Most musicians have one big fear when it comes to making it big in the industry. What is that fear you might ask? Making it big once and then being forgotten. Or worse, making it big and then becoming nothing more than elevator music.
Many of the world’s greatest records were written under the influence of one, or multiple substances – Think David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, and The Beatles. It should likely come as no surprise then, that many of the music industry’s leading players have branched out beyond songwriting, beat making, and record producing, and have also tried their hand within the weed market.
Below, we’ve outlined our fave celeb brands that stand the test of time. No elevator music here.
Willie Nelson – Willie’s Reserve
The man, the myth, the legend. Willie Nelson. Recognized for his signature long, grey hair, Willie Nelson is a world-renowned country singer and activist, particularly for the legalization of cannabis.
As co-chair of the advisory board for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Nelson has played an active role in the legalization of marijuana across the United States, and in the continued pining for its legalization at the federal level.
The inaugural “Willie Nelson & NORML Benefit Golf Tournament” was organized by Nelson and his family in 2005, and as a result, Nelson was featured on the cover of High Times magazine and sat for an exclusive interview for the January 2008 issue. Nelson founded the TeaPot party in 2010 with the slogan “Tax it, regulate it, legalize it!” following his arrest for marijuana possession.
Willie’s Reserve is a white-label company, meaning that it buys weed directly from farms, and sells them under Nelson’s label. The perks? You can snag a collection of products from a collection of growers under the same roof. Willie’s Reserve carries flower, pre-rolls, vape carts, and distillates, and is available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Ohio.
Jay-Z – Monogram
With an active and thriving career in the business since 1986, Shawn Corey Carter – better known as Jay-Z – has established himself as a rapper, and record executive. Paramount to the success of big names in the industry such as Rihanna, Kanye West, and J-Cole, it’s safe to say Jay-Z knows his way around the business world.
Thus, the transition to the cannabis market was an easy one.
Monogram by Jay-Z launched in the U.S. in 2020, and aims to “mark a new chapter in cannabis defined by dignity, care, and consistency.”
Though Monogram only carries flower and pre-rolls and is available in California and Michigan, experts predict that Monogram will hit the ground running in the New York market.
Wiz Khalifa – Khalifa Kush
American rapper, singer, and songwriter, Wiz Khalifa began his mainstream music career in 2007 when he signed with Warner Bros. Records. Since then, the rapper and lyricist has cranked out a number of hits including “Black and Yellow,” an homage to his hometown of Pittsburgh.
With his 2010 mixtape titled “Kush and Orange Juice” and his 2011 album “Rolling Papers,” it should come as no surprise that Khalifa established himself within the mainstream cannabis industry.
Launched in 2016, Khalifa kush has been “perfected” by Wiz Khalifa himself, and promises to remain “rooted in authenticity, consistency, and take a quality first, no sacrifices approach.”
Khalifa’s product lineup includes, flower, pre-rolls, edibles, vapes, and concentrates and is currently available in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. That being said, Americans across the country should keep their eyes peeled for Khalifa Kush in 2022.
In an interview with Forbes, Khalifa revealed that the brand will be expanding through the U.S. and eventually on a global scale. First on the list will be Florida, and later this year Michigan and Pennsylvania can expect to receive Khalife Kush products.
Berner – Cookies
Cookies is well known and loved in the weed community, but not everyone knows that the popular brand can be attributed back to Berner, an American rapper, and entrepreneur. Interestingly, Berner and the aforementioned Wiz Khalifa have shared a long and lasting friendship and partnership. Berner is signed to Khalifa’s record label, Taylor Gang Entertainment.
As a matter of fact, Khalifa Kush was entirely made possible thanks to Cookies by Berner. The brand launched in California through an exclusive partnership with Cookies, due to the pair’s history and friendship.
According to Benzinga, “the Cookie Fam is responsible for some of the most sought-after strains in the world, such as GSC, Gelato, and Gary Payton.”
Cookies produces pre-rolls, flower, dabs, edibles, and vape cartridges.
While it can often feel like celebrities are simply looking to make a quick buck by dipping their toes in a number of business ponds, you can rest assured that these celebs know their way around the kush bush, and they’ve made sure to put their best foot forward in ensuring only top-notch flower and products hit the market.
Enjoyed that first hit? Come chill with us every week at the Friday Sesh for a freshly packed bowl of the week’s best cannabis news!
