LOS ANGELES (420CanNews)—With the Grammys set for February 4, cannabis enthusiasts look forward to marijuana themes wafting like pot fumes over the red carpet at American music’s big annual shindig.
But cannabis has always played a role in popular music, from Musical Youth’s “Pass the Dutchie” in 1982 to Sublime’s “Smoke Two Joints” in 1991 and Afroman’s “Because I Got High” in 2000. Today, top-selling artists from Mylie Cyrus to Snoop Dogg count themselves among the proud users of marijuana, sometimes touting their pastime, sometimes not. But either way, the history of weed and music will continue to play unabated, unhindered, and unabashed.
Stoners Up for Awards at the Grammys 2024
Multiple artists who have expressed their use of marijuana publicly are up for Grammys this year, including Mylie Cyrus and Willie Nelson, both of whom were named on a Business Insider list of celebrities who have talked about using weed.
As featured in Celebstoner, Cyrus is up for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for “Endless Summer Vacation;” Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance for her megahit, “Flowers;” Best Pop Duo or Group Vocal Performance for “Thousand Miles” featuring Brandi Carlile.
Having won two Grammys last year for a lifetime total of 12, the 90-year-old Nelson has received two more Grammy nominations in 2024, bringing his number of nominations to a whopping 58. Last year, he won his 11th and 12th Grammys. This year, Nelson is up for Best Bluegrass Album for his album of the same name, “Bluegrass,” and Best Americana Roots Song, “California Sober” by Billy Strings that features Nelson.
Another celebrity on the Business Insider list to receive a Grammy nomination is comedian Sarah Silverman. She’s nominated in the Best Comedy Album category for “Someone You Love.”
Tribute to Margaritaville
With the passing of legendary Margaritaville singer Jimmy Buffett this year, marijuana enthusiasts will take solace in a final nod to weed from the laid-back singer-songwriter. In the posthumous song collection “Equal Strain on All Parts” released last fall, a feature track has Buffet teaming up with former Beatle Paul McCartney on a song called “My Gummie Just Kicked In.”
Inspiration for the song came from an incident where Buffett’s wife, Jane, stumbled while going to the dining table where McCartney was sitting. In a report from Entertainment Weekly, he asked if she was alright, and Jane said, “I’m fine. My gummie just kicked in.”
Weed and Music Through History
Marijuana has inspired music for decades. Going back to the 1920s, trumpeter Louis Armstrong recorded an instrumental melody called “Muggles,” which was slang for weed.
In the 1960s, protest singer Bob Dylan allegedly introduced Beatle John Lennon to marijuana, inspiring the song, “Got to Get You Into My Life.” Caribbean musicians like Bob Marley kept cannabis-themed songs on the charts through the 70s and 80s, with hits like “Kaya” and “Ganga Gun.” In the 1990s, California rappers like Snoop Dogg took on the mantle of cannabis culture, creating not just hit songs but an entire brand around his weed persona.
More recently, artists such as Lana Del Rey with “High by the Beach” and Bruno Mars with “Smokin’ Out the Window” have embraced marijuana themes in their music. Weed as a muse for music has indeed crossed the decades and will undoubtedly grow as stigmas against its use fall away.
Best Songs About Weed
With marijuana inspiring musicians for generations, picking the best songs about weed is a daunting exercise. But Billboard took on the job last year, naming several memorable tunes to its list of favorites. Here are the top 10 songs on Billboard’s list of favorite cannabis-themed recordings:
10. Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Kurupt, “The Next Episode.”
9. Mighty Diamonds, “Pass the Kouchie.”
8. Luniz, “I Got 5 on It.”
7. Black Sabbath, “Sweet Leaf.”
6. Cypress Hill, “Hits From the Bong.”
5. Sublime, “Smoke Two Joints.”
4. Missy Elliott, “Pass That Dutch.”
3. Peter Tosh, “Legalize It.”
2. Three 6 Mafia, “Stay High.”
1. Rick James, “Mary Jane.”
Whoever wins at this year’s Grammys 2024 awards ceremony, it’s clear that the inspiration drawn from marijuana will undoubtedly continue far into the future of American music. With legalization spreading from state to state, public acceptance of cannabis use for both medical and recreational purposes will shift the way people think—and sing—about weed.
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— Story Filed By 420CanNews Staff
Here’s More Information on the Topic:
2024 Grammy Noms for Willie, Billy, Miley, Brandy, Burna Boy and More
https://www.celebstoner.com/reviews/music/2023/11/10/2024-grammy-nominations-winners/
Hear Jimmy Buffett’s weed anthem with Paul McCartney from posthumous final album
https://ew.com/music/jimmy-buffett-weed-anthem-final-album-paul-mccartney/
CBS Censors Justin Bieber at Grammys, Bleeps Several ‘Weed’ References
https://www.celebstoner.com/reviews/music/2021/11/24/2022-grammy-nominees-winners/
13 celebrities who have talked about smoking weed
https://www.businessinsider.com/celebrities-who-smoke-weed-2018-10#lady-gaga-has-said-smoking-weed-helps-manage-the-physical-and-emotional-stress-of-stardom-1
Trends: How marijuana has influenced modern music
https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2022/04/trends-how-marijuana-has-influenced-modern-music#:~:text=Weed%20can%20be%20first%20seen,a%20slang%20term%20for%20weed.
Weed Songs: 25 Tokin’ Tunes Ranked By Potency
https://www.billboard.com/lists/weed-songs-best/
