By Hans Fink
The correlation between cannabis and music is well documented. Marijuana use was rampant among the jazz greats around the turn of the century, perhaps due to its qualities of providing a pleasant buzz without inhibiting coordination. As musical styles evolved through the decades, musicians from jazz great Louis Armstrong to The Beatles and Bob Marley changed their respective genres forever while under the influence of marijuana.
These days, with the many debates surrounding the prohibition and possible legalization of cannabis, a new generation of artists has arisen who are not only influenced by their recreational use of the herb, but fueled by the lifestyle and social political issues surrounding it. It’s no longer enough to simply be inspired by pot: These talented musicians seek to inspire as many as they can to legalize the herb.
The members of the Inland Empire-based band Inhale have won numerous accolades for their relentless, nonstop work ethic and impeccable live performances. Combining the rock-reggae stylings of Sublime with some insane jazz trumpet playing, this stony quartet from Corona has won several battle of the bands and was voted the Inland Empire Weekly’s Best Band of 2009.
Gigging six to seven days of the week, Inhale has shared the stage with the likes of Fishbone, Kymani Marley, Pato Banton, Yellow Man and Eek-A-Mouse, and has joined the fray of “awareness” shows for NORML, such as the Purple Haze Fest. As a tribute to its work ethic, Inhale can boast that the band’s sold more than 10,000 copies of its debut release, T.H.C. through relentless performing and self-promotion. Coming up in the near future, the boys are planning a national tour. As they are fond of saying, “Good music is good music and that’s good enough for Inhale . . . same with the herb; good herb is good herb so let’s smoke it.”
Having developed a worldwide fan base, the Las Vegas-based Latino hip-hop trio Los Marijuanos have taken their involvement to an international level. They’ve been featured in a slew of major magazines and newspapers and performed four times at the Cannabis Cup—even taking on the role of celebrity judges. They have also headlined or billed at events such as the Windy City Weed Fest, Million Marijuana Marchers, Seattle Hempfest, Portland Hempstalk, Eddy Lepp Freedom Fest and Ed Rosenthal’s Wonders of Cannabis, as well as numerous events produced by NORML.
“Get involved and write your city council men, register to vote and let’s change this madness,” says Pony Boy of Los Marijuanos. “Stop arresting and persecuting innocent people. Free Eddy Lepp, Marc Emery and all the other people who have been wrongfully imprisoned!”
Nothing seems out of reach for Fontana rapper and modern Renaissance man Ominous Words. Whether he is recording music, snowboarding, running his own board shop, or engaged in marijuana activism, Ominous has his hands in many pots. So deep is his involvement with NORML, that Keith Stroup, the organization’s founder, personally recorded a sound clip on Ominous’ most recent album, Kill the Static. You can also find Ominous on the AWOL One and Factors album Only Death Can Kill You, and see him in various snowboarding videos such as No Big Deal featuring top snowboarders Chris Bradshaw and Marc Frank Montoya.
Ominous has shared the stage with MCs such as Supernatural, U-God of the Wu-Tang Clan and Pep Love of Hieroglyphics. The level of involvement this notorious MC has in marijuana activism could take up this entire article. “This is some of what I am proud of,” he says of his accomplishments, “with my daughter being number one.”
Fed up with the harsh marijuana laws in Texas, reggae-infused hip-hop trio and El Paso natives Bloodshot Bandits have made it their mission to spread the word of the medical benefits of the almighty herb.
“If someone wants to smoke something, that’s their business,” says MC Saint Sludge. “We’re out here trying to do our part to spread the message of what we’ve been taught from the late great Jack Herer, Eddy Lepp and Rick Simpson. If marijuana can cure cancer, then we think everybody should [be allowed to] smoke!”
The Bloodshot Bandits have already made California a second home, gigging regularly in both Northern and Southern Cali. The group’s also played Hempstalk and, though young in the scene, the Bandits have been deepening their involvement in the cause of legalization. Although they are touring and promoting their debut album, Smoked Out—featuring Paul Merlz, The House of Chronic and Wayne Lonesome, and with production from Naturally Rollin South—the trio is preparing songs for a new album they plan to release by the end of the year.
