This Sunday, Revolution Live and Ploppy Palace Productions are hosting the 14th Annual Medical Marijuana Benefit. The multimedia extravaganza lasts all day and features loads of 420-friendly jams (from the likes of Grammy winner Cyril Nevile, Johnny Drea, the Spam Allstars, the Funky Nuggets, and Nag Champayons), not to mention oodles of cotton-mouthed spoken word and completely baked belly dancing.
To help us get in the "Legalize It" spirit, County Grind thought it might be a good idea to revisit reggae superstar Peter Tosh's immortal track of the same name. But a little (very little) research revealed that, like Tosh and the numerous artists involved in the upcoming benefit, that sentiment runs strong among musicians.
After the jump, check out our top five favorite covers of and tributes to Peter Tosh's "Legalize It."
5. Bert - "Legalize It" (Dubstep Remix)"
Of course there's a dubstep remix. Bassheads is potheads, bro. We will admit to enjoying Bert's toast to Tosh, but only because we're under oath.
4. Cypress Hill - "Legalize It (Tribute)"
You know DJ Muggs was puffin' on some extra-stank Acapulco Gold when he came up with the loop that comprises this less-than-a-minute interlude on the Hill's eternal Black Sunday LP. Though more or less an intro to "Hits From the Bong" (an intratextual follow-up to opening track "I Wanna Get High"), we still salute this worthy redux.
3. Sublime - "Legalize It"
The lines among reggae, ska, punk with horns, and the collective navel lint of the Long Beach Dub All Stars has grown increasingly blurry over the years, mostly because everyone is always completely shrouded in billowing clouds of marijuana exhaust.
2. Mojo Nixon - "Legalize It
Who knew the Rastaman and the Psychobillydude had so much in common? Mojo Nixon is goofier than Sublime (they play psychobilly) but still, their dedication to the cause should not go unnoticed.
1. Pato Banton - "Legalize It!"
Hey, now we're talkin'! Or should we say burnin'? Pato Banton's exclamatory update of Tosh's classic is practically a formal sequel. Did you hear that list of ailments that benefit from the use of medicinal marijuana? Can you imagine how bliggity-blazed he felt after all that weed tea?
The 14th Annual Medical Marijuana Benefit Concert. Sunday, February 19. Revolution Live, 200 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost $14 plus fees through Ticketmaster. Visit ploppypalace.com.
