Kanye West and Jay-Z blamed for rise in use of MDMA
Grime music is fueling the use of skunk because artists are referencing the drug in their chart-topping songs, warned a cannabis researcher in December.
Ian Hamilton, based at York University, warned the popular music genre contains hundreds of lyrics glorifying the use of the class B drug.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, he described songs featuring mentions of weed, including those by Stormzy, Kano and Wiley, as ‘essentially product placement’.
Stormzy, a 23-year-old artist who has 1.07 million followers on Twitter , heavily references cannabis in ‘Shut Up’ – a tune which saw the Mobo-winner reach number eight in the UK Singles Chart.
Here, MailOnline, has revealed the times Stormzy mentioned the drug in his songs.
Song: Shut Up
I take care when I water my plants: Users on RapGenius – a website that allows fans to suggest true meanings behind lyrics – claim this refers to Stormzy watering his marijuana plants
Dem man still go halves on a quarter: A quarter is a set amount of cannabis that is sold on the streets, referring to a quarter of an ounce
Weed in a cigarette, blue slims: Referring to rolling a spliff
Food in the ends like there ain’t no drought: Food is another word for weed
Song: Big For Your Boots
Drug money in my shoe box: A RapGenius user suggests this is in reference to hiding money from the tax man
Mad stressed so I’m bound to light my spliffs: Stormzy raps about wanting to smoke cannabis to ease his stress
Song: Wicked Skengman Part 4
Wait two secs, let me spark this zoot: A zoot is another word for a spliff
Them man there spit ammy and bud: Ammy is short for amnesia – a strain of weed, and bud is considered a weak strain of cannabis
Song: Cigarettes And Cush
But when I get home, just roll my weed, yeah: This is in reference to Stormzy rolling a spliff
Smokin’ smoke ’til we’re wavy and gone: Wavy can be another term for high
But it don’t mean I won’t treat ya to a blunt full of that reefer: A blunt is a cannabis-filled cigarette and reefer is another word for a spliff
Song: Not That Deep
Spliff in the club, what d’you mean I can’t smoke?: Stormzy’s lyric suggests he is angry about not being allowed to smoke weed in a club
Then I hit a lick, gave man food on the tick, couple man paid me short: Food is a term for weed and a tick is an agreement to pay later
Song: Scary
Anywhere I go, got my bro with the smoke: A user on Rap Genius claims this is in reference to having a friend that always has cannabis
Song: Standard
Cause my jeans weren’t baggy enough to hold food: Food is a term for weed
Song: Bad Boys
Charge three for a Z, that’s banter: This is believed to refer to extortionate prices for cannabis as Z is a term used in youth culture to represent an ounce of weed
Song: One Take Freestyle
Smoke on a medical vibe: Believed to be in reference to the therapeutic benefits of smoking some forms of cannabis
Song: First Things First
Drugs kill, but my n***** make a killing off a drug: Stormzy bragging about how his friends sell a lot of drugs – despite knowing they can be dangerous
Song: Lay Me Bare
Just to get away, I take a toke: A toke is a hit of a spliff