Afroman doesn't want his pot anthem classified pro or con

NEW YORK -- Afroman had never heard of Kevin Smith when the director asked for permission to use "Because I Got High" in his new film, "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back."

"I was real 'hood, you know what I'm saying? The only thing I knew about was 'Boyz N the Hood' and 'Friday' and little rap movies," said Afroman, whose real name is Joseph Foreman.

"After I realized who he was and what he had done, I was happy that somebody on that level liked my dumb song."

His silly song about the consequences of too much pot smoking has become a surprise radio hit. For some, it's a pro-pot anthem; for others, it's a humorous anti-drug song.

Among the lyrics "I was gonna clean my room until I got high/I was gonna get up and find the broom but then I got high/my room is still messed up and I know why, yea hey, 'cause I got high, 'cause I got high, 'cause I got high."

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With the breakthrough success of the song, Afroman is an underground artist no longer. The Los Angeles-based rapper landed an album deal with Universal Records and his first disc, "The Good Times," is nearing gold status after only few weeks of release.

Not bad for a 27-year-old who'd been selling his CDs out of a cardboard box on street corners.

"I really just started making CDs for my own amusement, and playing it for my homeboys," he said. "To see it go from my homeboys to all kinds of different hip-hop models to little models and lawyers ... it was just overwhelming."

Why do your songs have a humorous focus?

Afroman That's me. When I was a little kid, I wanted to be bad. I wanted to be tough. Because when you're a little kid, you're going shopping for a personality. ... But over a period of time, I realized that hey, I can't beat up everybody, and if I walk around portraying this, I attract that. I noticed how if I'm happy, and I smile, I attract other people with that smile. Or if I'm playing basketball, some other dude might put his bag down and come over and say, 'Can I shoot?' On that same token, if I'm walking around talking about I want to kill you ... then some other dude might walk up saying that. And I might walk away. The stakes are so much higher when you try to be bad. ... So I just realized that I'm just a happy goofy dude.

2. Is this a pro- or anti-pot song?

Afroman 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.

3. Do you still smoke pot?

Afroman It's in my past, because I have a lot of stuff to focus on now. It was really a pacifier while I was trying to like, make it. When I would get depressed, or between CD sales, wondering what life would be. It was good for me then. Kept me from blowing my brains out. But now I'm where I wanna be. ... I've got places to go, people to see, shows, so I'm content, and I really don't need it now, so I don't smoke it anymore.

4. What do your two children think of the song?

Afroman If I have two friends in the world, it's my kids. My kids were telling me I was the best rapper when we were like really broke, and I didn't have a job. ... They had faith in me a long time ago, they're real supportive, and they understand. And I think my kids, by me admitting some of my mistakes and being real, I don't think they're going to have the same problems I had. ... Sometimes my kids say, 'Dad, I'm glad you don't get high no more.'

5. What are your plans for the future?

Afroman I want to show people that I'm a true musician. I'm ready to play my guitar, I'm ready to rap, I got other stuff. I have background singers, I've got a live band, so even though I'm joking, not to be cocky or bragging, but I'm still powerful. ... I also believe that over a period of time, they will see that I'm a genuine artist and that I have a lot to offer.

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