AFROMAN
The Good Times (Universal)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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I'm a little confused here. I thought Good Times was all about Kid Dynamite, but the kids tell me otherwise. Afroman has already stormed the charts with his rather naughty, though bouncy, ode to the spliff (parents: please see handy warning sticker on front). "Because I Got High" is a catchy piece of bubblegum rap blown to massive hit proportions with the helping hands of Hollywood wise slackers Jay and Silent Bob. The result, not unlike Cheech and Chong with an urban beat, is a fish in the barrel effect. Afroman is rude, crude and lewd. Nothing new under the hiphop sun, so why the boffo sales? May be the chummy, laid-back rap combined with an annoyingly repetitive groove acting as irresistible lure. While most gangstas are drive-bying at the speed of light, thumping thunderous decibels to shake the streets, Afroman is slumping back on his velvet couch in a purply haze. He's in the right place at the right time, and while the cash registers still clang dollar signs, a full length CD is unleashed, stretching this bonanza formula to the snapping limit. All this is moot cuz the kids have lapped up the latest one hit blunder, played it to death, and moved on. Could be the fastest fifteen minutes on record.

© 2001 - John Sekerka