Rapper Weed: Rappers Who Made It in the Weed Business

21 Sep 2023

Rappers have been continuing the ongoing trend of venturing into unconventional industries. Rappers have been incorporating cannabis or rapper weed into their music and brand as of late. The past couple of years has seen an increase in weed-related ventures from hip-hop artists. With some even diving headfirst into the industry themselves. While many rap stars vocalize their affinity for marijuana. Some have opened up their dispensaries as a secondary income option. From Snoop Dogg to Wiz Khalifa to Nas, we take a look at some of the biggest rappers who made it big in the weed business.

Wiz Khalifa

Wiz Khalifa made a name for himself with hit songs like “Black and Yellow” and “We Dem Boyz.” Later, he also established himself as a cannabis advocate who owns a dispensary in California. Khalifa’s interest in weed emerged in his earlier years as a rapper. But it wasn’t until the legalization of medical marijuana in his home state of California that he decided to take a drastic step and open up his dispensary. Khalifa had been rapping for almost a decade and had a large fan base to support his venture. This decision certainly paid off, as the rapper’s dispensary generated over $1 million in sales in its first year of operation. It has allowed him to expand into the hemp oil market. Also creating one of the most potent weed strains, Khalifa Kush. One of the first rapper weed strains on the market!

Khalifa Kush, was one of the first rapper weed strain's in the weed industry.

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg has been one of the most recognizable faces in hip hop for decades. The artist has also been one of the most vocal advocates for cannabis legalization in music. Which has allowed him to parlay his fame into a successful weed business. Snoop Dogg has been involved with cannabis since he was a teenager. he soon began to expand his ventures in the 2010s. In 2011, the artist launched his line of cannabis products, “Leafs by Snoop.”  The brand is now available in Colorado and California. The same year, Snoop Dogg also became the owner of a dispensary in Colorado. The artist’s most recent cannabis venture is a website called Merry Jane that publishes articles on the business of cannabis. As one of the original adopters of rap’s “green rush.” Snoop Dogg and was amongst hip-hop’s first founders of cannabis companies.

Source: www.magneticmag.com

Ty Dolla $ign

Ty Dolla $ign has been rapping for almost two decades, but he only rose to fame in the 2010s. The artist has been vocal about his affinity for cannabis. he has gone to say that he could make more money from weed than from music. Ty Dolla $ign has certainly made good on this claim. The artist not only has songs about cannabis but also has a series of videos that feature weed. He has also created his line of merchandise, including a cannabis grinder, blunt wraps, and rolling papers. The artist is also involved in the cannabis industry outside of merchandise. Ty Dolla $ign has partnered with Weedmaps, a popular cannabis review website, to create a series of cannabis-themed merchandise.

Rick Ross

Rick Ross is an artist who has been a household name in hip hop since the 2010s. In 2013, the artist announced that he would be launching his line of edibles and cannabis products. With the goal of “legitimizing the business.” The artist’s foray into the cannabis industry was met with some resistance. As the state of Colorado denied his application to open a dispensary due to past drug-related convictions. Ross responded to the denial with a lawsuit against the state. His argument was that his past convictions should not prevent him from becoming a business owner. The case was settled two years later, and the artist was awarded $7 million in damages. $5 million of which he used to create his brand and open dispensaries in Colorado, California, Massachusetts, and Nevada.

2 Chainz

2 Chainz is an artist who has been rapping for almost two decades. The artist, who hails from Atlanta, is one of the most cannabis-friendly hip-hop stars and has incorporated weed into his music. 2 Chainz has been open about his involvement in the cannabis industry. He even invited the rapper Lil Wayne to join him in a joint venture . The artist has since partnered with a cannabis company and has created his line of cannabis products. The Atlanta rapper has launched his own line of cannabis line called “Gas.”

Nas

Nas has been rapping since the 1990s, he has been open about his use of cannabis since then. The artist, who hails from New York, was an early investor in MassRoots, a cannabis-related technology company. Nas has been open about his involvement in the cannabis industry as an investor in a cannabis company called Humboldt. The company cultivates a wide range of cannabis products in California and has plans to expand to other states. Nas has been outspoken about the legal cannabis industry and has spoken about the ways that it is more than just a pass-time. Nas has discussed the importance of minorities having a place in the business since they have been left out of it.

Ice Cube

Ice Cube has been rapping since the early 80s and has become a household name in hip hop since the NWA era. The artist has been vocal about his cannabis use and has been open about his involvement in the cannabis industry. Ice Cube has launched his own brand of marijuana, named after his 1995 film stoner movie Friday. Fryday Kush. His partnership with the cannabis company Caviar Gold and, is being sold in the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Oklahoma in the US. The strain boasts a whopping 46.2% THC content and 10.78% CBD content. Be sure to keep a watch for this moguls move in the weed game.

Concluding Words

The cannabis industry is a very different space than the music industry. More and more rappers are making moves to take part of this growing buisness. The cannabis industry offers a new way for artists to generate revenue. It also provides a different creative outlet for artists to express their creativity. Whether it’s through merchandise like 2 Chainz, building a brand like Rick Ross, or investing in a company like Nas. More and  artists are seeing the lucrative potential of cannabis, and creating their own rapper weed.

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