Berner (rapper)

Berner
Birth name Gilbert Milam Jr.
Also known as Berner
Genres Hip Hop
Occupation(s) Rapper, entrepreneur, businessman
Years active 2007 –present
Labels Taylor Gang Records, Bern One Entertainment
Associated acts Wiz Khalifa, The Jacka, B-Real, Snoop Dogg, Nipsey Hussle, Young Thug, Too $hort, Project Pat, Ty Dolla $ign, Curren$y, San Quinn, Demrick

Gilbert Milam Jr., better known by his stage name Berner, is an American rapper, businessman and entrepreneur from San Francisco, California. He is a touring recording artist signed to Taylor Gang since 2012, the label run by Wiz Khalifa. Berner has released 16 albums, several of which have charted on Billboard's "Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums" chart. Berner has also become a fashion and marijuana industry entrepreneur with his own medical marijuana dispensaries, Cookies SF, Collective Efforts, and H2C Cookies 707; he also owns two lifestyle clothing companies: FreshKo and Cookies. He also runs a line of "hemp water" named Hemp20, produces the Marijuana Mania TV series, and owns marijuana.com, which offers resources for the medical marijuana community.

Early Life

A Fillmore District native, Berner attended Galileo High before dropping out. His mother was an office worker and his father was a chef at a Mexican restaurant on Fillmore Street.[1] When Berner was 13, the family moved to Arizona, where his father planned to open a restaurant. During high school, Berner began battle rapping and in 2006 he released his first mixtape, Dirty Sneakers.[1][2] Berner previously worked as a bartender and later as budtender.[2][3]

Musical Career

Berner ran into The Jacka, and after praising his music, he handed Jacka some weed, Jacka returned the favour by giving him his number. In 2008 they recorded Drought Season together, but it was poorly received.[2] Two years later, Berner received a call from Mistah F.A.B. on behalf of Wiz Khalifa, asking if he could get some weed for him. After this experience, they became friends and Wiz started rapping about "Cookies" (his strain of marijuana) on stage. Soon afterwards Berner convinced Chris Brown and Wiz Khalifa to appear in a music video for Yoko, another single of his.[2]

After forming his own label, Bern One Entertainment in 2007, Berner soon after released his debut album, Track Money & Pack Money, a with Equipto. His first solo album, Weekend at Bernie’s arrived in 2009, along with four other albums.[4]

During March 2012 Berner signed to Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang Records. Urban Farmer, Berner’s first collection to be released on Taylor Gang Records, was released on October 2, 2012. In 2013, Berner embarked performed on the "Under the Influence of Music Tour" alongside Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, Trinidad Jame$ and Joey Bada$$. In 2015, Berner released Contraband, a collaborative album with Cam’ron, as well as Drought Season 3 with deceased rapper The Jacka. In 2016, Berner released the solo album Hempire, also producing a 4/20 show at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium with a lineup that included Cypress Hill, Juicy J, Dizzy Wright, J Boog, Kool John, and Berner.[5][4]

Urban Farmer, another of Berner's albums, features Iamsu! from The HBK Gang on two tracks; and the Jacka, Rydah J. Klyde and San Quinn on 21 Gunz.[2]

Berner's single, 20 Lights reached #95 in Billboard's 200 chart. It was released on January 6 2015. "Best Thang Smokin" is the lead single in Berner's album Hempire, released April 1 2016.[6] Several other songs of his have charted on Billboard.[7]

Business Career

Berner ran a cannabis club from age 18 to 25; after meeting Wiz Khalifa, the latter heard Berner's release with Equipto, and signed him under the Taylor Gang.[2] Berner has two lifestyle clothing lines, FreshKo and Cookies.[2]

Berner opened a clothing and lifestyle store in San Francisco called "Cookies", selling items such as lunch bags, duffle bags and "smell proof" backpacks. He is associated with the "Cookie Family" of marijuana geneticists, who produce strains common in California, such as "Girl Scout Cookies" and "Sunset Sherbet".[8][9][10]

