On August 1, the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles was the epicenter of R&B nostalgia as Keyshia Cole celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut album The Way It Is. The night featured performances by Wale, Amerie, and Elijah Blake, but beyond the music, cannabis carved out its own headline moment backstage.
Mother Exotic Flower, a woman-owned and vertically integrated cannabis brand, curated the VIP experience in a way that was impossible to ignore. Founded by New York native and LA-based cultivator Sakara Barnes, the brand’s presence wasn’t just background décor—it was a cultural statement introducing a flower that’s been turning heads in California’s competitive market.
The night’s theme revolved around love. From the glowing heart centerpiece on stage to Keyshia’s styling—her nails, hair, and makeup nodding to her timeless hit “Love,” which has racked up more than 784 million Spotify streams—the connection was clear. Mother Exotic’s heart-shaped logo, wrapped in flower petals, looked like it belonged at the show. In the VIP section, the brand’s bold packaging and small-batch flower drew attention from artists, executives, and tastemakers.
What made the placement stand out is how rare it is in today’s regulated cannabis industry. Music and cannabis culture have always been intertwined, but navigating the legal market makes it tough for brands to secure visibility in mainstream entertainment spaces. For Mother Exotic, the Peacock Theatre showcase was proof that independent brands, especially those led by women of color, can create authentic cultural moments on big stages.
Barnes, who relocated from New York to California, has built a brand on authenticity and control. By holding cultivation and distribution licenses, Mother Exotic grows its own flower, packages it in-house, and handles distribution directly from its Los Angeles facility—something few female-owned cannabis companies in the U.S. can claim. The vertical model ensures quality while keeping the brand’s story genuine.
Her vision extends far beyond California. In 2025, Mother Exotic entered Maryland with product placements in 15 dispensaries and is preparing for a Nevada launch this October. At the same time, the brand stays visible in cultural spaces with event activations, celebrity collaborations, and strong digital storytelling across Instagram and YouTube, where Barnes highlights cultivation, drops, and the challenges of thriving as a woman in a male-dominated industry.
The brand’s calendar this year includes collaborations with Eric Bellinger and DSRPT Magazine, a star-studded after-party at ComplexCon, and more state launches. For Keyshia Cole fans, the night at the Peacock Theatre was a celebration of love and legacy. For the cannabis industry, it was a reminder that cultural relevance still matters—and that brands willing to bridge music, fashion, and cannabis can leave a lasting impression.
Mother Exotic didn’t just show up backstage. It aligned product, culture, and authenticity in a way that felt effortless—and that’s the real victory in an industry where small brands are always fighting to be seen.