Light one and smoke along with this potent playlist of classic joints
Brave musicians were singing Mary Jane’s praises long before she was among America’s top legal crops.
In 1932, Cab Calloway’s song “Reefer Man” coined the slang term that some OGs still use when referring to the plant.
And every generation since Cab’s has taken the art of getting stoned to new heights. That includes new names and vivid wordplay that constantly reinvent and cement the plant’s influence in pot, uh, pop culture.
From ’90s boasts about pungent Chronic and Skunk, to today’s artists coining new terms like “loud” right before our ears, some lines are so dope you can catch a whiff through the speakers if you listen close.
Stream this pre-rolled playlist on Spotify or Tidal and smoke along with these iconic lyrical odes to Mary Jane’s seductive fragrance.
“So What’cha Want (Remix)” (1992) – Beastie Boys ft. Cypress Hill
“I like to smoke y’all but the pigs come sweating/They like the smell of the weed that I’m smoking/They can’t have none of the number one sess-stash/So keep your hands off the hash, don’t act rash.”(Find it on Genius)
Cypress Hill has been rhyming to normalize for decades. On this classic Beastie Boys collaboration, B-Real spoke in defiance of prohibition four whole years before medical laws were first passed in California.
Today, the OG has his own legal brand (Dr. Greenthumb) and strains like Em-Dog, a delicious cross of OG Kush and Chemdog #4 that smells exquisite when consumed with this timeless track.
For the record, Cypress Hill is still speaking out against prohibition in their music today. Last month, they released “Open Ya Mind,” which calls out the many contradictions that exist between state and federal cannabis laws.
“How to Roll a Blunt” (1992) – Redman
“The second paragraph might make you laugh/When a brotha rolls a blunt and his breath smells like pure ass/That’s when you know you gotta take the blunt from him.” (Find it on Genius)
Redman, aka the Funk Doc, has always kept it funky about his love for bud. Back in the days when rolling a blunt was a hidden art, the How High star broke down the sacred process on this track from his debut album.
As far as the oral odors mentioned in the song, dental hygiene is not our field of expertise. But it’s safe to say, if a smoking mate’s breath is stronger than the weed you’re burning, you should mention it for the sake of your health and theirs.
“Unbelievable” (1995) – The Notorious B.I.G.
“Car weed scented, if I said it, I meant it/Bite my tongue for no one.”(Find it on Genius)
Feeling bold like the notorious one? Roll up a classic cultivar like Sour Diesel, crank the speakers, and funk the whole room up like the late great Biggie Smalls would have wanted you to.
“June 27th Freestyle” (1996) – DJ Screw
“Banging under that tint/Fixin’ to come down/And I got that dro scent…Steady comin’ crunk, rollin’ up the skunk.” (Find it on Genius)
This essential cut from Houston’s legendary Chopped & Screwed sound wave pairs best with a strain that will ease your mind and melt your stress away.
Lean back, crank the volume up, and let Houston’s OGs illustrate weed’s impact on local “SLAB” (Slow, loud, and bangin’) culture. You don’t need a custom candy-painted car to catch the vibe, but a relaxing strain like Skins Skunk is definitely required.
“Da Art of Storytelling Pt. 2” (1998) – OutKast
“I put that on my dope boys from A-Town to California/All the weed smell like ammonia but at the Dungeon I know they’re smoking.”(Find it on Genius)
If your weed smells like ammonia or a freshly-cut grass smell, it could be an indicator that something went wrong in the drying or curing process.
It’s likely the plant has not cured completely, which will make it taste harsh.
Still, there are many strains that are known to naturally carry this smell, including Cookie Butter, Cheese Dawg, and Stinky Pinky.
