Afroman
The Good Times (Universal Records)
By: Alex Steininger
Soulful, funky hip-hop songs about wanting to bust a nut ("She Won't Let Me Fuck"), getting high ("Because I Got High", as seen on the movie, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back), and getting drunk ("Let's All Get Drunk"), Afroman has a way with words.His songs are party hip-hop bombs at best, but that is what makes them so good. Singing lyrics that are tongue-in-cheek, honest, and fun to sing along with, Afroman's twisted, pop-centric ability to create hilarious, mind teasing rhymes helps propel him to the top of pop culture's subconscious.
With the infectious, almost reggae-esque "Because I Got High," Afroman delivers not only an instantly memorable song sure to be sang and discussed for years to come, he also helps position hip-hop as a fun, party time sound in every culture of America, from the suburbs to the ghettos.
The only problem is topping such an instant winner as "Because I Got High." Though he does a good job with "She Won't Let Me Fuck," another slice of Afroman's bent, side splitting take on popular topics like sex, drugs, and partying, the ultimate goal of Afroman will be sustaining his popularity and creativity on his sophomore release.
As it stands, he has nothing to worry about. However, to top something this stellar isn't easy. And if he doesn't, he'll be sent to one-hit-wonder jail, never to be seen again. But if he can create another masterpiece like this, there is no limit to his mass appeal. I'll give this an A+. 15
