Straight Dank Live didn’t come from a polished plan or a perfectly structured team—it came from energy, culture, and a real love for music, cannabis, and community. When I first started 420 Underground Station, the vision was simple but powerful: bring people together who shared the same passions and build something that gave underground artists a real platform.
In the beginning, I pulled together about 7 or 8 people—stoners just like me. We all had one thing in common: we loved to smoke, we loved music, and we wanted to create something that could shine a light on independent artists who weren’t getting the recognition they deserved. It felt like the perfect mix. Everybody had ideas, everybody had personality, and for a moment, it looked like we were about to build something solid.
But reality hit.
We couldn’t get on the same page about how everyone would contribute. Meetings started off strong but slowly turned into low attendance, inconsistent effort, and misalignment. Everybody loved the idea of building a platform—but not everybody was ready for the discipline it takes to actually build one.
So naturally, the team shrunk.
What started as a group turned into just two people holding it down—myself and my former best friend, Bunny Boo.
And truthfully? She was the better half of the show in a lot of ways.
Bunny Boo had that natural energy you can’t teach. She was a social butterfly, the kind of person who could walk into a room and instantly connect with people. While I had the vision and the structure in mind, she helped bring attention to it. She made people care. She made people listen. And together, we created a dynamic that gave 420 Underground Station its early identity.
As we started finding our rhythm, I introduced something that would become a key part of the platform—highlighting the #1 artist from our weekly updated playlist. This gave artists something to aim for and created a consistent way to spotlight talent. We featured artists like Carmen Diaz, Jonni Bravo, BiG BiSHOP, Coolio Jones, Fellow Human, NoFace, Teejei, King Deago, and Bntr Lucci—names that represented the kind of raw, independent energy we wanted to push forward.
At the same time, we weren’t just staying online—we were outside, in the culture, building real connections.
One of my earliest experiences that really stuck with me was canvassing The Basement Detroit, off West Chicago and Plymouth. That night opened my eyes to just how much talent was right in the city, waiting to be seen. I came across artists like Knowledge the Kid (PleaseSayMarcus), Axl Uramishi, NoSpace, and so many others who brought their own unique sound and presence.
That moment was bigger than just a show—it was confirmation.
After that, everything started expanding.
From Nandi’s Open Mic Nights to G-Smoove’s Hot House Fridays, I made it a point to be present in spaces where creativity lived. I watched artists like Kiki Laveau and Xoochi headline nights, and I connected with creatives like Koffee, Mike Fate, Mike Jack, and Charmm. These weren’t just names—they were people building something, just like me.
And I realized something important: this platform wasn’t just about exposure. It was about support.
I wasn’t just there to record or promote—I was there to genuinely show love to artists, small businesses, community leaders, and even growers. I wanted people to feel like they had a home, a place where they weren’t overlooked or undervalued.
That same mindset carried into another part of the journey—the cannabis side.
My first 420 partner was Happy Treatz. That partnership helped lay the groundwork for what would become a whole other layer of the brand. As the business started to grow, I knew I had to level up the quality—especially when it came to the herbs I was using for my infused treats and candies.
That’s when The Cookie Club Detroit stepped in.
That partnership changed the game. With better quality came better products, and together, we built something that people in Detroit really connected with. Over the years, we helped bring some of the best “street treatz” for adults to the city—something that blended creativity, flavor, and culture all into one.
But like everything else in this journey, growth required change.
Now, we’re in a new phase—the rebrand.
Straight Dank Live isn’t just a new name. It’s a refined vision built from everything that worked, everything that didn’t, and everything we learned along the way. This next chapter is about structure, consistency, and elevation.
We’re not just building a platform anymore—we’re building a home.
A space where local independent artists can be seen, heard, and involved. A place where they don’t just come for interviews—but where they can co-host segments, perform, collaborate, and actually be part of the content creation process.
This is about ownership and opportunity.
And one of the biggest moves we’re making is bringing everything together under one roof—rwsmokeshop.com.
This platform is going to connect it all: the show, the artists, the events, the adult treat business, and the community. Instead of everything being spread out, we’re creating a central hub where people can tap into the full Straight Dank Live experience.
Because at its core, this has always been bigger than just smoking and music.
It’s about culture.
It’s about connection.
It’s about creating space for people who are building something real.
Looking back, the journey hasn’t been perfect. There were setbacks, shifts in relationships, and moments where things could’ve easily fallen apart. But every stage—from that first group of stoners, to building with Bunny Boo, to connecting with artists across Detroit, to growing the 420 brand—played a role in shaping what this is becoming.
Now, with the relaunch of Straight Dank Live on the horizon for 2027–2028, the vision is sharper than ever.
This isn’t just a comeback.
It’s a rebuild with purpose, structure, and experience behind it.
And this time, we’re not just creating a platform—we’re building a legacy.