Joseph Edgar Foreman, better known as Afroman, is being sued by seven deputies from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio for using footage from a 2022 home raid for new music and a music video.
The rapper became popular for his hit song “Because I Got High” in 2001.
According to court documents, the search that was conducted on Aug. 21, 2022, was executed based on a “lawfully issued warrant.” Police combed the rapper’s house for evidence of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and kidnapping related to an investigation, according to the warrant. Adams County prosecutors said they found no probative criminal evidence, and Foreman didn’t face any charges.
“I’m a civilian. Then, to make matters worse, I’m a Black civilian in America. The police department was not designed to serve and protect me. I felt powerless yet angry. These guys can destroy my property, and I literally couldn’t do nothing about it. The only thing I could do was take to my pen and sing about the injustice. And to my surprise, it’s going over well!” Foreman told Vice News in January.
The seven plaintiffs listed in the lawsuit are Deputy Shawn Cooley, Deputy Justin Cooley, Deputy Shawn Grooms, Deputy Lisa Phillips, Sgt. Michael Estep, Sgt. Randolph Walters Jr., and Detective Sgt. Brian Newland.
The video footage showed the officers searching through Foreman’s garage, his closets, basement, clothes, dressers, drawers and kitchen. They tore down several doors and took money from his home.
Foreman was not at home during the search, but his wife was. She took footage from her cellphone.
The wife’s footage and home security video were used for Foreman’s song titled “Will You Help Me Repair My Door” in a six-minute music video. Another song he released titled “Lemon Pound Cake” was inspired by an officer constantly walking through his kitchen and eyeing a pound cake. Foreman referenced that officer as “Officer Pound Cake” and…
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