Afroman has celebrated a significant legal victory against Ohio law enforcement by releasing a scathing new track titled “Batteram Hymn of the Police Whistleblower,” per consequence.net.
The American rapper, best known for his hit “Because I Got High,” was sued for defamation and invasion of privacy by seven members of the Adams County Sheriff’s Department. The officers claimed they suffered “emotional distress and ridicule” after Afroman used CCTV footage of them raiding his home in several music videos, including the viral hit “Lemon Pound Cake”.
Last week, a jury took less than a day to rule in favour of the musician, finding him not liable for any of the claims. The 2022 raid, which was based on unfounded suspicions of drug trafficking and kidnapping, resulted in no charges but left Afroman’s property damaged.
The new five-minute response track sees the MC donning the same American flag suit he wore to court. Over a reworked melody of “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” he delivers a detailed account of the legal battle. The song pulls no punches, with Afroman targeting the presiding judge and the local prosecutor, whom he accuses of faltering during the proceedings.
In a statement accompanying the video, Afroman described the song as “holding trial in one song,” framing the release as an exercise of his right to free speech. He maintained that the original raid was a mistake based on a false informant, and the subsequent lawsuit was an attempt to silence his criticism of the department’s conduct.
The “Lemon Pound Cake” video, which sparked the initial legal row, has amassed over three million views. With this latest release, Afroman appears intent on ensuring his legal triumph remains just as visible as the raid that started it.
•Featured image: Afroman in the video for “Batteram Hymn of the Police Whistleblower”/YouTube
