Have you dreamed of visiting a Disneyland made for stoners? A place where a costumed dab rig character roams freely, bong charms are a must-have, and a live, American Idol-style talent show to find the next “Dab Star” awaits you? If so, Puffcon—the largest hash festival in the world—might be the happiest place on earth for you.
Now in its sixth year, the cult-favorite celebration of cannabis culture brought together the most in-demand hash brands in a two-day outdoor block party nestled in the heart of DTLA. The Puffcon community is passionate, with fans traveling from across the country to attend. The vibes were as high as the attendees at this year’s Puffcon, fueled by mandatory bring-your-own-bong rules, endless complimentary dabs, and a man wielding a cannabis leafblower at unsuspecting crowds.
A billowing plume of weed smoke hung over festgoers gathered at the mainstage for performances from a lineup including The Alchemist and Boldy James, Curren$y, TiaCorine, Know Good, BIA, and more. For added entertainment, live glass blowing artists were set up in front of the stage across the two-day event. The Alchemist and TiaCorine both flaunted collaborations with hash brands too, respectively teaming up with Malibu Farms and Professor Sift x The Firm for custom weed and merch drops and meet and greet opportunities at the festival. Headliners Metro Boomin’ and Action Bronson drew huge audiences, bringing different energies to each night of the weekender. Metro Boomin’ ran through his expansive catalogue of hits for a hype house party DJ set, while Action Bronson brought the heady, jazz-infused sounds that Sunday’s crowds needed after two straight days of dabs to the dome. Coachella could never!
Ahead of her mainstage performance at Puffcon, we spoke to North Carolina rapper TiaCorine about her merch collaboration with Trap Devil x The Firm x Professor Sift, and where she’s heading next creatively.
How are you feeling about playing Puffcon?
I’m excited. I love weed events and I loved the vibe when I came and did sound check. It already felt real groovy. [The crowd] wants to be here. Let’s have fun.
Were you involved in the designing of your Trap Devil x The Firm collab merch for Puffcon?
Yeah, I sent a few mockup designs that I had already, and [they helped in] implementing the blonde hair, certain little things like Kirby and all the Nintendo [references]. I’m really big on collaborating, not just telling somebody what to do, so I give my input. My friend came back with the perfect design, getting the Freaky T of it all. It was really a collaborative effort. I like when people are really good at doing their own artistic thing. That’s what makes it fun for me. I want to see what your creative juices are.
What are you most excited to do after your set?
I’m doing a meet and greet with Toad Venom. The first 50 people get a pre-roll, so we’ve got some weed, got some stuff going on. I’m excited.
I read in an interview that you realized you were really interested in pursuing music after a talent show performance, and that you would sing in the car with your dad, so I have to ask what the favorite car karaoke songs were.
Oh, Lil Mo. My dad played Lil Mo a lot. Biggie, Tupac. He used to play a lot of A Tribe Called Quest, Sugar Hill Gang, Run DMC, fun stuff like that. My mom played a lot of Sade and Ashanti. My dad used to embarrass me a lot, but I think that now, maybe he was cool. He had a Range Rover with these big old subwoofers in there, so he drop us off at an elementary school and the car would be shaking. He would have them all the way turned all the way up and he would be playing something crazy. I’m like, Dad, bro, chill out. But he was so cool for that. He pushed me on the music jump for sure. That’s the first time I heard him cuss. I did my first talent show, and I was like, “yeah, this is what I’m gonna do. Like I saw myself in the future. He was pumping gas and said, “all right, don’t half-ass it.” I never heard him cuss before, and I was like, I’m gonna fucking do this.
What’s your favorite video game console?
Probably Nintendo 64. I used to live out in the country and [I had a friend whose] dad smoked a lot of cigars. I always came home from there smelling crazy. My mom hated it, but [my friend] had that Nintendo 64 and I really wanted to play it, she had Mario Party. That’s my favorite game, and I would have risked everything to go over there and play it.
[The same friend] took me to go see Twilight. I remember watching it in a theater with her, and I was like, damn, this is pretty tight. I still watch it every year. The diamond skin [in Twilight], I referenced that for my “Different Color Stones” video. I wanted it to sparkle like when Edward is in the woods.
What’s an unexpected reference on your vision board?
Probably Lil Wayne. He’s always on my board. That was my first crush. I remember watching the video Hot Boy. He can just do no wrong to me. He’s one of my inspirations. He never cared, he’s just like, I’m doing whatever [I want]. After a while, people realize this is good. You just have to put it in people’s faces, like, “I’m gonna do this, and you have to accept it.” I’m very much like that.
Where are you heading next creatively?
I’m using 808s & Heartbreaks as my next vision of where I want to go as a character in my art. I really want to hit a different level within myself. I’m trying to get on that Lady Gaga level. I really want to do a more themed, focused everything [with this album]. I really want to make sure the whole world is like this, not just like a freeplay open world. Nah, this is like the map. This is the guide to the era.
Follow TiaCorine and Puffcon on Instagram.
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