Despite its title, the song is less a literal endorsement of drug culture and more a metaphor for escape, success, and the intoxicating nature of fame. Ghali employs his trademark linguistic fluidity, weaving together Italian, Arabic, and French. This "Balkan-Mediterranean" hybrid language has become his stylistic signature, reflecting the lived experience of millions of immigrants in Italy. By normalizing these linguistic transitions, Ghali effectively bridges the gap between the periphery ( periferia ) and the mainstream, making the "outsider" perspective the center of Italian pop culture.
The music video, directed by Samuel Kay, further emphasizes the track’s artistic ambition. With high-fashion aesthetics and surrealist imagery, it moved away from the gritty urban clichés of the genre, positioning Ghali as a global icon rather than a local rapper. Upon release, "Marijuana" quickly climbed the FIMI (Federation of the Italian Music Industry) charts, solidifying the duo’s dominance over the Italian market and proving that trap could be both commercially viable and artistically sophisticated.
The Sonic and Cultural Architecture of Ghali’s "Marijuana"