Jay-Z's Success on the Cannabis Scene
A photo of Jay-Z back in the day. Take in Hamburg, Germany, in 2003. Source: Mikamote on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
It was no bombshell of a news when Jay-Z announced he would join the legal cannabis sector a few years back. In collaboration with Caliva, the billionaire rapper introduced his premium cannabis brand Monogram, featuring several strains designated as light, medium and heavy, available in flower, joints and pre-rolled cigars.
Hova has always had a special knack for making up rhymes about weed and the times he had as a drug dealer on the streets.
The cannabis venture Monogram quickly became yet another success in Jay's rich and diverse portfolio. His business empire spans clothing lines, alcoholic beverages, real estate, sports teams, and record labels. It all sort of complements his extraordinary music career, embellished with achievements such as a record-breaking 88 Grammy-award nominations, tying only his spouse, Beyonce.
For the launch of Monogram, the rapper joined forces with Caliva, a company founded by a Seattle woman named Shannon Harder Ronald back in 2015. Caliva is currently one of the biggest single-state operators in California.
"I created Monogram to give cannabis the respect it deserves by showcasing the tremendous hard work, time and care that go into crafting a superior smoke. Monogram products are next level when it comes to quality and consistency and we're just getting started," the billionaire rapper and business mogul said when he introduced his cannabis brand.
Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter's conquest of the Cannabis industry does not stop there, however. He has recently become the "Chief Visionary Officer" of The Parent Company, an omnichannel platform that houses over 15 cannabis brands, including Monogram. The Parent Company trades publicly on the Canadian NEO Exchange. It was the largest SPAC cannabis transaction ever and is also the exclusive marijuana partner of Jay-Z's entertainment powerhouse Roc Nation.
As a music and cultural icon Jay-Z perhaps did not step up to take a more central role in destigmatizing weed in a way that other rappers such as Cypress Hill and Snoop Dogg did. His music rather focuses on the lifestyle that came with selling illegal substances on the street. Still, artists such as Jay give us a glance at the failed War on Drugs. His rhymes are often about difficult-to-digest truths from a not-so-glamorous era in America.
Jay-Z is turning 53 today. We wish him many happy returns of the day! And looking forward to more of his outstanding accomplishments in Cannabis.
S
Stephen Andrews
