Because I Got High
2001 single by Afroman
title: "Because I Got High" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2000-songs", "2001-debut-singles", "afroman-songs", "american-novelty-songs", "american-comedy-hip-hop-songs", "irish-singles-chart-number-one-singles", "number-one-singles-in-austria", "number-one-singles-in-denmark", "number-one-singles-in-germany", "number-one-singles-in-new-zealand", "number-one-singles-in-norway", "number-one-singles-in-scotland", "songs-about-cannabis", "uk-singles-chart-number-one-singles", "universal-records-singles", "uptown-records-singles", "american-works-about-cannabis", "2000-in-cannabis", "songs-about-addiction"] description: "2001 single by Afroman" topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Because_I_Got_High" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary 2001 single by Afroman ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | 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) | |
| writer | Afroman |
| next_title | Crazy Rap |
| next_year | 2001 |
| misc | |
| :: |
| name = Because I Got High | cover = Afroman Because I Got High single.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Afroman | album = Because I Got High and The Good Times | released = 2000 | recorded = 2000 | studio = | genre = Comedy hip hop | length = 5:10 (album version) 3:19 (radio version) | label =
- T-Bones
- Universal
- Uptown | writer = Afroman | producer =
- Afroman
- Headfridge | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Crazy Rap | next_year = 2001 | misc = "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. 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. 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".
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." 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." The song was said to have afforded Afroman one-hit wonder status.
The music video was directed by Kevin Smith, 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. It was used as the theme song of the film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back 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.
Track listing
| headline = CD single | all_writing = Joseph Foreman | title1 = Because I Got High | note1 = Afrolicious Edit | length1 = 3:18 | title2 = Let's All Get Drunk | length2 = 5:43 | title3 = Back On The Bus | length3 = 5:43 | title4 = Because I Got High | note4 = Afropulco Gold & Dirty | length4 = 3:18
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. 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.
A song with a similar theme was released by Detroit Junior in 1980, titled "If I Hadn't Been High."
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 minister John Major and Margaret Thatcher.
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.
A parody was made about British politician Michael Gove after his scandal involving cocaine use.
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
::data[format=table] | Chart (2001–02) | Peak position | Australia|1|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | Austria|1|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | Flanders|1|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | Wallonia|3|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS) | Croatia (HRT) | Denmark|1|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) | Finland|6|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | France|2|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | Germany|1|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|songid=4889|access-date=October 19, 2018}} | Ireland2|1|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|access-date=January 15, 2020}} | Italy|9|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High}} | Dutch40|6|week=41|year=2001|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | Dutch100|3|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High}} | New Zealand|1|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | Norway|1|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | Portugal (AFP) | Romania (Romanian Top 100) | Scotland|1|date=20011027|access-date=May 21, 2018}} | Spain|18|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High}} | Sweden|3|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | Switzerland|2|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | UK|1|date=20011027|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | UKdance|5|date=20011027|access-date=June 10, 2018}} | UKrandb|1|date=20011027|access-date=June 10, 2018}} | Billboardhot100|13|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|artistid=402128|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | Billboardalternativesongs|17|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|artistid=402128|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | Billboardrandbhiphop|40|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|artistid=402128|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | Billboardpopsongs|25|artist=Afroman|song=Because I Got High|artistid=402128|access-date=November 20, 2011}} | US Rap Songs (Billboard) | Billboardrhythmic|6|artist=Afroman|access-date=June 10, 2018}} | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 35 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::
Year-end charts
::data[format=table]
| Chart (2001) | Position | Australia (ARIA) | Australian Urban (ARIA) | Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) | Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | Germany (Official German Charts) | Ireland (IRMA) | Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | Netherlands (Single Top 100) | Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | Chart (2002) | Position | Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) | Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | France (SNEP) | Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 36 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 54 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| :: |
Decade-end charts
::data[format=table]
| Chart (2000–2009) | Position | UK Singles (Official Charts Company) |
|---|---|---|
| 71 | ||
| :: |
Certifications
References
References
- (October 17, 2014). "Afroman's Because I Got High gets pro-marijuana remake". The Guardian.
- (2021). "Millennials talking media: creating intertextual identities in everyday conversation". Oxford University Press.
- "Local Events".
- (20 August 2001). "People: Aug. 20, 2001".
- (11 October 2001). "Afroman doesn't want his pot anthem classified pro or con". New Bedford Standard-Times.
- (19 February 2006). "Funny, He Doesn't Look Jamaican". Washington Post.
- (17 January 2018). "Afroman at Old School Bar and Grill". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
- Nimmervoll, Ed. (2008). "Afroman > Biography".
- D'Angelo, Joe. (August 27, 2001). "Afroman Living 'High' Life Thanks To Hit Single". MTV News.
- (15 October 2014). "Afroman Remade "Because I Got High" to Convey That Weed Won't Actually Make Your Life Fall Apart".
- "Afroman - "Because I Got High" Positive Remix".
- (28 April 2024). "Afroman releases 'Because I Got High' remix featuring Hunter Biden parody: 'Hunter got high'". USA TODAY.
- (December 10, 2014). "Detroit Junior Topic - "If I Hadn't Been High"".
- [http://chrismoyles.net/mw/lyricsafro.shtml] {{webarchive. link. (December 19, 2008)
- (November 13, 2013). "Because I'm White (Afroman Parody) ~ Rucka Rucka Ali".
- (June 20, 2019). "Michael Gove - Because I Got High".
- "Canadian Top 20 in 2001".
- "Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija". [[Croatian Radiotelevision]].
- (December 22, 2001). "Hits of the World".
- (June 2020). "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100".
- "Romanian peak".
- "Afroman > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". [[Rovi Corporation]].
- "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2001". Australian Recording Industry Association.
- "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Urban Singles 2001". ARIA.
- "Jahreshitparade Singles 2001".
- "Jaaroverzichten 2001". Ultratop.
- "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001 p.14". Music and Media.
- "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". offiziellecharts.de.
- "Ireland-Top Singles for 2001". C&R.
- "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2001". Dutch Top 40.
- "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2001".
- "Årslista Singlar – År 2001". Sverigetopplistan.
- "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2001".
- "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001". [[UKChartsPlus]].
- "Jahreshitparade Singles 2002".
- "Rapports Annuels 2002". Ultratop.
- "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2002 p.14". Music & Media.
- "Top de l'année Top Singles 2002". SNEP.
- "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2002".
- Radio 1 Chart of the Decade, as presented by Nihal on December 29, 2009
- "Top 20 Singles Chart". IFPI Denmark.
- "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". The Official New Zealand Music Chart.
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