Grammy-nominated artist Afroman, of “Because I Got High” fame, has been presenting his own spin on the hip-hop scene since he started his comedy rapping in the early 2000s. He took the time, while passing through South Carolina on his way to Gainesville, to talk to INsite about his flow, Kanye West's VMA blunder and why he really hates Simon Cowell. See him at Common Grounds tomorrow (info and free tix below).

By Jon Silman

How’s your tour going so far?
Aw man, I just stick with it. The kids is falling out. You know, just trying to take that Lil' Wayne spot.

(laughs) I'm just playing. Yeah, but the kids are really coming out. I’m really rapping from my heart and soul, and things are really looking good. You know what I’m sayin’? Real good.

You’ve been doing this a lot longer than some of these newer rappers. How does it feel to be in the game for a bit, see the trends come and go, and still stick around?
Indescribable. It's a wonderful thing. You want to be around a long time. You look up to all the artists who stay in the game a long time, like my icon Michael Jackson. Those are the kind of artists you want to pattern yourself after when it comes to being successful. It feels good to be around a few years later.

Your newest album is called Frobama. Can you tell me a little bit about why you chose that title?
Yeah man, I feel like I’m the president of hip-hop.

Nice.
If they don’t want to give me that title, then I'm definitely the president of marijuana rapping.

(laughs) You know, that’s my goal: to take over the game. You know what I'm saying? Be the president. The president of the hip-hop game.

What can people expect to see from you when you hit the stage here at Common Grounds?
(Thoughtful pause) Hip-hop man. My version of it. I’m from the west and you're gonna see a little of that. I’m flowing though. This is rap music. Like in football, when a guy gets a touchdown he celebrates in a Texas way 'cause he’s from Texas. You know what I mean?

Yeah...
You know it’s a Texas thing. Like when everybody in the student section is goin’ crazy in the stadium. So I’m gonna flow tonight, and I’m use the style I’ve put together over the years. I’ve studied the game and then I came in with my originality. We all have our own individual fingerprints.  My story is my story, but I’m delivering it in a Hip-Hop way. (pauses)

(In a slower, joking tone) And I want everyone to check out my style. (laughs)

What is the one question that every reporter asks you that just annoys you?
"So how did you come up with 'Because I got high?'"

Do people ever ask you, “Are you high right now?"
(laughs) I'm gonna take the fifth on that one.

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?
That I’m an actual musician. I play my guitar at my shows. I actually sing, and I actually can rap. I’m not some dork that just won some drunk, pothead, morning-DJ, shock-jock lottery.

Who's the best rapper out there right now?
Well just to be true to the west, I’m gonna give it up to Snoop who's in the game still. His name is big, but I don’t think he’s got anything out on the radio right now. Uh, I’ll go with the younger generation. Let's go with Mike Jones. I’m liking him. Some other names that I’m liking these days: Lil’ Kiki from Texas, and besides jumping in front of little country girls, Kanye can flow.

I'm not gonna discredit [Kanye's] rap because of one action. I’m not going to delete his lyrical career because of that. Someone needs to take him behind the studio and whoop him with a paddle and tell him to cut that shit out. He can flow though.

White people with fros: yes or no?
Yeah they're cool. I'm not trying to say, "white people: go get fros," but if you have it, it’s yours naturally and God bless you. You have to be happy and comfortable with yourself.

Do you ever contemplate the meaning of life?
(Thoughtful pause) Too much.

(laughs) Yeah, I call myself Confrocius.  However you spell Confucius, just throw "fro" in there. I don’t spell it, I just say it. You come up with the spelling and just text it to me.

Who’s your favorite rock band?
The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

What about American Idol? Who’s the best American Idol?
That you got me. I don’t like people holding people’s careers in their hands. I mean, I know it’s good and healthy for the whole scene, but me being a renegade I don’t really like Simon. I have so many “Simons” in my life trying to destroy my dreams.

So every time I see one it just makes me cringe. They're just stepping on those kids' dreams. You know, here’s the thing: if you can't sing you can still learn. You shouldn’t kill the human desire.

If there was just one piece of advice that you’ve learned through all these hard years and all the ups and downs that you've had, what would you tell a kid who’s just starting out?
Keep going; go where the money is. If there’s no money there don’t waste your time. Just keep moving. A musician’s gotta move. Just realize you gotta speak from your heart, and tell people how you feel, and that there is a percentage of people on this earth that will feel you. I believe we’re all stars and God’s got it set up to balance out.

Do you listen to opera?
I like good music, and good music is like good food. There’s Chinese food, there’s Italian food--what we want is good food, not the same thing every day. So yes, if I could go shopping in the opera section and get particular songs... I don’t just want to play random opera, though. There are some particular songs I would love having, and I wouldn’t mind smoking a blunt in the limousine while it plays, you know.

What’s your favorite Michael Jackson song?
Aiight, Michael Jackson… that’s a broad statement. I guess I’m gonna have to go with, uh… It’s gonna be a toss up between “Who’s Loving You” and “I Want You Back.”

You really punched me in the stomach that time. That was a rough question. You know he’s got like eight hundred songs.

I know, and he’s got so much good stuff too. So in another life, if you’re not a rapper, what are you?
Um, Lawyer.

Do you want to say anything to the people of Gainesville before you come here on the 7th?
Yeah, I want them to check out these albums. I want them to check out my old school albums Sell Your Dope and Because I Got High, and I want em’ to check out Afroholic, 4ro:20, A Colt .45 Christmas, Waiting To Inhale, Drunk'n'High, Frobama, Marijuana Music, and World’s Greatest Whino. I want to let them know all these CDs will be on sale the evening of the show.

My music is hard to get. Let em’ know to get them and start jamming to it, while the rest of the world has to catch up. Come a little early and bring merchandise money and we’ll sell them for like five bucks. And if I can leave my address that will be cool, you know, just in case they can’t find any Hungry Husker albums. It’s P.O. Box 132, Winchester, Ohio 45697.

Afroman will play Common Grounds on Oct. 7th with Hours Eastly, Made of Hemp and Big Uly. Tickets are $12, and doors open at 9 p.m.  Visit our blog to find out how to win tickets!

• Add New
• Search

Comments (0)

Write comment

Your Contact Details:

Name:

Email: do not notifynotify

Website:

Comment:

Title:

Message:

Security

Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Powered by !JoomlaComment 4.0 beta1

!joomlacomment 4.0 Copyright (C) 2009 Compojoom.com . All rights reserved."