His best-known song is the 2001 hit "Because I Got High", which gained popularity through Napster, local radio play, a feature on Howard Stern's radio show, and the 'stoner' movie 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back' (and accompanying soundtrack). His other most popular song, "Crazy Rap", is often referred to as "Colt 45" because of its lyric "Colt 45 and two Zig Zags".
Afroman is also fond of referencing his independence from record labels and the "corporate world" and cites himself as an example of how an artist can take recording and distribution into their own hands.
In 2014 Afroman became a spokesman for NORML and Weedmaps, remade "Because I Got High" in favor of legalization, and released the EP "One Hit Wonder" and concept album "The Frorider."
Ghetto Life
Afroman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ok, we got the Birdman in the building (the birdman)
We got Killa in the building (yeah)
We got Young Weezy in the building (Weezy)
[Verse 1: Lil' Wayne]
Nigga it's, be-M, J-are, Weezy baby
Tryna see him, naw, he need to even eighty (shut yo chips up)
And I'm walkin like a pimp in (piiiiiimp) them all street tims
Man shorty got more green than a Boston Gems
Green (?) , they don't cost in rims
Wayne appear, nigga put a walls in ya ear
Let ya know a fuckin boss up in here
How much it cost for this here?
How much it cost for this year?
'cause Me and Stunna bout to buy it
Put yo spoons down, Cash Money off the diet
I pass in a ride on triot, that's traze
But those who was in the days when the teachers was on that pay
I'm raise in the cajun cage, with a bit of amazing grace
And prone to move coke at a amazing pace
Man my daddy super Dave, let's race it
Real not have me, be I'ma win it, I'm a champ
[Chorus: TQ]
In the ghetto life, I'm a ghetto boooooy (ghetto booooooy)
Livin in the ghetto me, in the ghe-tto streeeeeets
(Somebody tell me what's crackin before)
I'm a ghetto life, any second dogg I can blow uuuuuup
For ghetto me, and you best to be watchin me
Ghetto, ghetto, Ghetto Life
[Verse 2: Baby]
Aye, aye, holla at me T-Keez, T-Keezy, Birdman, Birdman
See I ride in them shake (34's) when I'm pimpin these hoes (beyotch!)
It's just that, (TQ:Sunshine City!) when I'm smokin that dro
When it comes to this ice, real livin his life
Get money, pimpin hoes, with these ghetto type
Nigga check the background, I got O.G. stripe
Just a hoodrich nigga flippin birds on a bike
Not survive in this world with guns, pahs, and knives
Pour out, a lil' liquor, mami lost her life
All my niggas in the penitentiary holdin that life
See I'm stunnin for my niggas with this chromed out pipes
This swish interry foreign german lifes (beyotch)
And I keep this big toolie just protect my ice (holla at me nigga)
I act, a damn fool, when I'm full of that white (absolute beyotch)
But it's the Birdman daddy with these ghe-tto stripes
Ghe-tto hood (Uptown), Ghe-tto pipe (9 Millimeter)
Ghe-tto walk (yeah), With my ghe-tto life (Beyotch)
[Chorus: TQ]
In the ghetto life, I'm a ghetto boooooy (ghetto booooooy)
Livin in the ghetto me, in the ghe-tto streeeeeets
I'm a ghetto life, any second dogg I can blow uuuuuup
For ghetto me, and you best to be watchin meeeee
Ghetto, ghetto, I'm a Ghetto Life
[Verse 3: Cam'Ron]
Uh-huh, Diplomats, man listen
Ayyo the duck just born, I need seven more leaders
See-Five, Fo'-Fum, and a Seven-Fo' fever (what else)
Act up though I let the Fo' fever leave ya (leave ya)
Dice game, head crack, Six-Fo' fever (fever)
When I'm in L.A., I got Six-Fo' fever (fever)
Fever for the flava of a six-foot diva (let 'em know)
I told the po to feave her, I'm a bouty crook
Out to juuust, not a chef (?) know how to cook
With the piece stocks, cook up the rocks
Seventh Delenix is hot, I done cook up the block
Send glocks to ya block, out done cook up yo sspotss
That's how coke for that cook up his watch (what else though?)
I'm one of those, that will look up to Pac (why?)
'cause when I get pulled over, cook up the cops (damn, follow what)
All they say is, look at his drop (what else?)
Hand on my liscence, look at his watch (fuck em)
But, thug shit dogg, we down with Baby (baby)
We come through clownin baby (baby)
And if we, surrounded babies, ducktape the kids to the wall
Then shoot circle all around the baby, Killa!
[Chorus: TQ]
In the ghetto life, I'm a ghetto boooooy (ghetto booooooy)
Livin in the ghetto me, in the ghe-tto streeeeeets
I'm a ghetto life, any second dogg I can blow uuuuuup
For ghetto me, and you best to be watchin meeeee
Ghetto, ghetto, In a Ghetto Life
[Cam'Ron talking]
It's nothin man, Killa!
Diplomats, Cash Money
Baby, holla!
Jim Jones, Santana, what's good, Roc-a-Fella
(brrrrrrrrr-brrrrrrrr!)
[Man talking]
Birdman
Fly, to hood near you
Then they got 'em cheap (whoo!)
