Best Music to Listen to High

Cannabis has long been associated with enhancing the listening experience, and for good reason. The psychoactive effects of cannabis—such as heightened senses, altered perceptions of time, and an amplified appreciation for sound—can turn an ordinary music session into something truly immersive. Whether you’re enjoying the smooth, soulful vibes of R&B or the immersive, pulsing beats of electronic music, cannabis has a way of deepening your emotional connection to the music, allowing you to explore new layers of sound and meaning. Below, we explore some of the best genres and artists to listen to while high, focusing on how cannabis pairs beautifully with electronic, R&B, and hip-hop music.

Vibey Electronic Music: Elevating Your Senses

Electronic music, with its often hypnotic beats and layered soundscapes, is one of the best genres to experience while high. The pulsing rhythms, futuristic sounds, and ambient elements in electronic music can feel even more immersive when you’re in an altered state. Cannabis enhances your ability to perceive the intricacies of the sound design, making it the perfect companion for any deep listening experience.

1. Tycho – Dive (2011)Tycho’s soothing, ambient electronic music is ideal for creating a relaxing atmosphere. The California-based producer’s album Dive features lush soundscapes filled with warm synths, gentle percussion, and melodic guitar riffs. The music’s ethereal quality is enhanced when you’re high, creating a dreamlike experience that feels like floating through space. Whether you’re lying back with your eyes closed or engaging in deep thought, Tycho’s music helps guide you into a tranquil, introspective state.

2. Bonobo – Migration (2017)Bonobo is a master of blending organic instrumentation with electronic beats, creating a sound that is both immersive and emotionally rich. Migration is a perfect album to listen to while high, with its deep basslines, intricate percussion, and atmospheric melodies that feel like a journey. Cannabis enhances the album's delicate textures and nuanced rhythms, allowing you to feel each sound more acutely. The album’s ability to transport you to different emotional landscapes makes it an excellent soundtrack for introspection, contemplation, or simply vibing out.

3. Four Tet – There Is Love in You (2010)Four Tet’s There Is Love in You combines elements of electronic, jazz, and folk music to create a dynamic listening experience that builds and evolves throughout the album. Cannabis enhances the intricate, layered sounds in Four Tet’s music, allowing you to truly appreciate the depth of each track. The album’s delicate melodies, combined with groovy beats and atmospheric textures, create a fluid listening experience that feels like a journey through different moods and emotions. This album is perfect for those who want a sound that’s both meditative and energizing, ideal for high times.

4. LSDREAM – Peace & Dub (2020)If you’re looking for a more bass-heavy and psychedelic experience, LSDREAM’s Peace & Dub is a standout choice. The album blends bass music, dub, and electronic beats with mystical, spacey vibes that pair beautifully with the effects of cannabis. The pulsating bass, combined with trippy sound design and mystical vocal samples, takes on a new dimension when you're high. This album feels like a cosmic journey, with waves of sound that can make you feel both grounded and expansive at the same time.

Deep R&B: Soulful Vibes for Pondering Life’s Big Questions

Cannabis is also associated with deep thinking and introspection, which makes R&B a natural genre to pair with the plant. The smooth, emotive qualities of R&B, combined with the reflective nature of cannabis, create a powerful synergy that enhances both the music and the listener’s emotional experience. The mellow, soulful grooves of R&B allow for deep reflection, while the lush vocal melodies and harmonies encourage you to lose yourself in the music.

5. Frank Ocean – Blonde (2016)Frank Ocean’s Blonde is an essential album for anyone looking for deep, emotional resonance while high. The album is a blend of experimental R&B, electronic, and soul, with lyrics that explore love, loss, and self-discovery. Cannabis can enhance the emotional depth of Ocean’s introspective lyrics, allowing you to connect even more deeply with the themes of identity, longing, and vulnerability. The album’s smooth, mellow production and Ocean’s tender vocals create a contemplative atmosphere that’s perfect for meditation, reflection, or simply getting lost in thought.

