Jonathan Cunningham, the producer and DJ for rapper Joseph Foreman better known as Afroman says the jury verdict in a high-profile defamation case was about more than one artists win.It wasnt really about Afroman, Cunningham s aid. It was about America and freedom of speech. Its no coincidence he was literally the American flag, because we saw America when we saw him sitting in that seat. They can kick your door down, they can do whatever they want to do...if they would have won, we all would have been in trouble.On Wednesday, jurors rejected nearly $4 million in claims brought by Adams County sheriffs deputies who said they were defamed in music videos and songs after an August 2022 raid at Afromans Adam's County home. The search warrant alleged potential drug trafficking and kidnapping, but no drugs or kidnapping victims were found.A Viral Album Born From a RaidCunningham, who goes by DJ ON THA 1, remembered seeing the raid footage online the night it happened.We were coming back from a show in Cleveland, and he [Afroman] was heading to Chicago, Cunningham said. When I got home, I looked at my phone and saw police running all through his crib on Instagram. At first, I thought maybe he was just shooting a video. Then I looked in the comments and realized, oh, this is real.Within two weeks, Cunningham said Afroman had recorded a full album inspired by the raid using footage captured on his own security cameras in music videos. One track, Lemon Pound Cake, referenced a dessert left on the kitchen counter during the search and quickly went viral.He put innocence in the trauma, Cunningham said. Lemon Pound Cake became a symbol for American justice and thats gangster.Cunningham said the creative process was fast and organic.He already had nicknames for everybody involved, came to the studio every night for two weeks straight, and we just made song after song, Cunningham said. I was making all the beats, and he was just taking off on all these subjects.WATCH: Afroman's DJ shares how the viral songs inspired by the Adam's County raid came to be. Afroman's producer recalls rapper's legal battleJustice Through ArtFor Cunningham, the project was more than a collection of songs it was part of a long tradition of resistance through music.Since slavery, thats all we had was a song, Cunningham said. From hymns to funk to hip-hop, thats how we fought for justice. Were not trying to shoot you back or break into your home were just telling our story. What that sounds like to us is: You can do the crime, but we cant make it rhyme.Cunningham argued that the deputies lawsuit sent a troubling message.If they would have won, it would have said you can take a life, but you cant take a joke, Cunningham said. If you dont want to get your feelings hurt, dont come to the comedy show. Holding someone accountable for words without addressing the truth behind them.A Whole Self-Inflicted WoundWhile the deputies claimed ridicule, death threats and reputational harm, Cunningham believes their legal action brought more attention to the lyrics and videos.Its a whole self-inflicted wound, Cunningham said. We were minding our business, touring and making music every day. All he did was play the tape. If youre offended by the jokes, lets hold him accountable for exaggerations but also for whats true.Cunningham noted that Afroman became a household name decades ago with Because I Got High, a song that poked fun at himself.If he literally did the same thing to someone else that he would do to himself, I think we have to call that fair, Cunningham said. Maybe they need to learn how to roast.Bigger Than One ArtistThe verdict, Cunningham said, affirmed the importance of protecting creative expression.What is freedom of speech if you get to choose when it works? Cunningham said. If its going to be based on feelings, then change the name of the Constitution to constant confusion. The verdict helped define that there is hope for freedom of speech.Cunningham said Afroman might not be done yet.Im going to bet that Afroman is going to have more to say, Cunningham said. ...read more read less