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| Misc = {{Extra music sample |Type=single |filename=Afroman - Because I Got High (Afrolicious Edit).ogg |title="Because I Got High"}}
| Misc = {{Extra music sample |Type=single |filename=Afroman - Because I Got High (Afrolicious Edit).ogg |title="Because I Got High"}}
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{{about|the song|the album of the same name|Because I Got High (album)}}


"'''Because I Got High'''" is a song by American rapper [[Afroman]] from his album [[Because I Got High (album)|of the same name]]. The lyrics of the song describe how [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] use is degrading the narrator's quality of life. 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 a radio show.
"'''Because I Got High'''" is a song by American rapper [[Afroman]] from his album [[Because I Got High (album)|of the same name]]. The lyrics of the song describe how [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] use is degrading the narrator's quality of life. 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 a radio show.

Revision as of 16:25, 4 July 2014

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

"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 the narrator's quality of life. 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 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 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

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.

2009 version

Afroman rerecorded the song with new lyrics for his new album Frobama Head of State.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2001) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[5] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[8] 3
Denmark (Tracklisten)[9] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[10] 6
France (SNEP)[11] 2
songid field is MANDATORY FOR GERMAN CHARTS 1
Ireland (IRMA)[12] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[15] 1
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[16] 35
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[17] 3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 2
UK Singles (OCC)[19] 1
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[20] 17
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 13
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] 40
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[23] 25
US Rap Songs (Billboard)[24] 19

Decade-end charts

Chart (2000–2009) Position
UK Singles Chart 71[25]

Certifications

Region Certification
Belgium (BEA)[26] Platinum
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[27] Platinum

References

  1. ^ a b Nimmervoll, Ed (2008). "Afroman > Biography". allmusic. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  2. ^ D'Angelo, Joe (2001-08-27). "Afroman Living 'High' Life Thanks To Hit Single". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  3. ^ D'Angelo, Joe (2001-12-21). "Teen Sentenced To Listen To Afroman 'Because He Got High'". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  4. ^ [1][dead link]
  5. ^ "Afroman – Because I Got High". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  6. ^ "Afroman – Because I Got High" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  7. ^ "Afroman – Because I Got High" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  8. ^ "Afroman – Because I Got High" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  9. ^ "Afroman – Because I Got High". Tracklisten. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  10. ^ "Afroman: Because I Got High" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  11. ^ "Afroman – Because I Got High" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  12. ^ "Chart Track: Week 42, 2001". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  13. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 41, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  14. ^ "Afroman – Because I Got High". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  15. ^ "Afroman – Because I Got High". VG-lista. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  16. ^ Template:Wayback
  17. ^ "Afroman – Because I Got High". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  18. ^ "Afroman – Because I Got High". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  19. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  20. ^ "Afroman Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  21. ^ "Afroman Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  22. ^ "Afroman Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  23. ^ "Afroman Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  24. ^ "Afroman > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  25. ^ Radio 1 Chart of the Decade, as presented by Nihal on Tuesday 29th December 2009
  26. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2002". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  27. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Afroman – Because I Got High" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
Preceded by Australian ARIA Singles Chart number-one single
October 14, 2001 - October 28, 2001 		Succeeded by
UK Singles Chart number-one single
October 21, 2001 - November 10, 2001 		Succeeded by
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