About this Playlist
(The Role Of Cannabis As A Musical Catalyst)
Let’s Get Started, Shall We?
Every aspect of our Earthbound existence has one singular common characteristic: Somebody had to think of it first.
Every object, every abstract concept, every social contract, every social program, every official organization, every beau acracy, every ittie bittie little detail of our civilization started out as a spark in our grey matter, until it became realized as part of our collective reality.
I can’t help but think: What role did cannabis play in that?
I’m not trying to say cannabis is the actual reason for our higher brain functions.
I’m just saying, the going into space thing required some fairly large jumps in logic that strike me as being a prime moment to have indulged in something that would have, let’s say, expanded our imagination to a certain degree.
And don’t get me started on mobile phones and the Internet…
Any naturally occurring plant with an abundant amount of psychotropic chemicals in its makeup is bound to find itself ingested by a human.
Could cannabis have even had a hand in our evolutionary process.
Again, I can’t say with any empirical or historical certainty that this would be the case.
I’d also say no reasonable or plausible observation should be dismissed out of hand.
But that is another discussion for another time…
Our discussion, brothers and sisters, is about how cannabis and music always seem to be present when shenanigans are afoot.
Get It Together And See What’s Happening…
As previously discussed, cannabis and music always seem to be there when a good idea is to be had. Coincidentally, it’s also there when a lot of bad ideas happen as well. The only difference being is that bad cannabis ideas usually involve unusual flavour combinations or anime/videogame fanfic, not tyranny and rampant genocide.
Questionable ideas aside, the intersection of cannabis and music is all about a shared love. A shared love of the esoteric mind travels that can be had when two or more are gathered for consciousness expanding.
Let us examine the plant just a little bit closer, hmm?
Cannabis is a psychotropic substance. The word psychotropic is derived from two words in the Greek language, psyche, meaning ‘mind,’ and tropos, meaning ‘to turn’ or ‘a turning.’
A psychotropic substance is one that alters perception, thoughts, moods. It directly affects the thought process.
Consequently, your perception while under the influence of a psychotropic substance will be altered to a certain degree.
Not everyone will have the same experience with cannabis. Depending a wide variety of factors, those experiences can be pleasant, unpleasant or completely neutral. As with anything, I would advise education, information and investigation.
For those who are curious and/or open to treading a new path, or those who want to better understand the relationship, in the words of late-night talk show host Arsenio Hall…Let’s…get busy.
Down The Rabbit Hole We Go…
However you begin your session, the result will always end up the same. You set your foot on the Emerald Path in search of…something.
A turning of the mind to a much wider field of view.
I do not presume to speak for anyone else in describing my mind state, but I imagine that if you’re reading this, then our paths might share some common ground.
The psychotropic properties of cannabis can peel away the curtain of the universe. It is here that you perceive, realize and understand your insignificance as it pertains to the larger scale.
You are but a small grain of sand on a vast and immeasurable beach, beside a seemingly infinite ocean.
Yet at the same time, you (Yes, you!) are here and present in the moment, you thermodynamic miracle, you.
You are here.
When the sound kicks in, you hear all the nuances and inflections you’re supposed to hear. We will all hear and understand them differently, but we will hear them.
In that moment of your mind turned, you will find meaning. That meaning will be for you and you alone. It was meant for you, directed at you.
When you return from your journey, what you do with what you received will be up to you.
What We Get Out Of This…
Having beautiful thoughts is a beautiful thing.
I would hope everyone has them, because they certainly do the world a heap of good.
But understand this: Thoughts without actions are useless, and actions without thoughts are pointless.
A very wise old head said to me, Think stoned, but act sober.
Lay back, inhale, close your eyes, and perceive of all that is possible to perceive.
And when you have returned from the Void, refreshed and filled with new light, make a plan to act upon your new knowledge. Take these things you’ve learned and share them.
Let’s push things forward.
Please enjoy the playlist that accompanies the article. It is curated to represent the revelation of relevant truths, the humour in the absurdity of our existence at times, and the need for promoting forward momentum.
As always, keep it weird…
Part of the Green Space Collection
Track Listing
- God’s Kitchen – Blancmange
- Shut Em Down – Pe-te Rock Mixx – Public Enemy
- Welcome To The Terrordome – Pharoahe Monch
- Alright – Kendrick Lamar
- Television Rules the Nation – Daft Punk
- I am not a woman, I’m a god – Halsey
- Obeah Woman – (DJ Logic Remix) – Nina Simone
- Woman Of The Ghetto – Flume’s Jackin House Mix – Marlena Shaw
- Louder (feat. Sian Evans) – Club Mix – DJ Fresh
- The Hand That Feeds – Nine Inch Nails
- Energy – SuperHeavy
- Let The Drummer Kick – Citizen Cope
- Cancer – Filter
- Redbone – Childish Gambino
- Let’s Push Things Forward – The Streets
- 8 Point Agenda – The Herbaliser
- I’ve Seen All Good People: a. Your Move, b. All Good People – 2003 Remaster – Yes
- Spinning Wheel – Blood, Sweat & Tears
- (I Can’t Get Me No) Satisfaction – DEVO
- Us And Them – 2023 Remaster – Pink Floyd
- Don’t Forget – Dayne Jordan
- War – Bob Marley & The Wailers
- Futures – Jimmy Eat World
- Finest Worksong – Remastered – R.E.M.
- Changes – 2015 Remaster – David Bowie
- Cult of Personality – Living Colour
- Everything Counts – Depeche Mode
- Television The Drug Of The Nation – The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
- Holler If Ya’ Hear Me – 2Pac
- For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield
- Power And The Passion – Remastered Version – Midnight Oil
- Illegal Business – Boogie Down Productions
- Panic Attack – Atmosphere
- Where It’s At – Album Version W/ Intro – Beck
- Clampdown – Remastered – The Clash
- Monkey Gone to Heaven – Pixies
- Novocaine For The Soul – Eels
- Pets – Porno for Pyros
- Renegades Of Funk – Rage Against The Machine
- Life During Wartime – 2005 Remaster – Talking Heads
- Eminence Front – The Who
- Sinsemilla – Black Uhuru
- What You Waiting For? – Gwen Stefani
- Slippin’ Into Darkness – War
- Assassinations – Stateless
- The Royal Scam – Steely Dan
- Pressure – Billy Joel
- Advert – 2012 Remaster – Blur
- Lust For Life – Iggy Pop
- What We All Want – Gang Of Four
- Tips For Teens – Sparks
- Uncle Sam Goddamn – Brother Ali
- Resurrection – Common
- F.E.A.R. – Ian Brown
- Rise – Bob Clearmountain Remix – Public Image Ltd.
- Get A Move On! – Mr. Scruff
- We Are All Made of Stars – Moby
- Nobody Told Me – Ultimate Mix – John Lennon
Playlist image GPT4
