Joseph Foreman made his musical debut singing in his church’s choir. Years later, he lit up the charts with his hit single, “Because I Got High.”
Foreman, better known by his stage name, Afroman, will be making a stop in Baton Rouge to perform at Chelsea’s Cafe at 10 p.m. on April 13.
Afroman said he plans on keeping his Baton Rouge fans excited with plenty of improv rap.
“When I’m playing live, I’m singing for that particular crowd and for that particular moment,” Afroman said.
Rap is not the only thing fans will hear though, Afroman said.
“I play lots of blues and reggae,” Afroman said. “Kind of an element that I don’t get a chance to play on the albums. But I can pull it off the shelf, and dust it off.”
Afroman said fans might be surprised by some of the different music he will play at the concert.
“I like to play guitar at the shows. Lots of guitar solos,” Afroman said. “It’s like a piece of cheese on the hamburger that people aren’t expecting.”
Afroman said he has a lot of fans who do not usually listen to rap. He said people can relate to him better since he sings about drinking and smoking instead of gangs and violence.
“People don’t want to hear about shootings and murders,” Afroman said. “But then they hear a song about being high or getting drunk, and they say, ‘Hey, I could listen to this.'”
Afroman said he tries to be both a musician and a comedian when he performs live.
“I’d like to think that I’m 100 percent both,” Afroman said. “I definitely know all the technical stuff about music, but I’m also always trying to give people something to laugh about.”
With the success of “Because I Got High” and the release of his latest album, “4R0:20,” Afroman’s affection for marijuana is well documented.
Afroman said singing about marijuana is a major part of his music.
“I think weed probably influences about 80 percent of my songs,” Afroman said.
Afroman said he sings about weed a lot because it is a very important part of his life.
“When I started smoking, it was like everything became clear,” Afroman said. “I feel like I couldn’t see before I smoked weed, but now that I have, my eyes are wide open.”
Afroman said even though many of his songs are about his drug use, many others talk about his relationship with Jesus. He said God definitely influences him as a musician.
“It might not seem like it by other people’s standards, but I’m a religious person,” Afroman said. “If God gives out grades, I think I’d probably get like a C- or maybe a D+, but I know I wouldn’t fail.”
Afroman said he is looking forward to this upcoming show because there is something special to him about playing for a college town.
“I just want people to have a good time,” Afroman said. “Under the influence, preferably.”
Tickets for the show are currently available at Chelsea’s Cafe for $10. They will be sold at the door for $12.
 
 
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