Add these burning tracks to your playlist

Ready to be thrust into the moment of the music as it unfolds? Here’s your list of note-by-note stoner worthy rap. Now sit back and let these cocoa butter kisses elevate your senses.

It’s no secret that one of the greatest experiences is losing yourself in some chill tunes. Music is experienced from a whole different perspective when you’re high. Daniel Levitin, music professor at McGill University, wrote in his book The World in Six Songs, that “THC—the active ingredient—is known to stimulate the brain's natural pleasure centers, while also disrupting short-term memory. The disruption of short-term memory thrusts listeners into the moment of the music as it unfolds; unable to explicitly keep in mind what has just been played, or to think ahead to what might be played, people stoned on pot tend to hear music from note to note.” Your high-tened senses (yeah, you read that right!) can turn a mediocre ditty into a catchy pop hit, a great song into an out-of-body experience and a hardcore rap beat into a soothing ballad that’ll put you to sleep faster than you can say, Pass the kouchie. 

 

 

Chance the Rapper - Cocoa Butter Kisses (featuring: Vic Mensa and Twista)   

Chicago native Chance the Rapper released his single Cocoa Butter Kisses on his second mixtape, Acid Rap at the fresh age of 19, but upon first listen you’d think that he’d been in the rap game for decades. On Cocoa Butter Kisses, Chance discusses his smoking habits much to the dismay of his family and the admiration of his friends. Part gospel, park funk and spitting bars like there’s no tomorrow, Cocoa Butter Kisses should be on your heady playlist. Chance’s post-inhalation coughs throughout the track enhance the realism of the mood.

Play it now: On a mid-summer night around a bonfire with friends. 

Favorite line: “Put Visine inside my eyes so my grandma would fucking hug me.”

 

 

Kid Cudi - Hyyerr

Kid Cudi is one of the most underrated rappers in the game and it should be noted that his Man on the moon (2009) is truly exceptional. The whole album is worth a listen but if you settle on only one song to add to your stoner playlist, it should be Hyyerr. Kid Cudi urges us all to get “hyyerr” and if this song doesn’t get you smoking, I don’t know what will. 

Play it now: Whenever getting very seriously stoned.

Favorite line: “Sir you look high; I know but I prefer my eyes low.”

 

 

Childish Gambino - Redbone

Reminiscent of 70s psychedelic, Childish Gambino doesn’t explicitly mention weed in Redbone but alludes to feeling high throughout the song. If you’ve convinced yourself you don’t like Hip-hop, there’s a high probability Childish Gambino’s smooth-like-butter falsetto will change your mind.

Play it now: When you’re trying to sober up but keep failing.

Favorite line: “Now stay woke.”

 

 

Tyler, the Creator - See you again 

Twenty-seven-year-old California native Tyler, the Creator’s fourth studio album, Flower Boy is a tour de force of the modern rap genre. Notably, his song See you again muses about young love and alludes to being in a “dream state.” His lyricism is imaginative, fun, and evocative, and will get you feeling high even when you’re not. 

Play it now: Drifting asleep after a good smoke sess.

Favorite line: “Wonder if you look both ways when you cross my mind.” 

 

 

Sampha and Drake - Too much 

Sampha and Drake lay out one of the best collaborations in recent years in Too much. Sampha’s hauntingly sultry voice mixed with Drake’s smooth, no-nonsense bars gives way to one of the most sublime tracks on this hit album Nothing was the same. Sampha’s ballad is a nice respite from some of the more hard-hitting rap offerings, making it a great song to smoke to.

Play it now: When you need a little perspective on your introspection.

Favorite line: “Wanna come with places with star girls and they end up on the front pages.” 

 

 

Kendrick Lamar – Love (featuring Zacari)

Kendrick Lamar’s collaborations on his latest album Damn have raised the bar, garnering him the title of Best Rap Album at the 2018 Grammys and the first Pulitzer Prize for music awarded to a rapper. High praise! The slow, melodic Love featuring newcomer Zacari, is one of the most euphoric tracks on the album and the perfect summer smoke song. 

Play it now: When you’re reminiscing about the one that got away.  

Favorite line: “Sipping bubbly, feeling lovely, living lovely.”

 

 

Lauryn Hill - Nothing even matters (featuring D’Angelo)

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is definitively the best female rap album of all times and should be mandatory listening. Her collaboration with D’angelo on the track Nothing even matters will take you back to late-90s Hip-hop and make you wish you could time-travel—slowly, so slowly. If you weren’t even born when the album came out, you can catch her 20th Anniversary World Tour this summer.

Play it now: All alone with your beau.

Favorite line: “See you won’t find me at no store. I have no time for manicures.” 

 

 

Anderson.Paak – Might be

Here’s a little secret to share: Anderson.Paak is a mixed-race rapper and dynamic front man with driving hypnotizing beats and a brilliant smile. Arguably, a formidable talent getting recognized with multiple nominations including the Grammy Award’s 2017 Best New Artist. Paak’s single Might be featured on his 2014 album Venice, is a testimony to this multi-talented singer-percussionist’s love of the kind. Might be might be the reason you end up couch-locked for the night. Part Hip-hop, park funk and part soul, Anderson.Paak is all high floatin’.

Play it now: Laying on the couch, feeling high floatin’.

Favorite line: “Okay, I feelin' so stuck; Laid up on the couch”

 

 

Damian Marley - Road to Zion (featuring Nas)

The youngest son of Bob Marley, Damian “Jr Gong” Marley has forged a highly successful career of his own crowned by three Grammy Awards. Road to Zion featuring Nas is a relaxing and mellow listen from the critically acclaimed Welcome to Jamrock (2005). But don’t stop there—check out Halfway Tree (2001), Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2011) and Stony Hill (2017). And while you’re at it, do yourself the favour and have a listen to older brother, Ziggy Marley’s extensive discography.

Play it now: On the island of Jamaica or the island of your backyard.

Favorite line: “Emerge from the darkness with mi big blunt a glow.”

 

 

SZA - 20 Something 

Twenty-seven-year-old Missouri native Solána Imani Rowe better known as SZA took the R&B scene by storm this past year with the release of her debut studio album Ctrl. The last track on the album entitled 20 Something is a fitting wrap to this burner playlist. The slow jam about the awkwardness of growing up is sure to end your stoner night on a high note.

Play it now: Ideally when you’re 20-something, but any decade will do.

Favorite line: “I gotta say I'll miss the way you need me.” 

 

 

Bonus track:

Chance the rapper - Smoke break  

Here’s to second chances! Chance the Rapper is so good that he’s earned a replay. His most recent endeavor, Coloring Book, winner of the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, deserves to be listened to in its entirety. His song Smoke break suggests that we all deserve a smoke break.

Play it now: Whenever it’s time for a smoke break.

Favorite line: “We deserve a smoke break.”

 

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