That cops frequently act like bullying dicks is hardly news. They usually demonstrate it through immunity-enabled violence. But they sometimes show it with the whining victimhood that bullies display when someone hits them back.
So here’s a shoutout to Afroman, who hit them back twice.
You might remember Afroman, the stage name of Joseph Edgar Foreman. He scored a hit 25 years ago with “Because I Got High,” and though he never reached the charts again, he’s made a career of his comedic rap.
Back in 2022 the sheriff’s department in Adams County, Ohio, the nearly all-white Cincinnati exurb where he lives, got it in their heads to raid his home. The search warrant claimed they were looking for evidence of narcotics and kidnapping. Afroman wasn’t home at the time, but his wife and kids were.
As is usually the case, the cops didn’t just knock on the door – they kicked it down and, guns drawn, searched the house. All they found was some unused pipes, a couple of blunts and several thousand dollars in cash, which they confiscated – standard procedure for cops. But no charges were filed.
Afroman was not amused, but he did take comedic revenge by writing some songs about the incident, including “Will You Help Me Repair My Door” and “Lemon Pound Cake.” Accompanying videos used footage from his home security cameras to ridicule the hapless officers of the law. “Lemon Pound Cake,” set to the melody of “Under the Boardwalk,” was particularly mocking, focusing on one rotund cop’s lingering glance at a dessert on the kitchen counter.
The cops were not amused. The seven deputies involved filed a lawsuit claiming Afroman unfairly profited from their “likeness” and accused the rapper of defamation and a violation of privacy. Together, these deputies sought nearly $4 million in damages.
The case came to trial last week; Afroman took the stand in an American flag suit and defended himself on First Amendment grounds. The jury, after deliberating for less than a day, cleared him of all 13 claims.
Afroman took to social media afterwards. He said his victory wasn’t just for artists but for all Americans. “We have freedom of speech. They … did me wrong and sued me because I was talking about it.” No word on whether he celebrated with some lemon pound cake.
