April 20th isn’t a national holiday, but it might as well be.
Although recreational marijuana use is only legal in 10 states, the U.S. is home to approximately 35 million regular users of cannabis, according to a survey done by Yahoo News and Marist University. That’s 10.6 percent of the American population and while that may seem minuscule, the numbers are growing daily and it’s understandable.
Weed has now become a staple of American culture; it’s become a legitimate business in the states where it’s legal, it’s now part of the way people socialize, and better yet it’s a theme in some of the hottest music out today. “Kush” has been included in some of the hardest verses that millennials and generation-z kids have heard in their lifetime.
Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg, amazing emcees in their own right, are also widely known for their love of the green plant. Wiz’s biggest album, Rolling Papers is clearly influenced by weed and along with the Snoop Dogg-assisted “Young, Wild & Free” is all about that green positivity.
There’s an endless list of hits about rolling up a joint, hitting it and passing it, but what about moods? Whether it’s a bowl, a blunt or an edible weed, can leave people feeling a variety of ways and that all can be traced to a certain strand of weed someone’s inhaling, or the mood they’re already.
Regardless, it’s important to be prepared and have music ready to match whatever feelings marijuana concocts; and that’s why VIBE compiled an adequate list of songs for each of the main pot moods.
So on this 4/20, sit back, relax, smoke and find the songs that suit the vibe.
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The “Let Me Chill Out” Mood
Sometimes the best way to come down from an over the top high is to play some tunes with a soft beat and a light voice. The best artists in the game right now, like Jhené Aiko for instance, have created that sound that’s perfect for when relaxation is needed, so of course, she made the list. These are the top four songs that can help anyone kick back and relax if a pull from a joint just isn’t hitting the right way.
- “Blue Dream” by Jhené Aiko
- “Muse” by Afro Nostalgia
- “Summer Games” by Drake
- “LOVE.” by Kendrick Lamar (feat. Zacari)
The Bad B*tch Hours or “Top Two and I’m Not Two” Mood
You look around the room and realize: you’re top two and you’re not two in it. All it took was one or a couple of puffs and then a pass to make you feel pretty good about yourself. One of the main upsides to smoking that’s constantly mentioned in the media is that it can help alleviate chronic pain, well, another positive to it is that it can leave you feeling sexy, sensual and everything in between.
This is that high that can make you feel that you’re significant other is lucky to have you, and subsequently makes you hit them up, that tells you: you’re single and ready to mingle. It’s a smoking session that lets you know: if you shoot your shot now, you’ll score and it’s a session that you want music playing that only affirms how sultry and seductive you feel. If this is how 4/20 leaves you feeling, putting on some RiRi or even Young Thug can effectively get you ‘in your bag.’
- “Same Ol’ Mistakes” by Rihanna
- “Tyrant” by Kali Uchis (feat. Jorja Smith)
- “Worth It” by Young Thug
- “Smoke Break” by Chance the Rapper (feat. Future)
The “Head in the Clouds” Mood
More often than not, edibles have the power of leaving people spaced out and speaking slowly, after consuming them. Sometimes smoking weed, or hotboxing with friends is a silent event. Either everyone’s consumed by their phones, or every other person has been looking at a nonexistent spot on the wall for the past 15 minutes.
Regardless this isn’t the high where people want to hear “Act Up” by City Girls, no matter how much they love them. No, this is the high where people need music that takes them on a journey. Songs where the production is out of this world and it seems like the artist specifically made the song for a smoke session like no other. Travis Scott’s ASTROWORLD is full of tracks with that vibe, and Lil’ Wayne, a weed connoisseur of his own, has songs that fulfill that need too. Smoke a bit and let the weed do its thing.
- “ASTROTHUNDER” by Travis Scott
- “I Feel Like Dying” by Lil’ Wayne
- “Hyyer” by Kid Cudi
- “St. Tropez” by J. Cole
The “Got the Giggles” Mood
This is when the blunt hits perfectly and there’s nothing wrong in the world or when the bowl did its’ job and leaves everyone feeling silly. A “feel good high” is the best way to describe and the best way to live through that kind of smoke session is to listen to some “feel good music.” These are the songs that can have people swaying unknowingly to its’ beat, or the tracks that leave people smiling from ear to ear. This is the session that lets people know that “this is it chief,” and here are the best songs to go along with it.
- “Pass the Vibes” by Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment
- “Dreamcatcher” by Metro Boomin’ (feat. Swae Lee & Travis Scott)
- “It’s a Vibe” by 2 Chainz (feat. Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Songz & Jhené Aiko)
- “Binz” by Solange