On this day in Hip Hop history, Oakland duo The Luniz released what would become their signature and most commercially successful single to date—“I Got 5 On It”—from their debut album Operation: Stackola.
While the rest of the group’s catalog didn’t achieve the same level of acclaim, “I Got 5 On It” became a global hit and a defining anthem of ’90s West Coast rap. Built on a haunting yet hypnotic sample, the track captured a universal experience for cannabis smokers—chipping in for a bag—and wrapped it in infectious production and chemistry between Yukmouth and Numskull.
The song’s popularity stretched far beyond the Bay Area. It topped charts across Europe, peaking at No. 1 in the Netherlands, No. 2 in Germany, No. 3 in the UK, and hitting No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. It also landed top ten positions in ten other countries and was certified platinum before the end of 1995, selling over one million copies by October 31 of that year.
Three decades later, “I Got 5 On It” remains a staple of Hip Hop playlists and a cultural touchstone for stoners everywhere—a timeless banger that still hits just as hard today.