From Dime Bags To Purple Haze: What Was Cam'ron Smoking?

December 8, 2014 - 3:28 pm by VIBE

Once a taboo subject, marijuana discussion is now as common as political debates. In hip-hop, the green leaf has been celebrated for its creative, medical and even profitable uses almost since the early '90s.

Early champions and purveyors of weed culture like Cyrpress Hill and Redman set it off for rappers to follow -- and decades later artists like Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa are still carrying that joint.

In honor of Cam'ron's smoked-out homage to a particularly potent strain of pot -- Purple Haze -- VIBE looks back at exactly what Killa Cam was smoking throughout his career.

Click In the Gallery To Begin.

By the '90s, "hydro weed" had taken over New York City as the standard. Hydro is a simple abbreviation for any weed that's grown hydroponically. This process producers a stronger, greener, and more desired herb.

Cam ain't no newbie when it comes to trees. Ever since infamous New York City weed supplier Branson set up shop in Harlem before the delivery services. Killa was there to cop, roll up and get high. Cam'ron "Rockin' And Rollin'" -- "Live a Branson life and a brand new 5/Hot man, God damn, Killa Cam be live" [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

In the early 2000s, the Uptown blocks of New York City were flooded with a even higher potency bud dubbed “Puré” -- pronounced "pooday." Areas around Dyckman, Post and other areas around Washington Heights made this weed world famous. Dipset was also right there to assist in making the term and high quality smoke familiar around hip-hop circles.

By the 2000s, Haze had officially become the most popular type of weed in the city. The stench of this powerful smoke lingered all around Harlem, and Dipset was cashing in on the action. Harlem has now coined the term "piff" used for any type of haze -- and the granddaddy of them all, Purple Haze. [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

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