What do hip hop, social justice and brand building have in common in cannabis? Join us for a conversation with hip-hop legend, Raekwon of Wu-Tang fame, on his new brand, Compliments of the Chef, why he entered the cannabis space with social justice company CitizenGrown, and how celebrities are bringing more than star-power to cannabis culture.
Corey Woods (Raekwon) founding member of the acclaimed hip-hop group the Wu-Tang Clan
Corey Woods, better known by his stage name, Raekwon, is a founding member of the acclaimed hip-hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. The group and its members have sold over 50 million albums. This has led to multiple collaborations with other successful artists such as Snoop Dogg, Andre 3000, Outkast, Funkmaster Flex, Fat Joe, and many more.
In 1995, Raekwon released his debut solo album to rave reviews. Rolling Stone has ranked the album as one of the top 500 albums of all time. Since then, he has released a dozen more solo albums. He continues to tour and produce albums.
Part of the American cannabis culture, Raekwon officially entered the cannabis industry in 2018 when he and his partners opened Hashstoria in Astoria, Oregon. Since then, he has been an integral part of Hashstoria’s success and expansion. Raekwon is also an investor and the lead spokesperson for CitizenGrown, a company using technology to bring true social and economic equity to the cannabis industry.
Deepa Vora, CEO, CitizenGrown
A lawyer, journalist and designer, Deepa Vora is the CEO of CitizenGrown, on a mission to unlock the economic opportunities of the cannabis market for the people.
Not since prohibition has there been a crop that has the ability to re-shape the socio-economic landscape of this country like cannabis. Without intentional effort to counteract what is already happening – the cannabis industry will go the way of Big Pharma, where wealth will be concentrated in the hands of the few (and those hands, by and large, will be primarily old and white).
We are living in a particular cultural zeitgeist where values matter more, and consumers want to understand what a company stands for. There is a concurrent moment in cannabis wherein brands are starting to emerge. We have the ability to create meaningful impact with cannabis brands. What if this is the time to sell not only pre-rolls, but also an economic revolution – one in which everyday people can benefit from the prosperity this plant can bring?
Elly Guttenberg, Citizen Grown
Starting as a teenager in Santa Cruz, Elly Guttenberg continues to imagine, create and produce successful, award-winning products throughout the nation…but she refuses to describe herself as a professional cannabis cultivator. In fact, her preferred identifier is “NOT a Master Grower.”