“Light Speed” (1999) – Dr. Dre & Hittman
“I smell chronic in the air/That means we takin’ over this year/You hear?/High speed blazing chronic through the galaxy/hydro-doja Chocolate Thai weed.”(Find it on Genius)
The maestro behind iconic stoner albums The Chronic and its sequel, 2001, incorporates weed into his art whenever he can. Dre’s protege Snoop Dogg helped coin the term “Chronic” after misunderstanding the term “hydroponic” during an early ’90s session, and the rest is history.
If you ever get your hands on an old school cultivar like Chocolate Thai, stream this deep cut and let Dre’s classic West Coast vibes take you back in time to the turn of the millennium.
“Don’t Talk” (2001) – Jon B.
“Baby, you got me high dancin’ close with the chronic perfume (The chronic perfume)/Smellin’ all good, it’s gettin’ hot in the room (Hot in the room).” (Find it on Genius)
Smooth R&B crooner Jon B. let the ladies know that a quick whiff of Mary Jane is all it takes to seduce him. We wish we could judge him, but arousing strains like Member Berry have the exact same effect on us.
“My Favorite Ladies” (2002) – MF DOOM
“Mary—you make me wanna eat you/Every time I see you, it’s like the first time I meet you/Fragrance like a flower—subtle and sweet too.” (Find it on Genius)
The late, great MF DOOM hid his face behind an iron mask and billed himself as rap’s most feared supervillain. DOOM built a cult fanbase in the process, but romantic rhymes like this expose the big bad villain’s soft spot for Mary Jane and her special scent.
“Kryptonite (I’m On It)” (2006) – Big Boi & The Purple Ribbon All-Stars
“Grab that cologne on out my book-bag, I smell dro all on you, homes.”(Find it on Genius)
OutKast member Big Boi has dropped dozens of lyrical dimes about weed over the years, but this iconic line is essential for smokers in states like his native Georgia, where cannabis odors can still lead to legal consequences.
If you ever need help covering the smell of that Kryptonite, refer to our tips on how to avoid smelling like cannabis after smoking, how to eliminate cannabis odors in a hurry, and the best ways to get rid of cannabis smells in your house.
“Kush Is My Cologne” (2009) – Gucci Mane
“Damn it’s really loud, smelling like a whole pound/Kush cologne, haze is her perfume/Bubba Kush for breakfast, with my Captain Crunch.” (Find it on Genius)
Atlanta rappers like Gucci Mane and 2 Chainz are credited with coining the term “loud” as a description for funky weed. The phrase has been stickier than fresh trichomes, with hundreds of MCs adding their own twist over the years.
“Never Been (Remix)” (2010) – Wiz Khalifa & Rick Ross
“I’m in my Grand Natty, smokin’ on that Granddaddy/It got an odor like a motor runnin’, fantastic.”(Find it on Genius)
From the Grandaddy Purp shoutout to the slick gasoline simile, Rick Ross brought his A-game for this collaboration with royal stoner Wiz Khalifa. He also has his own strain, Pink Rozay, released in collaboration with Cookies.
Meanwhile, Freeway Rick Ross, the real life illicit dealer who inspired Ross’ rap persona, has also broken into the legal cannabis industry with his “Freeway” line of strains, released in collaboration with The Cure Company
“Gorgeous” (2010) – Kanye West ft. Raekwon
“Bent off the black Skunk/The black Dutch, back of the old shed.”(Find it on Genius)
Let Wu-Tang wordsmith Raekwon take you back to a time when Purple Haze was exotic to New Yorkers and Dutch Masters were the only way to roll a proper blunt.
Today, Rae’s Wu-Tang brethren Method Man has his own TICAL line, including fragrant strains like Sweet Grease.
“Cashin’ Out” (2011) – Ca$h Out
“Blowing on stank bombs.” (Find it on Genius)
Fair warning, this one might get stuck in your head for a day or two. Just relax and enjoy the good vibrations by rolling up some Keisha and singing along.
“Like Water” (2012) – Pro Era
“Said for sure he got fire, most dankest, take a whiff/The gracious, he never lace the shit, take a trip.”(Find it on Genius)
You never want to smoke laced shit, but if you’re interested in taking a trip on LSD or other psychedelics, learn more about how to safely consume psychedelics.
