Self Made: Rebel Grown

Danny Hustle is a bi-coastal rapper and entrepreneur who divides his time between New England (Vermont), and Northern California (Southern Humboldt County, in the heart of the famed Emerald Triangle region.)

A life long cannabis enthusiast, grower, dealer, educator, activist, he started selling weed at 13 and is the owner, founder, and CEO of Rebel Grown, a world renowned award-winning genetics company and cannabis brand based in Humboldt county California and Vermont where he owns and operates state licensed farms on both coasts, as well as partnerships in other markets.

Born Daniel Jonas Pomerantz, he started freestyling in cyphers smoking blunts at 15 and soon started writing rhymes. By the early 2000s he was building a reputation as a dominant battle rapper and freestyle artist in Boston.

Q: For those who know you, the title of your new single - Self Made – is spot on. But music isn’t the only thing you do – you’re an incredible breeder and cannabis grower (with equally incredible stories).  How would you say your life has changed over the years, going from black market, to grey and now legal market in five states?

A: California and Vermont I own and operate state-licensed farms. Additionally, Ohio and Arizona, where I have amazing partnerships, and New York, where we have some partners, but things are a work in progress.

Things have changed a lot. A long time ago it seemed the entire principle of my life was to try to avoid risk and liability of getting busted or robbed. In many ways it wasn’t healthy, and I lived with a lot of paranoia, but I also had a lot of freedom and control over my life.

When I made it to Humboldt and started running big medical outdoor farms and started a collective, I suddenly had the intensity of big responsibility. I put my head down and owned it, became it. I realized I had a rare chance to change not just my life, but the power to change many other peoples as well.

The legal side has been more about survival and overcoming unrealistic obstacles to do it. I wish I could say it was fun, but it isn’t. I’m forced to compete with well funded organizations and conglomerates, and non cannabis people who would have never dared to step foot in this business before it was legal? When I got to Humboldt it became all encompassing. That hasn’t changed. I suppose if I can become successful, I may find what they call a work life balance one day. 

Q: Rebel, and rebellion-like words appear frequently in your cannabis cultivars: Sour Hustle, Purple Anarchy, Rebel Sour. Not to mention, you have a very hands-on DIY ethos in building your business.  What does rebel mean to you personally and how does it manifest in how you live your life?

A: I think I’ve always been that way. When things didn’t seem to make sense, I would question them, and a lot of times when I was young I was told not to. It didn’t add up. I was always confused and blown away by how many people didn’t seem to think for themselves and take a look around in the world.

My early inspirations were Michael Jackson (the video to Beat It) Axl Rose, and Easy E. They definitely seemed like rebels and I thought they were so badass and cool. Later, I formed a connection and respect for Bruce Lee and his philosophies, and was very inspired by Bob Marley and rasta culture. I also always loved the hippy and counterculture movement of the 60s.

I think a big part of it has it’s always been about standing up for things that are right, when it seems most of the world disagrees and it doesn’t add up.

Where I was from, the culture was to go to school, play sports and go to college. I always wanted to live peacefully surrounded by nature, and now I do.

Q: Cannabis breeding is a complex art that takes patience and deep knowledge.  How did you learn (and master) it?

A: I’m no master. Nobody is. But at this point I have a lot of experience and awareness which translates to knowledge compared to when I started.I agree that it is art, and expression, learning patience, slowing down time and training your memory and your senses.

When I started I decided if I was going to do it I was going to always give it the best effort. Part of it is having an open mind and realizing what you don’t know. I agree that it is also complex, infinite potentially. I will leave it at that to keep this short, but love to share my experience and theories with this and could go on for days.

Q: What was the most important lesson you learned in the Black Market that you feel has helped your success in the state-legal market today?

A: Do what you say you’re going to do. It’s one thing to talk about integrity, but it’s another to live by it. More wins than losses equals winning, and set expectations low because nothing lasts forever.

Q: What’s the quickest way to gain your trust? And to lose it?

A: I don’t trust anyone. Years of proof would be the answer. Losing it, any form of dishonesty.

Q: What’s your playlist when you do the long drive from Humboldt to the Bay Area airports?

A: I do listen to a lot of my music while I drive. It’s like I made a soundtrack for myself. I’ve done a lot of drives to airports. Only 6 songs have been released out of a few hundred. Aside from my music, I listen to a lot of instrumentals while I drive and actually write songs while I’m driving. Here’s a list of some others that come to mind:

- Pink Floyd (any)
- Barrington Levy
- The Bridge station on XM radio (70s and 80s mellow rock)
- Grateful Dead, usually on the XM radio station.
- Tupac, Picture me Rollin
- Biggie, Every Day Struggle
- Nas, Illmatic or It Was Written, Take it in Blood recently
- Dr. Dre, Keep Their Heads Ringing. Used to have it on repeat for years and wanted it to be my theme song when I rolled up.
- 80’s music on YouTube (Tears for Fears, Duran Duran, Billy Idol, etc.)
- Stranglehold by Ted Nugent, even though I don’t approve of him as a person, I've had many long night drives in the dark with this on repeat until I made it home and completed the mission.
- High Grade All-Stars, Trimmers Blues. Their CD got stuck in my CD player in my last truck that had one, so I listened to it for years and still love song number 12.
- Crosby Stills Nash and Young, 4 and 20.

Check out Dan's playlist HERE, on Spotify.