When it comes to Smoke This, Play That, I have a specific vibe I want you to feel. I want you to fall into the sunken place of the music. I want you to get high as fuck, close your eyes, and let the THC take hold of your soul while directing through an entire album. This isn’t just some “Yo, let that album run one time for the one time” shit. Oh no. Oh. No. I not only want you to hear the music, I want you to damn near become one with the music. Because that’s how I feel when I’m high as hell, blasting a new album.
So grab your preferred smoking device, and explore the following strain + album pairings.
2 Chainz – Pretty Girls Like Trap Music
When: ALWAYS
Where: EVERYWHERE
2 Chainz has been one my favorite rappers since 2010, and this is the project I always wanted from him. My god, it’s soooooooo good. The lyrics, the features, the songs, the vibe, the production, the everything is sooooo perfect. Ask me and I’d say it’s the best rap project to come out this year, YEAH I SAID IT KENDRICK STANS. Any time I see an album with over 12 songs, I instantly get tired. But the commitment of time is so worth it for Pretty Girls Like Trap Music. If you need me, I’ll be somewhere blasting “Sleep When U Die” like I’m not still going to get my eight hours per night.
Strain:OG Kush
OG Kush is 2 Chainz’ favorite strain, and there’s even a song on the album called “OG Kush Diet.” I mean, come on. This is a no-brainer.
Mali Music – The Transition of Mali Music
When: 7:19 a.m.
Where: At home as you get ready for the day/on the way to work. It’s one of those albums that’ll have you feeling mighty powerful for no reason.
I stumbled across Mali Music while surfing the New Music section of Apple Music, and I’m so happy I did. He’s an incredible R&B artist who apparently has the Jhene Aiko cosign. You play his music and it has a new school feel with an old school voice. Like, you can really really hear the soul in Mali Music’s voice. He has one of those raspy-ass voices that mixes so well with the melodies, one of those voices that makes you stand up like “BOY YOU BETTA SING.” I bet he goes hard live.
Strain:Lemon Haze
Let me just say that Lemon Haze sounds like a playful strain, but the high it creates is anything but a game. I was soooo high the first time I smoked it, which coincidentally was the first time I ran through The Transition of Mali Music, and boy oh boy were they a perfect combo. I was so in tune with the music that it felt like I was catching the Holy Ghost. Smoke a blunt of Lemon Haze, play “Gonna Be Alright,” and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.
Sango – De Mim, Pra Você
When: 11:27 p.m.
Where: In a classic house party/club environment. One where everybody’s just sweaty and grindin’ against any and everything possible. Where the air just smells of cannabis, must, and sexual energy. Yeah.
I love a good instrumental album. Sango is a producer whose sound is something I’ve never heard before. Categorized as electronic, I’d call his album more of something like…hmmm…Island Twerk Tunes. It sounds like a party. You play some Sango and it’s physically impossible to stay in your chair. It’s the perfect album for people who likes to sit back and sink into the music. Toss on your white linen pants, get high, and let your feet and hips do the talking.
Strain:Island Haze
Island jams need island strains. You want something that smells like carefree living and tastes like the sun. Something that reminds you of drinking margaritas out of a pineapple while the worries of the world fall from your shoulders. Island Haze is what you need. It tastes and smokes exactly like Sango’s music sounds/feels.
Phoenix – Ti Amo
When: 3:18 p.m.
Where: In the car, with the sunroof open, on your way to a different city for a weekend vacation
Lately, my favorite genre of music has been Alternative. When I saw this album pop up under that section in Apple Music, I figured “Ehhh, let’s see.” Thank God I did. Phoenix goes extremely hard. It’s another album that you listen to with your heart, not your ears. You have absolutely no clue what they’re saying, but you know they’re definitely going off because you find yourself lost in every single beat.
Strain:Alien OG
This album sounds like some spacey ass robot conversation mixed over a bunch of feel-good-about-life beats. For that, you need something that’ll make you space out for the entire 30-40 minutes it’s playing. Alien OG has your back there. It’ll smack you right in the eyelids, spread to your entire face, and next thing you know, you can no longer feel your arms. But you can feel Ti Amo, that’s a promise.
H.E.R. – H.E.R., Vol. 2
When: 2:43 a.m.
Where: By the fireplace of a castle living room, wearing a robe and smoking a churchwarden pipe as you sink into the depths of your heart’s desires. Ya know, some movie scene shit.
I wrote about H.E.R’s first project from 2016 last month, not knowing that she had a new project coming this month. It was the most pleasant surprise. She’s back and she’s even better.
Picture this: you know that feeling when you miss something/someone, but you aren’t exactly sure who/what the something/one is? You just know there’s a hole there, and you have to fill it someway, somehow? That’s what H.E.R. sounds like. Vol. 1 made me miss things that I never had; Vol. 2 doubles down on it. And I love it. H.E.R.’s music is deep, meaningful, and connects with a part of you that you didn’t know was there. It’s musical nostalgia.
Strain:LA Confidential
LA Confidential is one of those strains that’ll knock you out in the second round if you aren’t careful. Don’t make plans if you smoke this. Just find a comfortable place to sit, smoke up, then grab some headphones and run this H.E.R., Vol. 2.
Calvin Harris – Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1
When: On a Sunday Funday
Where: On a boat in 97-degree weather with champagne-infused beverages by the plenty
Dog, I am so sorry for sleeping on Calvin Harris. I really thought he made “Woody from Toy Story“-type tunes. Just some ol’ boy bandy, pop BS that I’d never let flow through the Bose, but boy oh boy, I was WRONG. I’m man enough to admit that because Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 is, dare I say, the SOUND of the summer? It is. I’m also not the person to decide that, but if you think I won’t two-step next to the ocean with three joints in my mouth to “Slide” at some point this summer…well…you’re probably right. But the album is damn good.
Strain:Blue Dream
I don’t even need to explain this one. You already know how Blue Dream feels.
Lastly, here’s the Smoke This, Play That Vol. 2 Apple Music playlist: https://itunes.apple.com/us/playlist/smoke-this-play-that-vol-2/idpl.0e953b7eaafb426689abcfd7ff0c9c17
I’ll let you decide what vibe it creates, but I’d play it during a smoke ‘n chill.
