When I sat down next to Grammy nominated artist and avid marijuana supporter Afroman at Gainesville’s Flashbacks Café, I wasn’t incredibly sure what to expect. Okay, that’s a lie. I knew a little about what to expect and lets just say that my assumptions involve his favorite recreational activities. Who I found was a mellow yet enthusiastic Joseph Foreman, accompanied by his brother and a few close friends. The “Because I Got High” rapper was in good spirits in regards to his January 15th show at High Dive and offered some pretty unique perspective into his life, career, and newfound organization. And yes, (spoiler alert) he did eventually clean his room.
First off, welcome back to Gainesville. You last played at High Dive about a year ago. What’s your favorite part about playing a venue like that?
“I like the opening acts. I like the dreams and the hope I saw and I like the fact that I was an inspiration to them. I came early and I watched every act and I was in the crowd and I really got a chance to meet everybody.”
As an artist, do you find more inspiration in the recording studio or playing live?
“Both places. You know, you get stuff to write, you might be in the supermarket and you need to be able to go and record it.”
A lot of your music and fan base revolve around sex and weed. As an artist how have these two things influenced you
(Laughs) “Let’s just say they have.”
If you could only have one of those things (sex or weed) for the rest of your life, which would it be?
“Oh, that’s a bad choice. I’m going to have to go with sex.”
You started rapping in eighth grade. Who were some of your major influences back then?
“Lyrically, I thought Big Daddy Kane was the prettiest. Lyrically I thought KRS-One was good. And then I guess just because I used to get into it with a lot of different chicks, I liked Too $hort. Eighth grade was nutty.”
If you could collaborate with any artist today, who would it be?
“Oh wow. I smoke so much weed. I’m just sitting here thinking about everybody I want to do a song with. Who do I get excited about on the radio?”
How about within the last five years?
“Maybe Mannie Fresh.”
You said in interviews early last year that you had a couple of things in the works. What can your fans expect from your new albums?
“A lot of different things. My fans are so diverse. ‘Because I Got High’ kind of spun around and flew to everybody who was pro- or anti- so fortunately, I got everybody’s money, the cops’ money, the dope dealers’ money, you know? So I noticed how people would like certain songs and I read those little comments on the internet and I realized I wanted albums that let you know what its about up front, you know? So for everybody who likes to smoke, I got a weed album called ‘Marijuana Music’. A lot of people come and want to hear my weed songs, but then I got my sex songs. So then I got my low riding so I made a low rider album and I put all my dirty rhymes like that on ‘Afrodisiac’ so what you get is what you get. If you like the topics, you’re going to like the album.”
When you eventually stop recording and touring, where do you picture yourself?
(Singing) “Where I go I just don’t know. I gotta, gotta, gotta take it slow. (Laughs) I might be this roaming, happy bum that you’re glad he held the door open for you or he has something funny to say and a shot of whiskey. Then I might just stay in Ohio.”
Last question: Did you ever end up cleaning your room? You know…because you got high?
“I did. I de-hoarded my life I am happy to say. Everything is organized. You can ask my brother. I took him to the farthest crack of my closet. The towels were folded like it was Victoria’s Secret at the White House and everything was all lined up. So yeah, I did clean my room. Fourteen years later, but its done.”
His closet may be cleaned out, but his beats are still dirty. If you’re an Afro fan seeking to revamp some middle school favorites, chill to some good-humored lyrics, or just hang out with a pretty cool guy, get yourself to High Dive at 8:00 pm tonight.
Photo courtesy of: MTV
