Because I Got High

"Because I Got High" is a song by American rapper Afroman from his eponymous album. The lyrics of the song 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 circulated around the Internet and was featured on The Howard Stern Show.

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
ReleasedJuly 30, 2001
FormatCD single
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)
Audio sample
  • file
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Overview

The song explains how the narrator has forgotten to clean his room, failed his college class (which he plans to take next semester), sold kush (after losing his job), missed court dates, had his paycheck garnished due to missed child support payments, gambled away his car payment and became a paraplegic as the result of a police chase. The singer then reveals that he had "messed up [his] entire life" because he was "high", lost his "kids and wife" and ended up "sleeping on the sidewalk". He ultimately decides to end the song, and admits that he is "singing the whole thing wrong, because [he is] high". After this, Afroman mentions his name and birthplace (East Palmdale), describes the tumbleweed he smokes as "bomb as hell", says he does not believe in Hitler (a reference to John Lennon's "God") and ends the verse with "all of you skins...please give me more head" (a pun on skinheads). 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.[2] This song was the theme song of the film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back[3] and was later featured in the films Disturbia, A Thousand Words, and The Perfect Score.

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

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 listing

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

Alternate versions

Afroman re-recorded the song with new lyrics for his 2009 album Frobama Head of State. A second re-recording of the song, called the "Positive Remix," was released by Afroman through YouTube on October 15, 2014 as part of a collaboration with Weedmaps and NORML. In contrast to the original version, the lyrics of this version deal with the positive effects of marijuana legalization.[4][1]

Parodies

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.[5]

The parody artist Rucka Rucka Ali made a version of the song called "Because I'm White".[6]

A parody was made about British politician Michael Gove after his scandal involving cocaine use.[7]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[51] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[52] Platinum 40,000*
Belgium (BEA)[53] Platinum 50,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[54] Platinum 125,000*
France (SNEP)[55] Gold 339,000[56]
Germany (BVMI)[57] Platinum 500,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[58] Platinum 10,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[59] Gold 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[61] Platinum 1,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References
  1. "Afroman's Because I Got High gets pro-marijuana remake". The Guardian. October 17, 2014. 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. Nimmervoll, Ed (2008). "Afroman > Biography". allmusic. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  3. D'Angelo, Joe (August 27, 2001). "Afroman Living 'High' Life Thanks To Hit Single". MTV News. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  4. "Afroman - "Because I Got High" Positive Remix". YouTube.com. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  5. Archived December 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJpisLytQGo
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQSbav9GFfI
  8. "Australian-charts.com – Afroman – Because I Got High". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  9. "Austriancharts.at – Afroman – Because I Got High" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  10. "Ultratop.be – Afroman – Because I Got High" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  11. "Ultratop.be – Afroman – Because I Got High" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  12. "Danishcharts.com – Afroman – Because I Got High". Tracklisten. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  13. "Hits of the World". Billboard. December 22, 2001. p. 39. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  14. "Afroman: Because I Got High" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  15. "Lescharts.com – Afroman – Because I Got High" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  16. "Offiziellecharts.de – Afroman – Because I Got High". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Because I Got High". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  18. "Italiancharts.com – Afroman – Because I Got High". Top Digital Download.
  19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 41, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  20. "Dutchcharts.nl – Afroman – Because I Got High" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  21. "Charts.nz – Afroman – Because I Got High". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  22. "Norwegiancharts.com – Afroman – Because I Got High". VG-lista. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  23. "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  24. "Romanian peak". Archived from the original on December 9, 2004. Retrieved May 14, 2005.
  25. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  26. "Spanishcharts.com – Afroman – Because I Got High" Canciones Top 50.
  27. "Swedishcharts.com – Afroman – Because I Got High". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  28. "Swisscharts.com – Afroman – Because I Got High". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  29. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  30. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  31. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  32. "Afroman Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  33. "Afroman Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  34. "Afroman Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  35. "Afroman Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  36. "Afroman > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  37. "Afroman Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  38. "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2001". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  39. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2001". austriancharts.at. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  40. "Jaaroverzichten 2001". Ultratop. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  41. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  42. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2001". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  43. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2001". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  44. "Årslista Singlar – År 2001" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  45. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2001". hitparade.ch. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  46. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  47. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2002". austriancharts.at. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  48. "Rapports Annuels 2002". Ultratop. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  49. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2002". hitparade.ch. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  50. Radio 1 Chart of the Decade, as presented by Nihal on December 29, 2009
  51. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  52. "Austrian single certifications – Afroman – Because I Got High (Single)" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  53. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2002". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  54. "Brazilian single certifications – Afroman – Because I Got High" (in Portuguese). Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos.
  55. "French single certifications – Afroman – Because I Got High" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  56. "Les Certifications (Albums) du SNEP (Bilan par Artiste) > "AFROMAN" > "OK" (in French). InfoDisc.fr. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  57. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Afroman; 'Because I Got High')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  58. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved July 23, 2015. ;Note: You can find the accreditation on chart position 43.
  59. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Afroman; 'Because I Got High')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  60. "British single certifications – Afroman – Because I Got High". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Because I Got High in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  61. "American single certifications – Afroman – BECAUSE I GOT HIGH". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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