GANJA REGGAE of the 70s, 80s & 90s
20 of the Best for 4/20
Okay, let’s be blunt. The celebration of 4/20 has a long and storied history. It apparently took 20+ years for the original “4:20 dudes” to be given credit for their undeniable contribution to the “day of marijuana” title and tale.
A northern California group of friends—known as the Waldos—would gather at 4:20 p.m. to smoke a “doobie” next to a wall on their high school campus. They’d whisper 420 to each other as the Waldo’s secret code for marijuana. That catchy number was picked up years later by the Grateful Dead and High Times magazine and 4/20 was soon catapulted into the stratosphere, thus becoming the global code for “let’s smoke a doobie” day.
Jamaican artists were always on board with smoking a doobie, or, as they called it, a spliff. There have been hundreds ‘pon hundreds of “ganja” tunes recorded since the 60s. The Rastas, in particular, have been growing and smoking ganja before those Cali teens were out of diapers.
Rastas have long preached of “herb” being “the healing of the nation.” And now, with medical marijuana stores, cafés, and products sprouting up around the world, it seems that, hell yeah, they are right. Big up, our number one cannabis crusader Peter “Legalize It” Tosh! Boom!
Maybe you “want to have Kaya now”? And you’re here to listen to some of the best-of-the-best Ganja Reggae songs. So, in honor of 4/20, we’re offering 20 of the best Ganja Reggae songs for your smoking pleasure. This hand-selected roster of your favorite singers, groups & DJs covers the 70s, 80s & 90s eras of Reggae music. So, “light up your spliff…light up your chalice” and enjoy the ride!
Song Title |
Artist |
Year |
Legalize It |
Peter Tosh |
1975 |
Tired Fe Lick Weed a Bush |
Jacob Miller |
1975 |
Free Up the Weed |
Lee “Scratch” Perry |
1978 |
Kaya |
Bob Marley |
1978 |
International Herb |
Culture |
1979 |
Gi Mi Di Weed |
Jigsy King |
1980 |
Marijuana |
Johnny Osbourne |
1980 |
Sinsimilla |
Black Uhuru |
1980 |
Pass the Kouchie |
Mighty Diamonds |
1981 |
100 Lbs of Collie |
Cornel Campbell |
1982 |
Pass the Dutchie |
Musical Youth |
1982 |
Sensee Party |
Eek-a-Mouse |
1982 |
Police in Helicopter |
John Holt |
1983 |
Herbman Hustling |
Sugar Minott |
1984 |
Pass the Kushumpeng |
Frankie Paul |
1984 |
Under Mi Sensi |
Barrington Levy |
1985 |
Under Mi Sleng Teng |
Wayne Smith |
1985 |
The Herb |
Tony Rebel |
1988 |
Sensimilla |
Sugar Minott |
1990 |
Jamaican Collie |
Charlie Chaplin |
1991 |
One Draw |
Rita Marley |
1993 |