4/20 celebrates all things around marijuana consumption. Over the past few years, several states in the U.S. have passed bills for legal recreational marijuana consumption. And so 4/20 has become bigger and bigger over the years.
It’s been claimed that the holiday began after a group of California teenagers in 1970 started the tradition of smoking at 4:20 p.m. every day. As it gained popularity, 420 became a code for marijuana and later translated to the date 4/20 (April 20) as a holiday. Others claim that 420 was the police code for the drug but there has been no concrete evidence supporting the belief.
Whether you celebrate choose to celebrate or not, take a look at 20 rap and R&B songs you should add to your 4/20 playlist.
1. "Smoke Break" - Chance The Rapper ft. Future (2016)
In “Smoke Break” Chance and Future talk about their relationships with women. The Chicago rapper references his girlfriend at the time (now wife Kirsten Corley) and the Pluto emcee raps about his ex-girlfriend and mother to his son Future, R&B singer Ciara. The song is found on Chance’s 2016 mixtape The Coloring Book.
Highest Lyric: “Let me crack this blunt/Slow it down for a second”
2. "Broccoli" - D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty (2016)
D.R.A.M. and Lil Yachty teamed up for the marijuana-inspired “Broccoli” back in 2016. The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 87 and eventually worked its way up to a top 10 spot on the chart. In the music video, the rappers use the irony of the song name and are seen waving pieces of actual broccoli.
Highest Lyric: “Yeah, I know your baby mama fond of me /All she want to do is smoke that broccoli”
3. "How High" - Redman and Method Man (1995)
“How High” was the first collaboration between Redman and Method Man. It was first featured in the hip-hop documentary The Show. The rappers would later star in a film titled How High released in 2001.
Highest Lyric: “HOW HIGH? So high that I can kiss the sky”
4. "James Joint" - Rihanna (2016)
“James Joint” was named after one of Rihanna’s frequent collaborators James Fauntleroy. They’ve also worked together on “Te Amo” and “Wait Your Turn.” “James Joint” is found on Rihanna’s 2016 Grammy-nominated LP Anti.
Highest Lyric: “I’d rather be smoking weed/Whenever we breathe”
5. "I Got 5 On It" - The Luniz (1995)
“I Got 5 On It” was Luniz’s debut single released in 1995. The record is about him and his friends pooling money together to buy some marijuana. The song was later creepily remixed and used for Jordan Peele’s 2019 psychological thriller US.
Highest Lyric: “Unless you pull out the fat, crispy/Five-dollar bill, on the real, before it’s history”
6. "Sativa" - Jhené Aiko ft. Rae Sremmurd (2017)
Jhené Aiko enlisted Rae Sremmurd for her 2017 single “Sativa.” The song is found on Aiko’s sophomore album Trip. The song was a fan favorite alongside “While We’re Young,” and “Never Call Me.” Aiko explained that the song was named “Sativa” because it’s her favorite strand of marijuana.
Highest Lyrics: “Only drug a bitch is on is the tree/But I lasted ten rounds like a freak/Like a G”
7. "Gin and Juice" - Snoop Dogg (1994)
“Gin and Juice” is a hip-hop staple. The track is from Snoop Dogg’s debut album Doggystyle which was released in 1993. While the title might reflect Snoop’s favorite cocktail, he shouts out his first love of marijuana frequently throughout the song.
Highest Lyric: “Rollin’ down the street, smokin’ indo/
Sippin’ on gin and juice, laid back”8. "Stoner" - Young Thug ft. Wale (2014)
“Stoner” solidified Young Thug’s placement in the Atlanta trap scene. The song is about how the YSL founder’s love (and dependency) on marijuana. The music video features guest appearances of Birdman, Migos, Fabo, and more.
Highest Lyric: “I’m a stoner, I’m a stoner, I’m a stoner/
I’m a motherf—ing stoner”9. "Pass That Dutch" - Missy Elliott (2003)
The music video for “Pass That Dutch” is iconic. In typical Missy Elliott fashion, the rapper/producer doesn’t miss a beat. She’s seen rapping as scarecrow in a corn field, later dancing in a cheerleader outfit, and then transforms into into a Fred “Rerun” Berry performing in a old school television set. “Pass That Dutch” was the lead single from her 2003 album This Is Not A Test!.
Highest Lyric: “Pass that Dutch, pass that Dutch (Come on, pass the Dutch, baby)/Shake, shake, shake ya stuff, ladies”
10. "Purple Swag" - A$AP Rocky (2011)
If there’s one thing A$AP Rocky is going to be, it’s authentic. The rapper told Complex that he recorded this song while high.