6. Jhené Aiko – Souled Out (2014)Jhené Aiko’s Souled Out is an album that blends smooth R&B, neo-soul, and a bit of psychedelic flair. Cannabis amplifies the album’s serene, ethereal vibe, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in Aiko’s soothing voice and the lush, dreamy soundscapes. Tracks like “The Worst” and “Spotless Mind” offer a perfect balance of vulnerability and strength, making it a perfect soundtrack for a relaxing, reflective session. Cannabis enhances the spacey production and helps you dive deeper into Aiko’s deeply personal lyrics, making for an emotional and grounding experience.

7. Solange – A Seat at the Table (2016)Solange’s A Seat at the Table is an album that blends R&B, soul, and funk with elements of jazz and electronic music. The album’s lush production, combined with Solange’s powerful, emotive vocals, creates a captivating experience, especially while high. Tracks like “Cranes in the Sky” and “Don’t Wish Me Well” are both introspective and deeply soulful, and cannabis enhances the reflective mood of the album. The way Solange explores themes of identity, personal growth, and empowerment makes this album an ideal choice for anyone looking to engage in deep thought while listening to emotionally charged music.

Hip-Hop: Rhythmic Flow and Lyricism

Hip-hop music, with its intricate rhymes, storytelling, and rhythmic flow, pairs perfectly with cannabis, which can heighten your ability to appreciate complex lyricism and rhythm. Cannabis can make it easier to lose yourself in the beat, allowing you to focus on the subtle details of a track while enjoying the lyrical complexity and rhythm of hip-hop. Whether it’s the introspective musings of a conscious rapper or the hard-hitting beats of a trap anthem, cannabis makes everything feel more intense.

8. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly is a masterpiece that fuses hip-hop, jazz, funk, and spoken word poetry into a deeply introspective and politically charged album. Cannabis can amplify the impact of Lamar’s dense lyrics, which address themes of race, identity, and social justice. The experimental production and jazz-infused beats are also enhanced while high, allowing you to appreciate the layers and textures of the music. This album feels like a journey through personal and societal struggles, making it an ideal choice for deep thought and reflection while high.

9. Mac Miller – Swimming (2018)Mac Miller’s Swimming is a contemplative, introspective album that pairs perfectly with cannabis. The album’s chilled-out beats and relaxed vibe create a reflective atmosphere, while Miller’s lyrics explore themes of growth, self-acceptance, and mental health. Cannabis enhances the mellow mood of the album, allowing you to focus on the subtleties of Miller’s delivery and the smooth, atmospheric production. Songs like “Self Care” and “What’s the Use?” provide a meditative soundtrack that encourages deep thinking and introspection, making it an ideal choice for a cannabis session.

10. J. Cole – 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014)J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive is a personal and reflective album that feels even more intimate when you’re high. The album’s smooth, soulful production and introspective lyrics invite deep thought and contemplation, making it a great choice for a cannabis-enhanced listening session. Songs like “Love Yourz” and “Wet Dreamz” showcase J. Cole’s storytelling skills and introspective nature, allowing you to appreciate the depth of his lyrics even more. The mellow vibe of the album pairs perfectly with a relaxed cannabis experience, creating an emotionally fulfilling musical journey.

Conclusion

Cannabis and music have a natural synergy, and certain genres like electronic, R&B, and hip-hop elevate the listening experience even further. Electronic music’s immersive soundscapes, R&B’s soulful grooves, and hip-hop’s intricate lyricism all take on new dimensions when enhanced by cannabis. Whether you’re in the mood for introspection, deep thought, or just vibing out, these genres and artists offer the perfect soundtrack to accompany your cannabis journey. So the next time you light up, consider putting on one of these albums for an unforgettable listening experience that engages both the mind and the soul.

Here is an awesome playlist recommended by our team here at Altura! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/39FjNUypA2SR9FZrU8AsZY?si=H6KDpjm-R4GkWxQL2zTuHQ