| scope="row" | US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[ 1] | 25 |
| US Rap Songs (Billboard)[7] | 19 |
Decade-end charts
| Chart (2000–2009) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 71[8] |
Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| Belgium (BEA)[9] | Platinum |
| Brazil (ABPD)[10] | Platinum |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nimmervoll, Ed (2008). "Afroman > Biography". allmusic. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
- ↑ D'Angelo, Joe (2001-08-27). "Afroman Living 'High' Life Thanks To Hit Single". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
- ↑ D'Angelo, Joe (2001-12-21). "Teen Sentenced To Listen To Afroman 'Because He Got High'". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
- ↑
- ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 41, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved November 20, 2011.
- ↑ Romanian peak
- ↑ "Afroman > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
- ↑ Radio 1 Chart of the Decade, as presented by Nihal on Tuesday 29th December 2009
- ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2002" (in Dutch). Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
- ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Afroman – Because I Got High" (in Portuguese). Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos.
External links
| Preceded by "Can't Get You Out of My Head" by Kylie Minogue |
Australian ARIA Singles Chart number-one single October 14, 2001 - October 28, 2001 |
Succeeded by "Smooth Criminal" by Alien Ant Farm |
| UK Singles Chart number-one single October 21, 2001 - November 10, 2001 |
Succeeded by "Queen of My Heart" by Westlife | |
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