Dec 1st–Dec 7th, 2022 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times State Licensed Dispensaries & Doctor Cer tifications 37 Rick James’ vocals and his backup singers, the strings, and piano all come together magically.” When the group is performing in the Valley, and they throw “Mary Jane” onto the turntable, the crowd goes wild. “It’s definitely a favorite for all the weed/ music lovers out there,” Stargroove says. The Armed Gang, ‘Funky Fever’ Another of the group’s favorite songs about weed is the 1983 “Funky Fever” jam by Kenny Claiborne & The Armed Gang, a funk group formed in Vicenza, Italy. “It consists of smooth guitar, bass riffs, and funky piano notes throughout the song,” Stargroove remarks. “With all these funky notes and smooth vocals, it’s a jam just to sit, relax, and blaze one to.” Toward the end of the jam, you can hear a recorded clip of the band passing a joint around. George McCrae, ‘I Get Lifted’ “It’s another smooth dope song from 1974, with three musical elements that stick out: funky drum and bass beats, the repetitive echoing piano, and George McCrae’s smooth high-pitched singing voice,” Stargroove says. “The smooth-sounding chorus that harmonizes the lyrics of ‘I get lifted up hi-high–hi-high’ throughout the song makes it a favorite weed-smoking song in our honest opinion.” Total Devastation, ‘Many Clouds of Smoke’ “‘Many Clouds of Smoke’ is a hip-hop joint from 1993. The song’s beat has a dope rhythm, and the lyrics consist of the artists’ experiences smoking weed and how they love marijuana. The song also encourages the listener to smoke weed and not crack. When this song debuted in ’93, the talks about legalizing marijuana were heavily spoken about in music like artist Cypress Hill and many more. Therefore, this song is a marijuana anthem,” Stargroove explains. DJ KP is a Mesa-based artist who can be found at Mint dispensaries spinning hip-hop on the newer Serato DJ software platform. Still, KP, an acronym for “keep positive,” is an old-school DJ who used to spin vinyl records at clubs and events. “Now, my kids are learning on my old Numark turntables,” he says. “I still love old vinyl, but I go with an all-digital setup for events like this because it’s easier to lug my equipment around.” Cheech & Chong, self- titled album “I like old comedy albums, like Cheech & Chong, when I smoke out,” KP continues. “It’s the funniest shit I ever heard.” Cheech & Chong were stand-up come- dians with a love of cannabis who found success on the silver screen in the late 1970s and ’80s. “When I get high, I like to listen to their old stuff.” Bob Marley and the Wailers, ‘One Love’ “I also like ‘One Love,’ where the music is made happy,” KP says. “In those dangerous times of doing weed, they were still happy doing it. That’s what it’s all about.” The reggae single appears on the 1977 Exodus album and is an anthem for weed smokers. Dr. Dre, The Chronic “The Chronic would draw me in to want to do some weed,” KP says of the No. 1 album on the Hot Rap Singles and Hot R&B Singles Billboard charts in 1993. “And I would later listen to Snoop Dogg [who was featured in the album] in high school.” The term “chronic” was slang for good weed in late 1992 when Dr. Dre released the now- classic album. Thirty years later, some of the songs are still popular at clubs, on the radio, and on cellphone playlists, including “Nuthin’ but a “G” Thang,” which DJ KP spins on his sets. | CANNABIS | Vibey from p 35 DJ KP says that even though he does events with all-digital equipment, he still loves old vinyl. Mike Madriaga
