Major Works
Afroman and SHS researcher Rashad Randle
- The Good Times (2001)
- Because I Got High
- Crazy Rap
- She Won’t Let Me…
- Hush
- Tumbleweed
- Let’s all get drunk
- Tall Cans
- Palmdale
- Mississippi
- The American Dream
- Because I Got High (2000)
- Sell Your Dope (1999)
Joseph Foreman: A Biography
by Rashad Randle (SHS)
Born Joseph Foreman, he became Afroman after being teased by a girl during his aspiring artist days. “I was gonna name myself all sorts of different names,” he says (www.sonicnet.com). However, this girl called him Afroman back when he was broke, so Joseph said ‘Okay, that’s my name. I’m Afroman” (www.sonicnet.com).
Joseph may be the first artist to achieve a worldwide hit with the assistance of the Internet (www.loppy.com). Citing his influences as TooShort, Big Daddy Kane, and 2 Live Crew, he began his rap career in the eighth grade when he started making homemade tapes of his own songs and passing them out to his classmates (Foreman). Joseph got his start as a performer at church where he played drums and eventually moved on to playing guitar (www.afromanmusic.com). For a while, he worked as a baggage handler at an airport while trying to make an impression with his songs (Foreman).
He was living in East Palmdale, L.A., when in November, 1999, Joseph released his first album, Sell Your Dope, and played parties, sidewalks, and contests (www.afromanmusic.com). He later moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, which he still calls home. There he teamed up with drummer Jody Stallone and keyboardist/bassist Daryl Havard. In the spring of 2000 he made his second LP, Because I Got High, with producer Tim Ramenofsky (www.afromanmusic.com). He distributed it at shows and with the help of T-bone Records in Hattiesburg (www.loppy.com). The more people he performed for, the more word of mouth spread. He got considerable help from from the Internet’s controversial music file swapping service, Napster (www.loppy.com).
Someone who got their hands on his music at a show posted the track “Because I Got High” to Napster and suddenly everything changed for Joseph (www.cdnow.com). Then Howard Stern’s radio show boosted “Because I Got High’s popularity by playing the song on his show (www.cdnow.com). Joseph eventually also gained the attention of Universal Records, who signed him to a six-album deal. His first Universal album, The Good Times, was a compilation of his first two LPs and a few new ones (Foreman). “Because I Got High” was also included on the soundtrack to Kevin Smith’s film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. “Because I Got High” became a huge hit around the world in the last month of 2001and was nominated for a Grammy Award (www.afromanmusic.com).
Timeline
- 1999—– November: he self-released his first proper album Sell Your Dope
- 2000—– In the spring he released his second LP Because I Got High
- 2001—– December 3, Because I Got High sold more than 25,000 singles
- 2001—– November 29, The Good Times international sales 155,000
- 2001—– The Good Times officially certified gold today
- 2001—– “Because I Got High” single is certified double platinum
- 2002—– January: Afroman receives Grammy nomination for best rap solo performance
- 2002—– “Because I Got High” has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide
- 2002—– April 10, appeared in Starkville, Mississippi
Interview with Afroman
by Rashad Randle (SHS)
Rashad Randle, SHS student researcher
When and where were you born?
LA
Where did you grow up?
LA
Where did you attend high school?
Palmdale, CA
What previous jobs you have had?
All the bad ones!
How do you spend your spare time?
Playing music
Tell me how, in what ways is the CD based on your life?
It’s all about taking my life in stride
Who was your favorite artist growing up?
Too Short
What person influenced you most?
Jesus
When did you decide that a career in rap is what you wanted in life?
Eighth grade
Why did you become interested in music?
Like sex, I just love it!
What kind of student were you in high school and college?
A dropout
Do you have any awards?
A lot of plaques! Grammy nominations
How has life in Mississippi influenced you?
Taught me peace
Do you talk about real people in your songs?
Sometimes
Do you have any advice for future artists?
Do your music, whoever likes it take care of them, stayin contact with them, watch people with money and business propositions.They might have the wrong motives.
Related Websites
Bibliography
- Nimmerroll, Ed “Afroman: Biography” March 5, 2002 <http://www.cd.now.com/.html>.
- “Afroman: News.” Universal Records. March 1, 2002 < http://www.afromanmusic.com/news/pp-bio.html>.
- “Afroman: News on Afroman” Universal Records. March 1, 2002 <http://www.loppy.com/news.html>.
- Foreman, Joseph. Personal interview. April 10, 2002.
- Turner, Khary “Brother Can You Spare A Dime?” October 12, 2002 <http://www.sonicnet.com/reviews/rev.jhtml>
- Watkins, Billy. “Some radio stations won’t play his music because of references to drugs.” Afroman. Mississippi The Clarion-Ledger, Feb. 24, 2002. 1F