Have you ever wondered why there is such a strong connection between getting high and listening to great music? Scientists theorize that the active ingredients in marijuana and the rhythm of great music can both activate the brain’s mesolimbic dopamine system. That’s fancy scientist talk for “pleasure center.” Essentially, marijuana makes your brain feel good, music makes your brain feel good, and that combo means pure bliss! Check out our curated list of songs to get high to and be inspired to start creating your own playlist.
Young, Wild & Free by Wiz Khalifa & Snoop Dogg Feat. Bruno Mars
The title, Young, Wild, and Free, says it all, and with giants like Snoop Dogg, Whiz Khalifa, and Bruno Mars all weighing in on the track, you know it was made for getting high.
Created for the movie “Mac & Devin Go To High School,” Young, Wild, Free takes you on a trip down memory lane. From sampling Tom Scott’s 1973 Jazz Fusion track, “Sneakin’ in the Back,” to Bruno Mars’ signature style on the chorus, this multigenerational trio managed to capture everyone’s carefree high-school party days.
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 by Bob Dylan
Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35 has a permanent home on many a pot playlist, even though Bob Dylan has frequently reminded the public that the song has nothing to do with marijuana. However, when you hear the chorus, you’ll understand why many people associate this song with getting high.
Marijuana by Kid Cudi
Though hip-hop artist Kid Cudi has stepped away from the scene in recent years to embrace fatherhood, his 2010 track, Marijuana, reflects his earlier immersion. In fact, the track is exactly 4 minutes and 20 seconds of delicious mellow goodness. And, as you might have guessed, the lyrics are an ode to the beloved green plant and the culture.
Kush by Lil Wayne
New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne is known for being an open book, and his autobiographical lyrics are often drawn from real life.
Kush follows this same pattern, reflecting on the challenges that Lil’ Wayne overcame on his journey from inner-city New Orleans to wealth and fame. However, it takes a detour away from Lil’ Wayne’s usual heavy beat and hard-core rap style.
The soulful vocals in Kush are as smooth as the song’s namesake and offer a rare glimpse at the true range and talent that Lil’ Wayne hides under the gruff rapper exterior.
Kaya by Bob Marley & The Wailers
Bob Marley’s Kaya takes us on an exotic journey back into a time and place that doesn’t exist anymore. Kaya, the Jamaican term for Marijuana, is a transcendent love song to Mother Nature and those who embrace her. The song’s deep, soul-soothing beauty has the power to transport you back to Jamaica in the 1970s at the height of the Rastafarian movement.
Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles
John Lennon was often asked if marijuana or LSD had a hand in creating the haunting emotion that runs through Strawberry Fields Forever. He has always maintained that the emotion was natural and the result of a deep nostalgia for the wild, unmanicured gardens of the Salvation Army Home for Wayward Boys that bordered his childhood home.
The song’s lilting flute opening and distorted orchestral sounds combined with John Lennon’s mellow crooning make Strawberry Fields Forever the perfect backdrop for deep relaxation and a journey back to your favorite childhood playgrounds.
Mary Jane by Rick James
Rick James’ Mary Jane is a classic throwback to the 1970s counterculture. The iconic hit was released in 1978, in the very earliest days of the Nixon Administration’s new War on Drugs. This meant that the always spicy Rick James gave a nod to the federal crackdown by cloaking marijuana in the guise of his “best girl,” Mary Jane, then letting everyone know exactly where he stood by lighting up a joint on stage at the end of every show.
Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd
Could we write a “list of songs to get high to” without including at least one Pink Floyd song? We don’t think so. In a way, you can think of Comfortably Numb as a “pick-your-own-adventure” entrant.
If you are looking for a little more excitement and entertainment, watch the video, or better yet, watch the whole rock opera, the Wall. When the song is seen with its original video footage, it shape shifts into something decidedly less soothing. The smooth, even mellowness of the audio track suddenly has an undercurrent of urgency, despair, and resentment as the lead character, Floyd, sheds the last of his humanity, receding deep inside himself and allowing his evil alter ego to take control.
Gin and Juice by Snoop Dogg
Gin and Juice was the quintessential party anthem of the early 90s, and it still retains much of that swagger today. This is a nostalgia-inducing classic for Gen X/Millenial stoners.
Purple Haze by the Jimi Hendrix Experience
Purple Haze is another iconic weed culture song that reportedly had nothing whatsoever to do with marijuana. Jimi Hendrix has often told the story of the song’s lyrics coming to him in a dream he had after reading a sci-fi novel. The “purple haze” from Jimi’s dream was, for him, a spiritual symbol. In fact, the initial hook was “Purple Haze, Jesus Saves.”
Sweet Leaf by Black Sabbath
The next song on our list is far from ambiguous. Black Sabbath’s Sweet Leaf is absolutely a love ballad to marijuana. The song even opens to the real sound of guitarist Tony Iommi coughing after a hit from the bong. The band coined the nickname themselves, pinching the name Sweet Leaf from a brand of Irish cigarettes.
Black Sabbath has had several famous and ridiculously talented frontmen, but the stars aligned, and Sweet Leaf was created during the Ozzy years. It is hard to imagine that the song would have quite the same vibe without Ozzy’s classic raspy British accent. The combination of Ozzy’s unique vocals and the classic rock guitar imbues Sweet Leaf with a dark, broody counterculture feeling, making it perfect for an edgy party.
Because I Got High by Afroman
Any honest weed-centric playlist really should reserve a spot for Afroman’s Because I Got High. Initially penned as a quick joke poking fun at the overwhelming motivation deficit that can occur with heavy (or, let’s face it, even normal) cannabis use. The song features a simple cadence and a growing list of negative consequences that befall the singer because “he got high.”
Pass That Dutch by Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott’s Pass That Dutch earns a spot on the playlist with its title nod to marijuana. Dutch refers to the Dutch Master cigars used to roll blunts. The song lyrics are not heavily focused on marijuana, but the song is impossible to listen to without dancing. That alone makes it an excellent choice for mixing with a good peppy Sativa strain and a smoky nightclub floor.
The Next Episode by Dr Dre Feat. Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Nate Dogg
Is there any better way to close out a “list of songs to get high to” than a Dr. Dre/Snoop Dog collab? The Next Episode is a sequel to the classic Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg hit Nuthin But a G Thang.
Other Songs to Get High To
- Crumblin Erb by Outkast
- How High by Method Man & Redman
- Hits from the Bong by Cypress Hill
- Brown Sugar by D’Angelo
- My Medicine by Snoop Dogg ft. Willie Nelson
- Sober by Childish Gambino
- Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” by Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg
- We Be Burnin by Sean Paul
- One Toke over the Line by Brewer & Shipley
- Legalize It by Peter Tosh
- Smoke Weed Everyday by Snoop Dogg
- Pass the Kouchie by The Mighty Diamonds
- Blueberry Yum Yum by Ludacris