For the last few years, New Orleans rappers 504icygrl and PoppyH have organized dozens of editions of Nola Secret Sesh. Each event, many of them themed, includes DJs, performances and vendors for parties centered around an appreciation for cannabis.
Over time, though, the seshes have morphed into a community, say 504icygrl and PoppyH, who host events through their brand Krewe Da Label. A love for smoke might have brought people together, but the Nola Secret Sesh also is about art, creativity, local culture and music.
“The music at the sesh sets the whole vibe, and it lets people know what type of community we invite. I think our playlists and the music we use on our posts and ads, it’s obvious this is a connected community, an inclusive community,” 504icygrl says. “Don’t come up in here with racist stuff, with anti-weed stuff. The music shows what the sesh is.”
504icygrl and PoppyH have set out to capture that vibe on their new collaborative project “Nola Secret Sesh: The Album.” Co-executive produced with DJ and producer Raj Smoove and rapper-producer Kr3wcial, the album features a number of New Orleans artists, including Denisia, Shaogrove Coal, Ryan “Shaggadelic” Batiste, ET Deaux, Rapbaum and Million$. There also is a closing track by Downtown Lesli Brown, and comedian Jo Jackson dips into bounce on an interlude that raises the late-night curtain on the album’s second half.
Almost all of the album’s 20-plus contributors have performed at a Nola Secret Sesh, like frequent DJ Lil Miah and host Jo Jackson, or are regular attendees.
“It is literally by the sesh,” PoppyH says. “Raj has helped us produce the sesh. He does sound for us and DJs most of the time. The people who produced the beats … We wanted to pick from people who are part of the sesh.”
Like with the events, cannabis is central to the album. There’s praise for it in all its forms — joints, vapes, edibles, THC pills — and often, marijuana is personified into Mary, a beautiful friend ready to help in stressful times.
Some tracks, like the bassy “Sesh Baddies” with 504icygrl, Kr3wcial and Dai Burger and PoppyH’s swaggering “Tamagotchi,” boast about having top-shelf weed. Others, like the string-filled “Roll Some More” with Jaelox and Good News Bae, paint scenes of stoned late nights.
Community also plays a big role on the album. Mac Infinity and Shaggadelic take an optimistic view of life on the song “Perfect,” and TreySavSit and KurrenzyShay find joy among other people on the smooth, Rapbaum-produced “Enjoy.”
“We wanted to set the vibe of this is what the session is about, all of these different feelings,” PoppyH says.
504icygrl and PoppyH started Nola Secret Sesh in 2019 while the two New Orleans natives were living on the West Coast. They attended cannabis-focused events in Los Angeles and wanted to put on their own version in their hometown. The two moved back to New Orleans a couple years ago and both work with Raj Smoove’s artist management group Gentilly Agency.
Over the years, they’ve hosted pool parties, comedy shows, movie nights, a crawfish boiling competition, a sesh with the Reggae Fest and themed nights for Halloween, Mardi Gras and the holidays. There are usually food and drink vendors, DJs and rappers performing and people selling cannabis-related items. Krewe also has launched its own brand of rolling papers, Zuchii.
“Making this project was also kind of like documenting the history that the sesh has made,” 504icygrl says. “I just want that slice of history in stone, and I feel like that’s what this album did.”
Find the album and more about Nola Secret Sesh on Instagram: @nolasecretsesh.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source bestofneworleans.com ’