If you want to keep the trip limited to THC, find a highly-potent hybrid like Do-Si-Dos to get the exact effects you’re craving.
“Tapas” (2013) – Action Bronson
“Strong odor off the weed like your grandma’s butt/No attempt to disrespect, but my grandma blunt.” (Find it on Genius)
If no disrespect was intended, then none is taken, Mr. Bronson. We all know grandparents are getting more blunt than ever these days.
That’s why we recommend taking an uplifting hit of Tangie, finding some delicious tapas and embarking on a 420 feast that would make both your grandma and Mr. Bronson proud.
“Just What I Am” (2013) – Kid Cudi ft. King Chip
“Neighbors knockin’ on the door, asking can we turn it down/I say, “Ain’t no music on”, she said, “No, that weed is loud.”(Find it on Genius)
Since Kid Cudi dubbed himself “the lonely stoner,” his fellow Ohio-native King Chip had no choice but to drop this clever line that took “smoking loud” to new levels.
“Don’t Kill My Vibe (Remix)” (2013) – Kendrick Lamar ft. JAY-Z
“Empty my memory bank/It’s a million dollars in it, baby, Hilary Swank/Sittin’ next to Hillary smellin’ like dank/Presidential pardon.”(Find it on Genius)
JAY-Z doesn’t rap much about smoking weed, but when he does he aims high.
Was this bar a bold hint at his eventual investment in Monogram, and current ambitions to leverage weed for social justice initiatives?
Whatever the case, everyone in the industry’s top priority should be a mass presidential pardon for all of America’s 40,000 non-violent cannabis prisoners.
“Champagne Reign” (2014) – Curren$y
“Twisting that Kill Bill/Shit louder than a Dr. Dre Beats Pill.”(Find it on Genius)
New Orleans rhymer Curren$y is responsible for popularizing many 2010s cannabis trends, including the term “rapper weed,” which generally refers highly potent strains.
Along with his fellow funky rhymer Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y sparked a papers vs. blunts debate that continues to divide some fans. Now, Curren$y also has his own Andretti cannabis specializing in designer strains.
“Lit Like Bic” (2015) – Rae Sremmurd
“Who said they got that stanky loud? I wanna smell it/You say you run your fuckin’ town, I let you tell it”(Find it on Genius)
You can fake like you smoke big gas for the ‘gram, but those terps don’t lie. Even non-smokers can tell the difference between elite loud and mid-grade bud just by taking a whiff.
Turn up to this one with an uplifting and aromatic cultivar like Northern Lights.
“Wood Would” (2015) – Young Thug
“My fuckin’ weed smell like a turd (What?)/I just made ten mil’ off of merch.” (Find it on Genius)
Young Thug has a special talent for describing how dank his weed is (see Bonus Joints below), but this stands above the rest for obvious reasons. Pair this track with a fat sack of Dog Shit and turd out.
“Lit (Remix)” (2016) – Wiz Khalifa
“Let’s get to the basics (get to the basics)/I’m rollin’ a J up, I’m lovin’ the fragrance (lovin’ the fragrance)/I’m hardly on time ’cause my mind is where space is (my mind is where space is)/But I always on grind ’cause that’s how my fam raised me.”(Find it on Genius)
Wiz remains one his generation’s biggest advocates and entrepreneurs, thanks in part to his Khalifa Kush brand, as well as his lack of shame about stinking up any room he enters.
“Chirp” (2016) – 2 Chainz
“Stash spot is my boxer shorts/Just stickin’ to the protocol/Weed smellin’ like underarm” (Find it on Genius)
2 Chainz is always pushing the limits of the English language. In addition to inventing 3,000 new ways to tell us how loud his weed is, he also founded his own cannabis firm, GAS Cannabis Co., in 2018.
