Because I Got High Explained

Because I Got High
Cover:Afroman Because I Got High single.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Afroman
Album:Because I Got High and The Good Times
Released:2000
Recorded:2000
Genre:Comedy hip hop
Length:5:10 (album version)
3:19 (radio version)
Label:T-Bones, Universal, Uptown
Producer:Afroman, Headfridge
Next Title:Crazy Rap
Next Year:2001

"Because I Got High" is a comedy hip hop song by American rapper Afroman from the 2000 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, gained popularity after it was featured on The Howard Stern Show and circulated on the Internet.

Overview

The lyrics relate the narrator's experience of planning to do several things, but failing to do so after having smoked marijuana.[2] 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".[3]

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."[4] 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."[5] The song was said to have afforded Afroman one-hit wonder status.[6]

The music video was directed by Kevin Smith,[7] 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", and a glimpse of the Quick Stop where Clerks was filmed.

Reception

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.[8] 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.[8]

Alternative versions

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, expressing a pro-legalization stance highlighting the purported economic and health potential of the drug.[10] [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. In 2024, the singer again released an alternate version of the song titled "Hunter got high", commenting on the Hunter Biden laptop controversy and on allegations of drug use.[12]

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

Parodies and references

Musician Remy created a parody in 2024 about inflation titled Because It Got High.

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.

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]

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]

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

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.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2001–02)Peak
position
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Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)[17] 17
Croatia (HRT)[18] 2
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Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[19] 2
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Portugal (AFP)[20] 2
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[21] 35
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US Rap Songs (Billboard)[22] 19

Year-end charts

Chart (2001)Position
Australia (ARIA)[23] 14
Australian Urban (ARIA)[24] 6
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[25] 13
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[26] 9
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[27] 23
Germany (Official German Charts)[28] 26
Ireland (IRMA)[29] 11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 42
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 28
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 36
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 23
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[34] 10
Chart (2002)Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[35] 20
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[36] 42
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[37] 17
France (SNEP)[38] 26
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 54

