Some stories don’t need dressing. They just land. Dave East clocks in cool, focused, talking work, weed and why he keeps his own smoke.
Interview by Shirley Ju for High Times. Powered by Slapwoods.
‘Don’t ask for my blunt’
East’s pet peeve is simple.
“Don’t ask for my blunt. I won’t ask for yours,” he says. The why comes quick: “People’s mouths, man. Maybe you didn’t brush your teeth today. I don’t know.” He laughs, but the rule stands. “We older now. I don’t pass nothing. I’ll give you weed. I’ll give you everything you need to get your high on, but not my blunt.”
Karma 4, five years later
Karma 3 was in 2020. “I was working on other shit,” he says. “This was the right time to deliver this body of work.”
A favorite cut? “If I had to pick, probably the one with Nip. I’m keeping that movement rolling. I wish he was here for the video, the release party, all that.”
Kush over candy
On strain talk, he’s a purist.
“Kush. OG Kush. I’m not into all them different flavors, candies. I like that strong indica. That Cali taste.”
He calls California “one of my favorite places on earth to come get weed,” and tips his cap to Marathon. “With my boy Luigi. It’s gas.”
How much does he smoke?
East doesn’t count blunts.
“I know we smoked a lot based on how much I got left when I go home.”
Could it reach a zip with the crew? “I’m personally not facing a zip, but I might go through about that. Maybe a little less, maybe more. Depends who I’m smoking with and how the day going.”
His re-up line matches the culture rule. “If I got a seven left, it’s almost over. Seven grams left? Time to re-up.”
Sesh memories: Snoop & Wiz
Most memorable? “Got to be Snoop,” he says. “Either him or Wiz.”
The Wiz story hits different. “Wiz got me high on another level with the dabs. I’m used to spliffs and blunts. That was a different high.”
Snoop is the legend’s moment. “I’m smoking with Snoop right now,” he remembers thinking. “Yeah, I can smoke with Snoop.”
Munchies, mornings and music
Snacks rotate: Sour Patch favorites like peach, watermelon and the originals, then a run on those mini “party mix” muffins.
LA trip? He’s hitting Marathon Burger. “Wings, tiger shrimp, lemonade. Everything over there is good.”
Morning routine is honest. “I smoke first,” he says. “Bathroom, check the ’Gram, shower, brush my teeth. One run, then I’m ready for the day.”
Favorite smoking song: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony — “Budsmokers Only.”
Favorite stoner movie: Half Baked.
Balance is the message heading into Karma 4: “Consistency. I’m still here, still working, still trying to deliver a quality product.”