The folks at GAS may not keep their stash in their underwear anymore, but knowing Chainz’ high standards, their buds probably still smell like an underarm.
“Prevail” (2020) – Berner & B-Real
“Front desk complaining about the weed smell/Oh well, Berner, roll another one/Focus on the good vibes.”(Find it on Genius)
Stinking up the hotel room simply comes with the territory when you’re rolling with Cookies CEO Berner.
Berner started the journey to his Cookies empire back when he was an illicit dealer and independent rapper in 2010. He made a name for himself after introducing Wiz Khalifa and other rappers to the strain FKA Girl Scout Cookies, and is now well on his way to becoming a billionaire in the legal weed industry.
Bonus joints
Stream the full pre-rolled playlist on Spotify and Tidal!
“Whut I’ma Do Now?” (2001) – Redman
“The Chronic stink up the overhead bin”
“November Has Come” (2005) – Gorillaz ft. MF DOOM
“That dank sure stank lit”
“Visions” (2010) – Wiz Khalifa
“Make no assumptions, hotel owners saying the odor’s too pungent/Blame it on the reefer consumption”
“Luxury Sport (2011) – Curren$y ft. Sir Michael Rocks
“It’s Mister… Pose-for-the-Picture/My weed smell good like a rose in the Swisher”
“Carter IV Intro” (2011) – Lil Wayne
“The weed loud like a lion’s roar”
“Waves” (2012) – Joey Bada$$
“No disrespect to Bob Mar, but yeah, another stoner/Marijuana my odor”
“Jack Skellington” (2012) – G-Eazy
“Marijuana fragrance/This tree here is outrageous”
“Stay Hood” (2013) – Waka Flocka Flame ft. Lil Wayne
“Weed loud like it make noise/I’m on them trees like acorns”
“On The Way” (2014) – Gucci Mane ft. Young Thug
“Weed smellin’ like skunks/blunts big as a stump”
“Recognize” (2014) PartyNextDoor ft. Drake
“Sorry if my whip covered in dank/Cause I’ve been rollin’ with this skunk all day”
“Disfunction” (2014) – Young Scooter ft. Future and Young Thug
“All of my weed look like fungus/All of my weed smell like fungus”
“Pack Gone Missing” (2014) – Migos ft. Rich The Kid & Wiz Khalifa
“The gas smellin’ like it’s fungus”
“Blacktivist” (2015) – Flatbush Zombies
“LSD amazing, Sour Kush fragrance”
“Memoirs” (2015) – Migos
“Remember that time Quavo came home with a full grown marijuana plant/Stinkin’ up the crib tryin’ dry it off in the oven it was still wet/Mama came in smelt the odor said ‘Damn boy I can catch contact'”
“Pass the Blunt” (2015) – Ab-Soul
“Yeah, I’m such a fucking stoner/Everywhere I dwell you can smell the marijuana odor”
“Earned It” (2015) – Chief Keef
“Smoking on this blunt, this shit stunky (This shit stank baby)/I mean skunky (Gang, baby), I’m rolling with the funky (Gang, baby)”
“Offended” (2016) – Meek Mill ft. Young Thug
“And the weed stinking like a chitlin”
“Say A'” (2017) – A Boogie wit da Hoodie
“Holla if you see 12/Febreze, believe me, it’ll cover the weed smell”
“Flex” (2017) – Playboi Carti
“Damn my weed smell like a pit (Ooh)”
“Posse” (2018) – King Gotit ft. Lil Baby
“Got the neighbors complainin’ ’bout odors/They just brought me a load and I sold it”
“Cold” (2019) – Rico Nasty & Kenny Beats
“Weed smell like somebody farted, I finish that shit and start it”
“Unruly” (2020) – Dave East
“They smell that odor ‘fore they pull us over”
“War Paint” (2020) – Benny The Butcher ft. Conway the Machine
“I’m at the Roc Nation party smellin’ like Chronic smoke (Hah)”
