The song blew up on social media as it featured actual footage from the despicable raid on the rapper’s home.

Joseph Edgar Foreman, better known by his stage name Afroman, experienced a surge in his career back in 2000 with the release of the song “Because I Got High.” The song became an instant classic, propelling his career for years to come. However, due to the marijuana-related content in his music, law enforcement – seemingly infected by reefer madness – has targeted him over the years.

In August 2022, while Afroman was in Chicago performing and earning an honest living, deputies with the Adams County Sheriff’s Department raided his Ohio home, kicking in his door, searching his belongings, and causing significant damage. According to Afroman, the raid was nothing short of a “witch hunt.”

Neighbors alerted the rapper about the ongoing raid, filming and photographing the scene. Multiple cop cars were seen outside, with the door flattened on the floor, and belongings scattered throughout the house, all so the officers could confiscate some entirely legal hemp flower and a vape pen.

The rapper took to Instagram to express his frustration, stating, “While I’m out here working and paying taxes the. [sic] Adams county sheriff department is at my house kicc-ing in my door and stealing my money.” He suggested that he had been profiled for his music and that his previous attempt to report a burglary to the same department may have led to the raid.

Afroman would make light of the raid in a song titled, “Will you help me repair my door.” The song blew up on social media as it featured actual footage from the despicable raid on the rapper’s home.

Now, in a twisted turn of events, seven law enforcement officers from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office have filed a lawsuit against Afroman, accusing him of improperly using footage from the raid on his Ohio home in his music videos.

The officers, consisting of four deputies, two sergeants, and a detective, claim that Afroman’s use of the footage from the raid in his music videos and social media posts, which featured their faces, has caused them “emotional distress, embarrassment, ridicule, loss of reputation, and humiliation.”

If you are going to use heavily militarized gear and tactics to destroy an innocent man’s home out of retaliation and drug war fears, you most certainly deserve the “embarrassment, ridicule, loss of reputation, and humiliation” that will inevitably follow.

The plaintiffs are now seeking all profits resulting from the use of their personas, including proceeds from songs, music videos, live event tickets, and promotion of Afroman’s brand.

The raid, which was carried out based on a warrant alleging probable cause for drug trafficking and kidnapping, yielded no probative criminal evidence, and no charges were ever filed. Interestingly, when cash seized during the raid was eventually returned to Afroman, hundreds of dollars appeared missing. A state Bureau of Criminal Investigation review later determined that the deputies had “miscounted” the amount seized.

Afroman has publicly vowed to countersue the officers “for the undeniable damage this had on my clients, family, career, and property.” The rapper, known for his songs “Because I Got High” and “Crazy Rap,” as well as his political activism, announced in December that he plans to run for president.

Below is an example of why the war on drugs needs to end today.

Article posted with permission from Matt Agorist