(Yeah, ya know, ya know)
Get that call out one more time
(brrrrrrrr-brrrrrrrrr!) 3x
*beat fades*
It's difficult to discern a cohesive meaning behind the lyrics of Afroman's "Ghetto Life," featuring Lil Wayne, Birdman, and Cam'ron. Each rapper takes a verse and raps about their own personal experiences, but there is minimal thematic continuity between the three. Wayne raps about his street credibility, luxurious lifestyle, and past drug dealing ventures. Birdman, an entrepreneur in the music industry, references his wealth and success, and Cam'ron's verse details random events, including gambling, drug trafficking, police corruption, and even the abuse of children.
Overall, the lyrics give the listener insight into these rappers' lifestyles, profits, and values. However, there is an absence of any real social commentary on the "ghetto life," glorifying instead the "hustle" and the power and status that come with wealth and influence.
Line by Line Meaning
Ok, we got the Birdman in the building (the birdman)
The Birdman is present
We got Killa in the building (yeah)
Killa is also present
We got Young Weezy in the building (Weezy)
Young Weezy is also present
Nigga it's, be-M, J-are, Weezy baby
My name is Lil Wayne, my initials are BMJR, and I go by Weezy
Tryna see him, naw, he need to even eighty (shut yo chips up)
I'm not trying to see anyone right now, but if I did, they would have to give me eighty thousand dollars
And, I ain't speakin G's, I'm talkin M
I'm not speaking about gangsters, I'm talking about millions of dollars
And I'm walkin like a pimp in (piiiiiimp) them all street tims
I'm walking like a pimp in my expensive Timberland boots
Man shorty got more green than a Boston Gems
That girl has more money than a Boston Celtics basketball player
Green (?) , they don't cost in rims
Money doesn't grow on trees, it's not just handed out
Man my daddy super Dave, let's race it
My dad is Super Dave and we're going to race
Real not have me, be I'ma win it, I'm a champ
I may not have any real talent, but I'm going to win anyway
In the ghetto life, I'm a ghetto boooooy (ghetto booooooy)
I am a boy who grew up in the ghetto, and it's all I know
Livin in the ghetto me, in the ghe-tto streeeeeets
I live in the ghetto and I don't have many options
I'm a ghetto life, any second dogg I can blow uuuuuup
My life is tough and dangerous, anything could happen to me at any moment
For ghetto me, and you best to be watchin me
I am a product of my environment and you should be cautious around me
Aye, aye, holla at me T-Keez, T-Keezy, Birdman, Birdman
I'm trying to get Birdman's attention, calling him T-Keez and T-Keezy
See I ride in them shake (34's) when I'm pimpin these hoes (beyotch!)
I ride in a car with 34 inch rims when I'm controlling these women
It's just that, (TQ:Sunshine City!) when I'm smokin that dro
When I'm smoking marijuana, everything is more enjoyable and vibrant
When it comes to this ice, real livin his life
When it comes to my jewelry collection, I'm really living my life
Get money, pimpin hoes, with these ghetto type
I make money by controlling women who are seen as lower class and undesirable by society
Ghe-tto hood (Uptown), Ghe-tto pipe (9 Millimeter)
I come from the ghetto and carry a 9 millimeter gun
Ayyo the duck just born, I need seven more leaders
I need seven more ounces of cocaine to sell
Act up though I let the Fo' fever leave ya (leave ya)
If you act out, I'll let my .44 caliber gun silence you
When I'm in L.A., I got Six-Fo' fever (fever)
When I'm in Los Angeles, I'm obsessed with their cars, specifically a 1964 Chevy Impala
Fever for the flava of a six-foot diva (let 'em know)
I have a thing for tall women
We come through clownin baby (baby)
We come through joking around, making fun of everything and everyone
And if we, surrounded babies, ducktape the kids to the wall
If we are surrounded by children, we'll use duct tape to keep them still
Then shoot circle all around the baby, Killa!
We'll shoot our guns in a circle around the baby
Ghetto, ghetto, In a Ghetto Life
I'm from the ghetto and my life reflects that
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICK JAMES, Calvin Broadus, Craig Miller, Keiwan Spillman, Kevin Gilliam, Tracey Davis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
coreyaustin1
This song is so soulful. The chords, baseline and chorus just gets you in a certain place man. Love this guy
Roxy Martinez Sanchez
Afroman is a Artist not a rapper💯
Diplodocus
I love the bass lines in his songs
Vance
Liam Anderson fuck yeah me too. This song is a masterpiece
Muka Martignago
we both do.
SpartaChef
AK Thunder happy AF. Alaskan Thunderfuck 🌀
SpartaChef
AK Thunder haha I knew I was somehow connected there,
So you're Fire 🔥🌩️
Frank M
This song is dangerous. I was listening to it at my graveyard shift at work and I legit dozed off because of how smooth and relaxing this song was.
Nonnie
You got to listen to his song grave yard shift then, that one will wake you back up!
KevinFromConn
i absolutely love Afroman's voice. it's soo great, but it has a hint of sadness to it. it's such a great voice. in this song, and also in palmdale (which is probably my favorite Afroman song). "Ghe-to life."