Marlon Asher "Ganja Farmer"

It's unfortunate that I found my 2005 Summer Jam in October, but when it's this hot, I'll take it in the middle of a snowstorm. "Ganja Farmer" fades in on a woozy ocean groove, deposits some colorful shells on the shore and fades out much in the manner it arrived, as smooth a transition as low tide is to high. Asher's first and only hit (I'm hoping for more), it doesn't take a genius to anticipate the lyrical content from the title; "Ganja Farmer" is all about homegrowing for both pleasure and income. Asher's an interesting character, a humble blue-collar cement mason who lost a finger on a bansaw, friendly and surprised at the success of "Ganja Farmer" in his native Trinidad. The thing is, his barely-vocodered voice is so sweet and soft that this talk of "big stinkin' helicopter(s)" and burning marijuana "in da chalice" sounds more like a lullaby written to rock newborns to sleep than the roots-level ghetto anthem it has become. The mix is potent enough to make me cry like it's graduation day, melt into my queen-size bed for 12 hours and grind up on a lady all at the same time. Isn't that where you want music to take you?

It probably won't be up forever, but right now you can take a peek at the video for "Ganja Farmer" here, thanks to the kind people at DJ Knockz. Pour a cold drink and watch Mr. Asher entertain the people.