What makes a perfect weed song, according to Redman
Redman has been associated with weed for much of his career, releasing songs about marijuana, starring as a pothead opposite Method Man in 2001’s How High movie and launching clothing centred around 4/20. If anyone knows what makes the perfect weed song, it’s the New Jersey rapper.
The artist behind ‘Da Rockwilder’ once revealed the key things to look out for when searching for music to soundtrack a smoke session. It’s a combination of melody and production that maximises the ultimate high. “What makes a good weed song? Well, a good weed song to me is a song that has the right sounds, instruments and hook, only fit to the herbal ear,” he told Rolling Stone. “That vibe that catches you while you’re smoking or even when you’re not smoking.”
He continued, “I’m always smokin’ … so my ears are always open. A good weed song is a song you can throw on and only real smokers can relate. And real smokers don’t have to necessarily sing the words all the way through.”
Redman also named his top songs to smoke weed to: D’Angelo’s ‘Brown Sugar’, Rick James’ ‘Mary Jane’, Channel Live’s ‘Mad IZM’, Jacob Miller’s ‘Healing of the Nation’, Cypress Hill’s ‘Stoned Is the Way of the Walk’ and Peter Tosh’s ‘Legalize It’.
He also named Black Moon’s ‘I Got Cha Opin’ (Remix)’, Ja Rule’s ‘Smokin’ and Ridin’, Luniz’s ‘I Got 5 On It’, Method Man and Redman’s ‘Dis Iz 4 All My Smokers, The Pharcyde’s ‘Pack the Pipe’ and Bob Marley and the Wailers’ ‘Natural Mystic’. After naming his list, he added, “Any Bob Marley song [laughs]. I can keep goin’, bruh, but that’s enough.”
Despite his longtime relationship with marijuana, Redman recently revealed he hasn’t smoked for over two years following the end of his marriage. He’s refrained from weed and sex during one of the most challenging times of his life.
“My girl and I broke up maybe three, four years ago,” he told Ambrosia for Heads in January. “I was going through such a shit divorce that lasted seven years that played a role in why it took so long to drop Muddy Waters [Too]. I had so much on my plate. I actually fasted two years and a half — no fucking, no smoking. Straight two years and a half. It was the best thing I could have done in my life. It was the best thing.”
He added, “Believe me, I wanted to. I was fighting it, I was sweating. I was in my house going crazy ’cause I live alone. I was constantly talking to myself. Me and God, just back and forth. But I made it and it was the best thing I could have done.”
Redman discussed the benefits of not smoking or having sex. “It cleared out so much distraction,” he said. “My reception is much clearer now. Having no sex is nothing to me now because it was all feeding the flesh. Once I did that, I was able to control how I moved, what I like, what is not good for me.”