“We definitely recorded that s— in some small-a– closet. I was getting high. I was high as a kite. On some purple drink, purple weed, shouts to this weed. It just felt so natural,” he said.
The song is found on the rapper’s debut project, Deep Purple while the aforementioned record was the Harlem native’s first big hit.
Highest Lyric: “Purple drank, I still sip, purple weed blunt still lit/
Real n—-, real bitch, purple swag, that trill s—“11. "Because I Got High" - Afroman (2000)
Probably one of the most iconic songs about marijuana is Afroman’s 2000 hit “Because I Got High.” Throughout the song the California-bred rapper recalls all the mistakes he’s made or things he’s forgotten “because he got high.” The song peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the chart for 10 weeks.
Highest Lyric: “I messed up my entire life because I got high (go go go)”
12. "Young, Wild & Free" - Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg ft. Bruno Mars (2011)
“Young, Wild, & Free” served as the lead single from Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa’s film Mac and Devin Go To Highschool. The song features vocals from Bruno Mars and samples “Toot It & Boot It” (2010) and “Sneakin’ in the Back” (1974). The carefreeness of the song is felt in the visual component as well. The music video shows Snoop and Wiz having a blast riding skateboards, partying, and scenes from the film.
Highest Lyric: “So what we get drunk/So what we smoke weed/We’re just having fun/We don’t care who sees”
13. "We Be Burnin" - Sean Paul (2005)
“We Be Burnin” has two versions. The original “We Be Burnin (Legalize It)” promotes the legalization of marijuana. “We Be Burnin (Recognize It)” changes the lyrics from about trees to “gees” and was used a radio/airplay version.
Highest Lyric: “We be burnin’, not concernin’ what nobody wanna say”
14. "Stay Fly" - Three 6 Mafia (2006)
“Stay Fly” is one of the greats and a southern-rap classic. The record is the first single on Three 6 Mafia’s 2006 Most Known Unknowm. In addition to Three 6 Mafia, the song features fellow Memphis natives 8Ball & MJG and Young Buck. It is one of the groups biggest hits peaking at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart where it stayed for 23 weeks.
Highest Lyric: “Breaking down the good green, rolling the blunt”
15. "D’Evils" - SiR (2018)
SiR’s “D’Evils” is a reference to the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of “the evils.” The Inglewood native theme of the record is to keep “the evils” away so he can enjoy a stress-free life where marijuana helps him achieve that peace.
Highest Lyric: “Maybe I’m not flyin’, but I’m floatin'”
16. "Mary Jane" - Rick James (1978)
“Mary Jane” by Rick Ross is a certified classic. The song title is play on words for the Spanish word for “marijuana.” The term was popularized because of James’ 1978 hit.
Highest Lyric: “I’m in love with Mary Jane/ She’s my main thing”
17. "The Next Episode" - Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, and Nate Dogg (2000)
“The Next Episode” is from Dr. Dre’s 2001 which features Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, and Nate Dogg. The track references the final line of “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang”: “So just chill, ’til the next episode.” The single peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it stayed for 21 weeks.
Highest Lyric: “It’s California Love, this California bud got a n—- gang o’ pub”
18. "Marijuana" - Kid Cudi (2010)
Kid Cudi on “Marijuana” raps about his love for the drug but how dependency can take a toll on your emotional state if used too often. The record is found as the second to last track on Act II: A Stronger Trip.
Highest Lyric: “Pretty green bud all in my blunt/ Oh, I need it”
19. "Crumblin’ Erb" - OutKast (1994)
The message behind “Crumblin’ Erb” is for kids to stop shooting at one another and just smoke and relax. “Crumblin’ Erb” uses the bongos from the 1974 Isaac Hayes song “Joe Bell” to create a trippy vibe for the record. The track is found on the debut album from the rap duo Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik which was released in 1994.
Highest Lyric: “Of the cannabis sativa weed reefer, yeah, smoke s—“
20. "High All the Time" - 50 Cent (2003)
“High All the Time” is from 50 Cent’s debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin’. However, contrary to some of the artists on this list, 50 Cent admitted to never having smoked. “I don’t drink and I don’t use drugs, and I didn’t back then, either. I put that joint on the first record because I saw artists consistently selling 500,000 with that content.”
Highest Lyric: “Give me a dutch and a lighter, I’ll spark s—
And stay high all the time (I smoke that good s–)”
