It is no secret that cannabis and music have a long history together. From jazz and reggae to rock and hip-hop, artists have referenced the plant for generations. Few modern genres, however, have developed quite as visible a relationship with cannabis as rap and hip-hop.
Cannabis strains appear throughout rap lyrics, album titles and artist interviews, while some rappers have gone considerably further by launching their own cannabis brands and collaborating directly with breeders. Berner’s involvement with Cookies and Wiz Khalifa’s Khalifa Kush are two of the clearest examples of the relationship between hip-hop and modern cannabis culture.
So, what cannabis strains do rappers actually smoke? There is obviously no single answer, and tastes change over time, but several strains have developed particularly strong connections with hip-hop culture.
Girl Scout Cookies
Girl Scout Cookies, now commonly shortened to GSC or simply Cookies, is one of the clearest examples of hip-hop helping turn a cannabis strain into a cultural phenomenon.
The strain emerged from San Francisco’s Cookie Fam breeding scene, with rapper and cannabis entrepreneur Berner playing a major role in bringing the genetics to a wider audience. Rap references and early attention from artists including Wiz Khalifa helped push Cookies far beyond the Bay Area.
The exact history of GSC is more complicated than the frequently repeated description of a straightforward OG Kush × Durban Poison cross, but its influence is undeniable. Cookies genetics went on to contribute to strains such as Sunset Sherbet and Gelato, helping establish the sweet, earthy and fuel-influenced profile associated with a new generation of Californian cannabis.
OG Kush
OG Kush is one of the defining cannabis strains of West Coast hip-hop. It rose to prominence in California during the 1990s and eventually became one of the most influential genetic families in modern cannabis.
The meaning of “OG” has generated countless theories over the years, including claims that it means Original Gangster or Ocean Grown. There is no reliable evidence tying the strain’s name directly to Ice-T’s 1991 track O.G. Original Gangster, so that story is better regarded as cannabis folklore than established history.
What is much clearer is OG Kush’s connection with hip-hop. Kush references became increasingly prominent throughout rap during the 2000s, while OG Kush itself became associated with artists and cannabis personalities across the West Coast. Its earthy, pine, citrus and fuel-like profile has subsequently influenced an enormous number of later Kush hybrids.
Khalifa Kush
Few rapper-associated strains have a clearer connection to an individual artist than Khalifa Kush. The strain was developed specifically for Wiz Khalifa during the early 2010s and was initially kept within his private collection before eventually becoming commercially available.
Wiz Khalifa’s connection with cannabis had already become an important part of his musical identity, particularly following the release of his 2010 mixtape Kush & Orange Juice. Khalifa Kush took that association further by creating a cannabis variety specifically around the rapper’s preferences.
The precise genetics of the original Khalifa Kush have never been fully disclosed, although the strain has long been associated with the wider OG Kush family. The name has since developed into a broader cannabis brand, making Khalifa Kush one of the strongest examples of the relationship between a hip-hop artist and a dedicated cannabis strain.
Jack Herer
Jack Herer is another established strain with a documented connection to hip-hop. Named after the influential American cannabis activist and author, Jack Herer became one of the most recognisable Dutch cannabis strains of the 1990s.
Run The Jewels rapper Killer Mike has spoken about enjoying Jack Herer while in Canada, while describing Sour Diesel as his preference in New York. His association with cannabis goes considerably further than casual references: Run The Jewels have also collaborated with cannabis brands on products connected to their music.
Jack Herer is generally regarded as a sativa-dominant hybrid, although individual breeder versions can vary. Its sensory profile commonly combines pine, spice, herbs and citrus, and its long-standing reputation has helped keep the strain prominent decades after it first appeared.
Sour Diesel
Killer Mike is far from the only rapper associated with Sour Diesel. The strain became particularly closely connected with New York and East Coast cannabis culture during the 1990s and subsequently appeared throughout hip-hop references and artist interviews.
Sour Diesel’s exact origins remain disputed, so claims about one definitive parentage should be treated cautiously. It is generally connected to the wider Chemdog family of genetics, and its reputation was built around a particularly distinctive fuel-like, sour and citrus-heavy aroma.
Its popularity has survived multiple generations of hip-hop. Older East Coast cannabis culture helped establish Sour Diesel’s name, while later artists including Wiz Khalifa continued referencing the strain. Few cannabis varieties are as strongly associated with both a particular city and a particular era of rap culture.
Hip-Hop’s Influence on Cannabis Strains
The connection between rap and cannabis has changed considerably over the years. Earlier generations of artists mainly referenced existing strains in lyrics, whereas today’s relationship increasingly extends into breeding, branding and commercial cannabis businesses.
Berner’s role in building Cookies is perhaps the clearest example. What began around cannabis genetics and the San Francisco scene evolved into an internationally recognised cannabis and lifestyle brand. Wiz Khalifa followed a different route with Khalifa Kush, while artists including B-Real and members of Run The Jewels have also become directly involved with cannabis companies and collaborations.
This means hip-hop no longer simply reflects cannabis culture. In some cases, rappers have actively helped determine which strain names become famous and which genetics reach a much wider audience.
So, What Cannabis Strains Do Rappers Smoke?
There is obviously no definitive strain preferred by every rapper, and many of the claims repeated online about celebrity favourites are difficult to verify. What we can identify are cannabis strains with particularly well-documented connections to individual artists and the wider hip-hop scene.
Girl Scout Cookies became intertwined with Berner and the rise of Cookies, OG Kush helped define West Coast cannabis culture, Khalifa Kush was developed specifically for Wiz Khalifa, while Jack Herer and Sour Diesel have both been publicly associated with prominent rappers.
The relationship between cannabis and hip-hop has now existed for several generations, and it continues to evolve from simple lyrical references into artist-owned brands, strain collaborations and dedicated genetics. Judging by that history, cannabis is likely to remain closely connected with rap culture for a long time to come.