In response to the widespread social media crackdown of accounts dedicated to marijuana, Berner and Weedmaps have partnered to launch an "Instagram of Marijuana" on Marijuana.com. Berner serves as its Executive Director and brand ambassador. Responding to the closure of his Instagram account, he stated: "I was fortunate enough to get my account back but many other community members have not been so lucky...Marijuana.com will unite and bring our people together".[11]

Weedmaps co-founder and CEO, Justin Hartfield commented: "[Berner] is deeply passionate about marijuana legalization". [11]

Berner is also launching two apps (one of which is in distribution negotiations with Universal), he is filming the Marijuana Mania video series (also a marijuana strain), and sells organic vitamin water, Hemp 20 (hempseed-infused);[12][13] he also owns stakes in companies such as manufacturer California's Finest. His marketing projects gross over $10 million annually.[14][15]

Discography

Singles

Studio Albums

Collaboration Albums

References

  1. 1 2 Harmon, Steve. "How Do You Spell Hip Hop Entrepreneur? Berner". Huffington Post. Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Meline, Gabe. "Berner, the Rapper King of Girl Scout Cookies, Plays Tonight". SFWeekly. SFWeekly. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  3. ↑ Trivino, Jesus. "HOW RAPPER BERNER BECAME ONE OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST MARIJUANA ENTREPRENEURS". Latina. Latina. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Berner at AllMusic. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  5. ↑ Quitzon, Kimberly. "RECAP: BERNER PRESENTS HIPPIE HILL 2016". LA Music Blog. LA Music Blog. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  6. ↑ Mench, Chris. "Berner, Snoop Dogg, and Wiz Khalifa Burn One in Their Video for "Best Thang Smokin"". Complex. Complex. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "Berner - Chart history". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  8. ↑ Palmer, Tamara. "Bay Area Rapper and Weed Entrepreneur Berner Opens Haight Street Clothing Store". NBC Bay Area. NBC Bay Area. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  9. ↑ Scerrato, Alisa. "Long Lines At 'Cookies' Store Opening Today". Hoodline. Hoodline. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  10. ↑ Roberts, Chris. "Million Dollar Cookie: How Berner Built a Business Empire on Marijuana". SFWeekly. SFWeekly. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  11. 1 2 Harris, Christopher. "Taylor Gang Rapper Berner Set To Launch The Instagram Of Marijuana". HipHopDX. HipHopDX. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  12. ↑ Ramirez, Erika. "Berner, 'All In A Day' Feat. YG, Young Thug & Vital: Exclusive Video Premiere". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  13. ↑ Rathon, Rocko. "BERNER RECRUITS WIZ KHALIFA, SNOOP DOGG & B-REAL FOR THE VIDEO TO "BEST THANG SMOKIN'"". The Source. The Source. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  14. ↑ Downs, David. "World's biggest weed strain, 'Cookies', gets Hollywood buzz". SFGate. SFGate. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  15. ↑ Jam, Billy. "Bay Area Rapper, Cannabis Activist / Entrepreneur Berner Unveils First Episode In New "Marijuana Mania" Series [Video Version]". Amoeba. Amoeba. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  16. ↑ Ramírez, Erika. "Berner, 'All In A Day' Feat. YG, Young Thug & Vital: Exclusive Video Premiere". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  17. ↑ Ashagre, Aggi. "Collie Buddz Invites You to 'Wake & Bake' on New Track: Exclusive Premiere". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  18. ↑ Smith, Trevor. "Berner Feat. Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg & B-Real "Best Thang Smokin" Video". HotNewHipHop. HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  19. ↑ Mazariego, Omar. "Berner ft. Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg & B-Real "Best Thang Smokin,"". HipHopWired. HipHopWired. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  20. 1 2 Berner (rapper) discography at Discogs

External Links


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