"Molly" Is Hip Hop's New It Drug

Move over Mary J, hip hop has a new hot drug and its name is "Molly". The drug is not new—it's a pure form of MDMA, widely known as the active ingredient in ecstasy, which earned its reputation as a popular drug at raves and electronic music venues. But it made a sudden rise in hip hop in 2012 and according to rapper French Montana, “everybody on Molly now." Rap artists like Kanye West, Rick Ross, and Juicy J have paid lyrical testament to Molly, but its surge on the scene is most often attributed to newcomer rapper Trinidad James, who included the line "pop a Molly, I'm sweatin'" in his hit single, "All Gold Everything." "All the people are like, 'I don't know what it is, but every time I hear the song, I just wanna do it,' " says James. "That's a terrible excuse, but go 'head, get high, go 'head. Blame Trinidad, blame it on me." While he admits to using the drug recreationally, James claims it's not a habit. “I might go months without doin' anything and then I'll be like, you know, when I'm in L.A., I wanna party with these people," he says. "I feel like I can't get turnt up fast enough, I'm just gonna do this.”

Marijuana, crack/cocaine and booze have dominated in rap lyrics for decades, but many artists are now welcoming Molly to the scene. “Back then, some people were just keeping it on the low and doin' it how they want to do it," says Juicy J. "This year everybody's like, 'Fuck that shit, yeah I'm on Molly.'" And the drug may be making its way into the mainstream music scene as well: Madonna made a controversial Molly reference at a concert back in March this year. But not everyone in the musical community is singing the drug's praises. Snoop Dogg (er, Lion) is known for his love of marijuana, but he's cautious about Molly, and wants young people to be careful. "As an old player, I respect the youngsters," he says. "So whatever they do, I just want them to be careful at what they do so they won't be mixin' and matchin' nothin' that's harmful that they may not be able to come back from."