Ever gotten ready to roll up, but don’t know what to listen to, to get yourself in the mood? Creating the perfect smoker playlist is an art form. It’s about creating a journey from slow beats to trippy soundscapes, from ups to downs, it ebbs and flows. A great stoner playlist flows organically, melts into the background when needed, and expands into vivid detail when you tune in.
While Western classics like Pink Floyd and modern pioneers like Tame Impala often get the spotlight, India has an incredibly rich catalogue of psychedelic, atmospheric, bass-heavy, and chill music that resonates deeply with stoners. From retro Bollywood to indie dream-pop to earthy electronica, India’s music scene offers a diverse palette perfect for curating a herb-lover’s playlist.
Let’s dive into Jonnybaba’s ultimate guide to various music genres to make your playlist the perfect stoner playlist!
MUSIC GENRES STONERS LOVE
RETRO BOLLYWOOD
The 70s were truly India’s experimental era, with funk grooves and sitar-driven psychedelia, Indian musicians were mixing western disco sounds with eastern instrumentals, all with dreamy vocals to layer on top.
The reason Retro Bollywood music works well for stoners is that it creates a nostalgic dreamscape for your trip, taking you back to your childhood and simpler times. Retro Bollywood songs are also longer in length to provide you with a rich atmosphere.
Here’s our top 5 favorite Retro Bollywood songs:
5. “Chura Liya Hai Tumne” by Asha Bhosle and Mohammed Rafi (1973)
4. “Bachna Ae Hasinon Lo Main Aa Gaya” by Kishore Kumar (1977)
3. “Mere Sapno ki Rani” by Kishore Kumar (1969)
2. “Lag Ja Gale” by Lata Mangeshkar (1964)
1. “Dum Maaro Dum” by Asha Bhosle (1971)
OLD SCHOOL HIP-HOP
The birthplace of stoner culture, old school hip-hop from the 90s provides the perfect atmosphere to any trip. With action-packed drum backbeats, and fluent lyricism to back it, hip-hop tells stories of resistance, power and swagger, which are perfect to listen to while passing the blunt.
You have the West Coast with its funk-driven grooves and party lifestyle and the more sinister, crime-focused lyricism and backbeats of the East Coast to pick between. The choice is yours!
Here’s our top 5 favorite old school hip-hop songs:
5. “Shook Ones Part II” by Mobb Deep (1995)
4. “It Was A Good Day” by Ice Cube (1992)
3. “Fuck Tha Police” by N.W.A. (1988)
2. “Big Poppa” by The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)
1. “Hit ‘Em Up” by Tupac (1996)
INDIAN HIP-HOP
Modern Indian Hip-Hop draws inspiration from the old school and modern western rappers both. The best part? More relatable lyricism! If you’re a Mumbaikar, you have rappers like Emiway Bantai and DIVINE, talking about the struggles of being from this city with a major class divide. If you’re from the north, you have the likes of Prabh Deep and Seedhe Maut, sharing their own struggles and drawing from their own inspirations and creating influential instrumentals.
The value of listening to a rapper riding a tight beat while rapping about experiences you’ve encountered can give you a profound and thoughtful trip
Here’s our top 5 favorite Indian hip-hop songs:
5. “Nayaab” by Seedhe Maut (2022)
4. “Poorna Swaraj” by RollsRoy’s (2019)
3. “Machayenge” by Emiway Bantai (2020)
2. “Jungli Sher” by DIVINE (2016)
1. “Class-sikh Maut (Vol 2)” by Prabh Deep, Seedhe Maut & Sez on the Beat (2020)
REGGAE
Reggae is, without a doubt, one of the most recommended genres to listen to while smoking. Why? Relaxed vibration and smooth cadence of its rhythms seem to resonate perfectly when you are in a state of herb-induced calm. Bob Marley is probably the king of this category. His music not only conveys a message of peace and love, it also Marley's connection to the Rastafari movement adds a spiritual touch that resonates on a deeper level.
Reggae originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s and still holds relevance due to its power to relax you and bring a smile to your face.
Here’s our top 5 favorite reggae songs:
5. “One Love” by Bob Marley and the Wailers (1965)
4. “Red Red Wine” by UB40 (1983)
3. “You Can Get It If You Really Want” by Jimmy Cliff (1970)
2. “Pressure Drop” by Toots and the Maytals (1968)
1. “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley and the Wailers (1974)
PSYCHEDELIC ROCK
If you are looking for a sound experience more intense and enveloping, psychedelic rock is an excellent option. Jimi Hendrix is one of the most iconic names when it comes to this kind of music to listen to while smoking. Songs like "Purple Haze" or "Voodoo Child" are almost hymns for those who enjoy the herbs.
Strident guitars, sound effects and musical experimentation by Hendrix create an almost hallucinatory atmosphere, where the sound seems to flow through you and not just around you. This type of music is ideal if you are looking for a state of contemplation or if you simply want to let yourself be carried away by a tide of infinite sounds.
Besides Hendrix, there are other big names in rock that are also perfect for this moment. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and The Doors are classic bands whose sound will envelop you when you're smoking. From epic guitar solos to expansive soundscapes, these bands know how to create a deep listening experience.
Here’s our top 5 favorite psychedelic rock songs:
5. “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” by Tame Impala (2012)
4. “Riders on the Storm” by The Doors (1971)
3. “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin (1971)
2. “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd (1979)
1. “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix (1967)
CONCLUSION
This is just a template, though! Let your creativity flow and plan your playlist with the perfect music for you to have the ultimate high. Need the goodies and smoking accessories to optimize your high? Shop now at Jonnybaba Lifestyle and avail exclusive discounts!
