DAMN: The Cannabis-Infused Program That Feeds Latin America’s Hip-Hop Culture

Over the last few years, hip-hop culture has actually ended up being substantial in Latin America, after years of being neglected.

Nowadays, rappers and trappers from the area acquire actual billions of views on their YouTube videos, while freestyle rap competitors fill stadiums with 40.000 individuals each week, all across the continent– prior to COVID-19, that is.

While still penetrated by the American rap culture, the movement is rather autochthonous; it is mostly Spanish-speaking artists who are revered in the community.

Out of the mission to incentivize a two-way cultural crossover, DAMN! was born.

The hip hop show, produced by the individuals behind the first viral freestyle battle competition of the Web era, has numerous thousands mesmerized – their YouTube channel, boasting nearly half a million customers.

Hosts Veeyam, Tata and Pluzito say they were motivated by the iconic 90 s program, “Stretch and Bobbito.” This becomes apparent when you enjoy their program

Back for its 3rd season, DAMN! pledges to step up its game to an entire brand-new level, educating its audience on the entire hip hop culture, from graffiti to b-boying. The hosts share information on equipment, suggestions on career structure, news and analyses, along with (of course) lots of music, live interviews with the biggest stars of the region, and freestyle.

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Intrigued in learning more about what fuels this cannabis-infused phenomenon, I overtook Veeyam, Tata and Pluzito and inquired about entrepreneurship, self-management, success, and how marijuana fits into everything.

Flying High, On Air

” We’re often ‘flying high’ when we’re on air,” jokes Pluzito, a well-known rapper in the scene, displaying his expertise with words.

What does amaze him is business behind cannabis, which is still mostly foreign to the Latin American area. Whatever, from technology to product packaging design, has Pluzito flipping out.

Tata is one of the OG freestyle rappers of Argentina. Nowadays, he’s a judge for the biggest competitors in the Spanish-speaking world, the Freestyle Master Series. The tournament is held throughout eight Spanish-speaking nations and swaggers over 4 million subscribers on its YouTube channel, with some fights reaching a million views within hours.

For Tata, cannabis is a lifestyle. And he is a mindful customer too.

” In my personal life, cannabis is important. Not just for all things imaginative, however likewise as a day-to-day medication,” he states. “And I seem like it makes me a better dad too. I’m a lot more patient and in touch with my kids.”

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Veeyam has a different relationship with marijuana – it’s more of a social activity. Still, he is a strong supporter for safe access to medical marijuana, which is yet not readily offered in Argentina, regardless of it having actually been legislated back in 2017.

The host shares an individual experience about how tough it was to gain access to CBD oil for a close relative with cancer. He had to jump through boundless hoops just to get bad quality, illicit products, which he feels should have never ever been unlawful in the first place.

” I tried to link with individuals who understood a lot about the topic, because I required assistance.

” There are people who require cannabis now. Not in 5 years … We need immediate access to the health benefits of marijuana … These are really serious ailments and people can’t get their medication in exceptionally critical situations,” the music manufacturer adds, calling for instant policy of cannabis items throughout Latin America.

Living Off Your Passion

In traditional hip-hop style, Veeyam, Tata and Pluzito are earning a living – and a killing- off their greatest enthusiasm.

” You have to take a leap, risk it,” says Tata when prompted about the viability of creating a task out of the important things you love the majority of. “Everybody can succeed at this, but not everyone is willing to take the danger and face the potential consequences.”

See likewise: Xzibit Talks Marijuana, Legalization And His New Brand ‘Napalm’

Of course, a great group is constantly basic, Tata adds, acknowledging his producers, Julo and Colo. Both his peers, nod in arrangement.

Pluzito, thoughtful and exceptionally articulate, brings up a lesson he’s learned about entrepreneurship: if you put your energy into something, it grows.

” However you need energy and heart, determination. That makes it grow way even more,” he states. “We’ve dealt with lots of barriers but we persevered, due to the fact that we know we wish to make our program live on, no matter what. You need to provide it your everything.”

Circling back on love, Veeyam adds: “it’s everything about individuals and union. Human capital and human quality.

” When you invest every day putting love, commitment, attention, and effort, into a project, it always bears fruit … That’s our secret sauce: love and devotion.

The two previous seasons of the show were produced by one of the biggest radio and podcast stations in Latin America. The new season is self-produced, thanks to the support of Move Performances, the MAD music school and the DAMN! production team.

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” One often tries to attain in life what one would have wished to have as a kid … If back in the day, we [the hosts] had actually had a space like DAMN!, we would have grown much faster. That’s what we want to accomplish now, for up and coming artists. We want to pass the torch,” Veeyam continues.

” DAMN!