Conscious Weed Rap?
You’re more likely to talk about social and political issues when sharing a blunt than when drinking with friends. Similarly, when listening to music while high you might be looking for deeper topics.
In the 90’s, walking into a head shop, you probably heard sublime playing through the speakers. Nowadays, you might hear A$AP Rocky or Wiz Khalifa. Marijuana seems to frequently make its way to mainstream music under the hip hop genre. Furthermore, more and more stoners and listening to the “conscious hip-hop” subgenre in 2016.
One source describes conscious or socially conscious hip-hop as “a sub-genre of hip-hop that challenges the dominant cultural, political, philosophical, and economic consensus. It aims to subtly inform the public of true political and social issues which are predominantly obscured by the mainstream media.”
“Hip-hop also gives these issues a wider audience base as it is coming from music artists which are extremely popular,” they added.
Here is a list of some stoner rappers who don’t shy from topics that are frequently ignored by the mainstream media.
Run The Jewels
Run the Jewels is a hip-hop duo consisting of the New York raised, talented rapper/producer, El-P and his southern companion Killer Mike. Separately and together these two cover topics such as police brutality, drone strikes, and more. They’re also not shy about their marijuana usage with lyrics like, “good pussy, good marijuana that be my medicine.” If you’re into or interested in the conscious hip-hop subgenre give Run the Jewels’ albums a listen. You won’t be disappointed.
Joey Bada$$
Joey Bada$$ has a song about getting high before going to high school. “Ya’ll go to high school, I go to school high!” He also makes songs about the trappings of fame rather than bragging about his fame. Joey’s songs cover topics like government surveillance, inequality, and more. If you’re looking for music that’ll make you think while you smoke check out Joey’s last album B4DA$$.
 Chance The Rapper
Chance the Rapper will provide you with both catchy tunes and his personal perspective on touchy subjects. Lyrics like “I’ve been riding around with my blunt on my lips, with the sun in my eyes and my gun on my hip” capture what life is like for Chance. Hailing from the southside of Chicago his hobbies include smoking weed and surviving. His music covers topics like witnessing the death of friend due to violence, getting suspended for smoking pot, his love for his grandma, and more. With Chance you really get the best of both worlds. You can get conscious hip-hop and songs to sing along to. If you’re looking for one of his projects to smoke out to try Acid Rap. If you want more catchy tunes check out his latest album Coloring Book.
Flatbush Zombies
The Flatbush Zombies traverse a deeper level of consciousness. The group is consists of three rappers, one of them, Erick Arc Elliot, is also their producer. Their music is full of references to psychedelic drugs like LSD and Mushrooms. The Zombies who hail from Flatbush, Brooklyn have everything you love about mainstream hip-hop like violence, women, and drugs while also covering more conscious topics. Sometimes they rap about their love for weed and other times pointing out inequalities. If you’re into psychedelics and hip-hop you’ll probably like the Flatbush Zombies. Even if you’re only into weed and hip-hop we recommend giving them a listen.
image credit:Â Run The Jewels / Facebook