Decade-end charts

Notes and References

  1. News: Afroman's Because I Got High gets pro-marijuana remake . October 13, 2018 . The Guardian . October 17, 2014 . 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. . October 14, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181014010215/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/17/afroman-because-i-got-high-marijuana-positive-remix-legalisation . live .
  2. Book: Sierra . Sylvia . Millennials talking media: creating intertextual identities in everyday conversation . 2021 . Oxford University Press . New York, NY . 9780190931117 . 74 . 27 September 2024 . September 27, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240927023032/https://www.google.com.br/books/edition/Millennials_Talking_Media/MgRREAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=sylvia+sierra+afroman+because+i+got+high&pg=PA74&printsec=frontcover . live .
  3. Web site: Kansan . The University Daily . Local Events . The University Daily Kansan . 27 September 2024 . en . "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." . September 27, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240927023145/https://www.kansan.com/local-events/?_evDiscoveryPath=/event/597110s-afroman . live .
  4. Tyrangiel . Josh . People: Aug. 20, 2001 . 27 September 2024 . TIME . 20 August 2001 . en . September 27, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240927023033/https://time.com/archive/6664583/people-aug-20-2001/ . live .
  5. News: Mumbi Moody . Nekesa, Associated Press music . Afroman doesn't want his pot anthem classified pro or con . 27 September 2024 . New Bedford Standard-Times . 11 October 2001 . en-US . 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. . September 27, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240927023033/https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/entertainment/local/2001/10/11/afroman-doesn-t-want-his/50351420007/ . live .
  6. News: Funny, He Doesn't Look Jamaican . 27 September 2024 . Washington Post . 19 February 2006 . August 27, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170827201500/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/2006/02/19/funny-he-doesnt-look-jamaican-span-classbankheadchart-topping-matisyahu-wants-to-be-more-than-just-a-hasidic-reggae-superstarspan/5c7df1a5-27a9-4155-9567-2d937338b18d/ . live .
  7. News: Geurts . Jimmy . Afroman at Old School Bar and Grill . 27 September 2024 . Sarasota Herald-Tribune . 17 January 2018 . September 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220928121955/https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/entertainment/events/2018/01/17/afroman-at-old-school-bar-and-grill/16064109007/ . live .
  8. Web site: Afroman > Biography. Nimmervoll. Ed. 2008. allmusic. March 27, 2009. September 27, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240927023037/https://gum.criteo.com/syncframe?origin=publishertagids&topUrl=www.allmusic.com&gdpr=0&gdpr_consent=#biography. live.
  9. News: Afroman Living 'High' Life Thanks To Hit Single. https://web.archive.org/web/20011024212320/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1448393/20010824/afroman.jhtml. dead. October 24, 2001. D'Angelo. Joe. August 27, 2001. MTV News. March 27, 2009.
  10. Grossman . Samantha . Afroman Remade "Because I Got High" to Convey That Weed Won't Actually Make Your Life Fall Apart . 27 September 2024 . TIME . 15 October 2014 . en . September 27, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240927023034/https://time.com/3510814/afroman-because-i-got-high-marijuana-legalization/ . live .
  11. Web site: Afroman - "Because I Got High" Positive Remix. https://web.archive.org/web/20141015161811/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8AuMOGx_KY&gl=US&hl=en . 2014-10-15 . dead. YouTube.com. October 15, 2014.
  12. News: Segarra . Edward . Afroman releases 'Because I Got High' remix featuring Hunter Biden parody: 'Hunter got high' . 27 September 2024 . USA TODAY . 28 April 2024 . May 6, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240506015655/https://www.usatoday.com/story/experience/music/2024/04/28/afroman-because-i-got-high-parody-hunter-biden/73493678007/ . live .
  13. Web site: Detroit Junior Topic - "If I Hadn't Been High". https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/c6ZKp4K-pks . 2021-12-13 . live. YouTube.com. December 10, 2014 . August 17, 2021.
  14. http://chrismoyles.net/mw/lyricsafro.shtml
  15. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: Because I'm White (Afroman Parody) ~ Rucka Rucka Ali . YouTube. November 13, 2013 .
  16. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: Michael Gove - Because I Got High . YouTube. June 20, 2019 .
  17. Web site: Canadian Top 20 in 2001. Cross Canada Countdown. https://web.archive.org/web/20050407223203/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/2001.pdf. 7 April 2005. April 11, 2024.
  18. Web site: Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija. https://web.archive.org/web/20011109044809/http://www.hrt.hr/hr/top20/maineng.html. dead. November 9, 2001. Croatian Radiotelevision. March 7, 2021.
  19. Hits of the World. Billboard. 39. December 22, 2001. June 10, 2018. September 27, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240927023034/https://books.google.com/books?id=dhIEAAAAMBAJ&q=because+i+got+high+eurochart&pg=PA39#v=snippet&q=because%20i%20got%20high%20eurochart&f=false. live.
  20. Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100. May 1, 2018. Music & Media.
  21. Web site: Romanian peak . May 14, 2005 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20041209014348/http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10001.html . December 9, 2004.
  22. Web site: Afroman > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. November 20, 2011. September 27, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240927023059/https://sdk.streamrail.com/cs-config/cs.html?org=6124caed9c7adb0001c028d8&tc=615171219bbbfe00016ec50f&as=615171219bbbfe00016ec511&type=hb&wd=cs.yellowblue.io&domain=allmusic.com. live.
  23. Web site: ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2001. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 27, 2020. September 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200924052300/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2001/singles-chart. live.
  24. Web site: ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Urban Singles 2001. ARIA. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200415012807/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-urban-singles-2001.htm. April 15, 2020. March 8, 2024.
  25. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 2001. austriancharts.at. January 27, 2020. December 9, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121209070858/http://austriancharts.at/year.asp?id=2001&cat=s. live.
  26. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2001. Ultratop. January 27, 2020. September 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200926042938/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2001. live.
  27. Web site: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001 p.14. Music and Media. September 12, 2022. June 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200603193318/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2001/MM-2001-12-22.pdf. live.
  28. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. January 27, 2020. June 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612185001/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-2001. live.
  29. Web site: Ireland-Top Singles for 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20120505011812/http://allcharts.org/music/years/ireland-singles-2001.htm . 2012-05-05 . C&R. September 14, 2022.
  30. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2001. Dutch Top 40. January 27, 2020. October 15, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191015120809/https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2001. live.
  31. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2001. dutchcharts.nl. January 27, 2020. February 16, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140216012842/http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2001&cat=s. live.
  32. Web site: Årslista Singlar – År 2001. Sverigetopplistan. sv. January 27, 2020. June 5, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200605173000/https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/43?dspy=2001&dspp=1. live.
  33. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2001. hitparade.ch. January 27, 2020. June 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210627102046/https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2001. live.
  34. Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2001. UKChartsPlus. May 26, 2015. March 31, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160331160617/http://ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2001.pdf. live.
  35. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 2002. austriancharts.at. January 27, 2020. October 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211023010457/https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=2002. live.
  36. Web site: Rapports Annuels 2002. Ultratop. January 27, 2020. September 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170916054117/http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2002. live.
  37. Web site: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2002 p.14. Music & Media. September 12, 2022. January 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210125105415/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2003/MM-2003-01-11.pdf. live.
  38. Web site: Top de l'année Top Singles 2002. SNEP. fr. August 29, 2020. January 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210121222328/https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-singles-annee/?categorie=Top%20Single%20de%20l%E2%80%99ann%C3%A9e&annee=2002. live.
  39. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2002. hitparade.ch. January 27, 2020. April 10, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190410081607/https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2002. live.
  40. Radio 1 Chart of the Decade, as presented by Nihal on December 29, 2009

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