Who I Am: The Man Behind Because I Got High

Laid-back flow, a big afro and a sense of humour that never switches off: that's me. If you're new to my music, or you just want the basics in one place, here's a quick guide.

Who am I?

I'm Joseph Edgar Foreman, known as Afroman, born on July 28, 1974, in Los Angeles, California. I grew up in South Central Los Angeles and in Palmdale, then moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1999. Today I live in Adams County, Ohio. My music is hip-hop with the jokes left in, and on stage I often play a white double-neck guitar.

How did "Because I Got High" get so big?

The song first came out on my own 2000 album, Because I Got High. It got passed around at local shows and on Napster, then The Howard Stern Show started playing it. In 2001 it played over the closing credits of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, went to No. 1 in the UK and reached No. 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also earned me a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance.

What happened after the hit?

Universal released The Good Times in 2001, with "Because I Got High" and "Crazy Rap (Colt 45 & 2 Zig Zags)". After that I went independent and kept releasing records, from A Colt 45 Christmas (2006) to Lemon Pound Cake (2022) and 20 Twenty-Fro (2024).

What's the Lemon Pound Cake story?

In August 2022, deputies searched my Ohio home while I was away. Nothing was found and no charges were filed. I turned the footage into songs and videos, including "Will You Help Me Repair My Door" and "Lemon Pound Cake". In March 2026 a jury ruled in my favour in the lawsuit that followed.

Wear the story

Every piece at Afroman Merch carries a bit of this story, from the leaf-green script to Officer Pound Cake. Browse the collection and find yours.