Pop Culture|Cannabis in music and media celebrity stories as well as holiday ideas and other culture cues. Pop Culture TOKiMONSTA on L.A. CBD and New Collaborations Reed Jackson For Los Angeles-bred producer TOKiMONSTA theres no place like home. The 20-something who rose from the legendary late-2000s Low End Theory parties that helped shape the L.A. beat scene has traveled the world on tour performing for crowds in far-off places like Tokyo and Australia. But for all the raucous festivals pool parties and arenas shes played her favorite place to spin is still without question: L.A. all day. Her loyalty to L.A. county where shes lived her whole life is demonstrated again when I ask whether shes ever thought of living anywhere else: Nope she spurts back. This allegiance shouldnt come as a surprise; for what TOKi doescreating jazzy glitch-hop thats as likely to have a Diplo-like beat drop as it is an old-school drum breaktheres no better place in the world to be than the City of Angels which is a hotbed for artists developing a woozy sound thats not only influenced the underground dance circuit but also mainstream releases like Kendrick Lamars critically acclaimed To Pimp A Butterfly. RELATED STORY Toro Y Moi Says Goodbye California Hello PNW Some of TOKIs peers in the scene include electro-funk acts Thundercat The Gaslamp Killer and most notably Flying Lotus who put out her first album Midnight Menu on his label Brainfeeder in 2010. With its release Menu earned TOKi the title of The First Lady of Brainfeeder a designation that she believes is helpful but also indicative of the gender equality struggle in the scene. That on-goingnarrative is a sign thatthings arent changing fast enoughand the female presenceis still a rarity she says. Close Get Leafly News Delivered Straight to Your Inbox Thank you for subscribing! Email Sign Up By submitting this form you will be subscribed to news and promotional emails from Leafly and you agree to Leafly's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe from Leafly email messages anytime. After all TOKi has always made it a point to declare herself a producer firstnot a female or minority (shes Korean American) one. Its been this way since she first started making beats in college using FruityLoops to chop up samples and develop dark melodies more akin to the production stylings of The Wu-Tang Clans RZA than the smooth g-funk being made in her home state. These beats helped set the formula that would enshrine her at the Low End Theory where she thrived and continued to develop her sound by mixing together Ramp;B disco hip-hop and pop. Eventually she would go on to release genre-bending records on Brainfeeder and dance mainstay Ultra before starting her own imprint Young Art. Her newest album Fovere was released on Young Art last March and features Dr. Dres latest signee Anderson .Paak whom TOKi has known for quite some time through their run-ins in the citys music scene. Despite her wish to go completely indie her status is now higher than its ever been demonstrated by the fact that shes currently on tour with legendary acts Duran Duran and Nile Rodgers. Her recognition is now growing far beyond L.A. county. There is a sense of validation like Wow my musical heroes brought me on tour with them. They understand me and my music she says. Tokimonsta performs on the Parlor stage at the Panorama Music FestivalPanorama Music Festival Day 2 Randalls Island New York USA 23 Jul 2016(Rex Features via AP Images) Leafly: I know some things about your childhood like that you were a classically trained pianist and big into hip-hop but could you go a little more into what life was like growing up in Torrance? TOKiMONSTA: Torrance is a suburb of L.A. County right by affluent areas likePalos Verdes and the beaches but also near GardenaCompton Carson Long Beach.It wasnt a particularly exciting city but you got a good cross section of So-Cal living and you were always close to allthe musicculture of L.A. L: In college what made you want to start making beats? I read that your first few sounded like RZAs sample-based productionhow come that and not West Coast sounding beats? T: I didnt have the tools in the very beginning to make West Coast-style production. I had access to samples (more East Coast) but didnt own the equipment to writebass lines or funky synth lines (more West Coast). L: Above all else you want to be known for making good songs. Is it frustrating when writers or fans decide to put you in a narrative about your gender first? T: Yes but its necessary to some extentto let peopleknow a female can produce and create music at a high caliber. Howeverthat on-goingnarrative is a sign thatthings arent changing fast enoughand the female presenceis still a rarity. L: What was it like during the early days of the L.A. beat scene and the Low End Theory parties? How has it changed? T: It was beautiful. It was this little scene that harbored so much creativity and open mindedness. It still exists now but at this bigger level. Its not a small scene any more but the creativity is more wide spread now. L: Youve gone from using FL toAbleton. How much of a gear nerd are you? Is it a bonding factor at all between you and the otherBrainfeedercrewmembers? T:I think my gear nerdiness has waned. With all the touring I do I have changed into more of a plugin nerd. Of course when Im home I like playing my gear and gadgets. All the members of BF are at varying levels of technical nerdiness. Some care about techy stuff others have their methods for their sound and veer away from that. L: A lot of people are just getting hip toAnderson .Paak because of the Dre signing. Im guessing you were up on his music before that. What was it like collaborating? T:We have been friends for ages and his come up is well deserved. Its about damn time. Collaborating with him is awe-inspiring. Since the first track we made to the ones that people haventeven heard yet dude is a fountain of creativity and talent. Great friend hes my family. L: Do you have any rituals while out on the road? T:No ritualsIm mostly on my phone or working on music. I try to always try to eat good localmeals when I can. L:Your album is titledFovere. What does this represent? T: Its means toappreciate or cherish. L: What is your experience withcannabis? T: I get terrible migraines and it helps a lot. Especially CBD strains. L: Whats your favorite strain? T: Og Kush Alien Rock Candy and Im into CBD wax cartridges. L: What is your preferred way to consume cannabis? T: As of late via vape. L: What is your munchie of choice? T: Umm everything. CaliforniaMusicpop culture Reed Jackson Reed is a contributing editor to Leafly News pop culture department. Related Articles Watch Jimmy Fallons Funniest Tonight Show Cannabis Segments Yes Please! 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