Mota. Ganja. Marihuana. Verde. Flor. Hierba. Mari. These are just a few of the Spanish terms used to refer to the green plant that makes people happy and hungry (and, yes, maybe a little sleepy). It makes sense, then, that Latine artists dedicate entire songs to Mary Jane. Perhaps the most common composers of songs en español about weed? Música mexicana artists, particularly those who create within the world of corridos. In fact, these musicians love weed so much that they’ve sparked a subgenre of their own: corridos verdes.
These tracks are tailor-made for cannabis enthusiasts looking to match their high with the right sound — in both lyrics and instrumentation. Corridos verdes first gained traction in the mid-2010s and rose to popularity in 2016 after California’s Prop 64 legalized the recreational use of marijuana. Rooted in Regional Mexican music but shaped by bicultural experiences, these songs reflect not only a love of smoking but also a lifestyle — one often tied to hustle, relaxation, and rebellion. Pioneers of the genre, like Legado 7 and T3R Elemento, sang about how relaxed they felt when they smoke. A few years later, rising stars like Peso Pluma and Natanael Cano followed suit with tracks like “La Pluma de Wax” and “Arriba,” respectively.
Stoners around the world know that the music you play when you smoke can make or break a session. But when the tracks you’re bumping are odes to the power of weed, the vibes are always right. The cerebral strings of corridos verdes provide the mellow energy you need when you’re smoking, and the horns lift you up if you take one hit too many.
Below, find eight corridos verdes that set the perfect scene for smoking on 4/20 and beyond.
Legado 7’s “Olor a Kush” might be the corrido verde to rule them all. No, seriously. In 2016, the group dropped a full album titled 100% Corridos Verdes. “Olor a Kush” begins with a comedic-yet-serious content warning: “El siguiente material es de un alto verde contenido. Se recomienda discreción. Y rólele el primero compa, cierra la puerta cabrón.” From there, the lyrics activate your sense of smell — saying that the people inside the hangout house can barely open the door because “sale olor a kush.” In case it wasn’t already clear, Legado 7 takes their weed seriously. The California-formed group even brags about only smoking the finest herb, in which you’ll never find a seed. Moreover, they have a tradition of dropping an album on 4/20 week, and this year is no different. The upcoming L7X (due Apr. 17), is a celebration of their 10 year run as a band and pioneers in the genre.
Ely Quintero - "Quiero Andar Al 420"
Música mexicana hasn’t always been gender-inclusive, so it’s refreshing to see female artists taking up space in the genre. With “Quiero Andar Al 420,” Ely Quintero does just that, delivering a touching homage to cannabis culture. Horns and guitars are front and center in this song, which has a softer energy thanks to Quintero’s vocals. The lyrics are focused on marijuana and how it helps Quintero feel her best. It also outlines the dreaded experience of having your parents find your weed. “Que se arma la quemazón. Mientras mi amá allá en el cuarto en el puro clavo dió. Y la mota me encontró. Ni modo viejonas, le tuve que decir la neta a mi amá.” In proper pothead fashion, Quintero says, “Oh well, let’s keep smoking.”
Alto Linaje x Junior H - "Ojos Tumbados"
In English, we often say that someone’s eyes are “low” when they’ve been smoking weed. The Spanish equivalent is saying that someone’s eyes are “tumbados,” which also nods to the type of corridos on this list. “Ojos bien tumbados. Así es como me gusta andar,” the opening lines say. Unlike the more horn-forward tracks above, “Ojos Tumbados” leans exclusively on guitars for its entire runtime. The strings offer the chill vibes you try to cultivate when you’re having a smoke sesh. And that’s why this is a perfect song to toke to on 4/20. That said, the song also has heartfelt themes that make this song soulful. “El bien de la familia siempre ha sido mi prioridad. Por ellos doy todo y nada les falta. Ni faltará. De una casa humilde, vueltas que la vida da.”
Peso Pluma - "La Pluma de Wax"
La Doble P is often associated with marijuana because he sings about it in a lot of his songs. One such track is the 2020 hit “La Pluma de Wax,” which centers around weed vapes. The first two lines in this corrido tell listeners what Peso is typically up to: “Y ando por aquí, y ando por allá. Fumando motita, siempre bien relax.” The Jalisciense smokes weed, sure, but when he needs to calm the thoughts in his brain? He reaches for a wax pen. The rest of the lyrics paint a picture of bliss: being in Rosarito, Mazatlán, and Tijuana, eating delicious mariscos, and listening to poppin’ banda music. As any toker knows, these are the laid-back vibes you want when you’re smoking a joint or hitting a pen.
T3R Elemento - "El Verde es la Vida"
In this 2018 hit, the Mexican musical group T3R Elemento shows how integral marijuana is to their mental health and livelihood. This is clear from the start, when the lyrics allude to red eyes, but it becomes undeniable in the chorus. “4:20 la hora que marca mi reloj. Eso es señal que el cigarro ya se prendió. A mi olfato el olorcito ya llegó. A mis sentidos el humo los encendió. Que no se olvide. Que el verde es vida. Mi vida, así la vivo yo.” If you’re on the same wavelength as T3R Elemento, you’ll love to spark up a gallo to their music. This song is about weed, of course, but at its core, it’s also a celebration of the joy we experience when we light up with the homies.
Natanael Cano - "Arriba"
Just like Peso Pluma, Natanael Cano is known to have a song or two that serves as a love letter to marijuana. “Arriba,” which is Spanish for “up,” is the perfect example. This 2020 track isn’t only about weed, but there are more than a couple of mentions of the ethereal substance. For example, the second line of the second verse says sativa is what Cano unapologetically prefers to smoke. “Vale verga lo que digan, yo siempre ando arriba. Cannabis sativa, la que me domina.” Additionally, Nata Montana — as the singer is nicknamed thanks to his 2023 album of the same name — outlines three of the most important things in his life: “Amigos, mujeres, verdes.” And we’d be remiss not to mention the underlying weed tones in the “Arriba” music video.
Christian Arley - "Don Cannabis Kush"
This 2018 corrido verde is one of the more underground tracks on this list, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve your attention. As its name clearly indicates, the song is about kush. It opens with a beautiful medley of strings, horns, and accordions diving into the lyrics. While it takes about a minute for the first weed reference, it goes all in after that. “Las cuatro letras no se rajan. En las buenas y en las malas, pura siempre ha estado aquí.” With his words, Arley treats marijuana more like a friend than a substance: “Les presento Don Cannabis, ese que fuma sí o que sí.” Arley also gets vulnerable on this track, paying homage to his late father. If you’re in the mood to be in your feelings while you toke, this is a must-add to your 4/20 playlist.
Fuerza Regida - "TQM"
Fuerza Regida doesn’t have a song that’s weed-centric, per se, but many of their tracks reference marijuana — like their 2023 hit “TQM.” The song is mostly about girls and the playboy lifestyle. For example, the singer says that “morras fresas” make him weak and that a “princesa pide que le de un kiss.” But one of the most quoted lyrics in this song is “fumando pura motita cherry.” Translation: Fuerza Regida only smokes the highest-quality grass. Since this a slower-paced song with horns and strings at the forefront, it’s the perfect track to hit a pen, bong, pipe, joint, or blunt.
