The story of how lean became hip-hop’s heroin

The story of how lean became hip-hop’s heroin

The nation’s sizzurp problem has forced some artists, including OG Maco, to rethink their use of the drug altogether.

Photo by Rachel Hortman

Fusion / 2016

If a rapper’s holding a Styrofoam cup—like in the videos for Future’s “Codeine Crazy” or Young Thug’s “Again”—there’s a good chance it contains lean. In the early ‘90s, lean was nothing more than a local Houston cocktail. It’s since become a drug du jour, first influencing Southern hip-hop, and later inspiring many of the world’s biggest hip-hop stars. Today it’s nearly everywhere: Migos and Gucci Mane have name checked it in songs; Lil’ Wayne and Chief Keef have sipped on it in photos; Mac Miller and Kirko Bangz have hoisted it in videos.

But syrup’s consumption has grown at an alarming rate, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Between 2004 and 2011, hospital visits involving codeine-based cough syrup spiked 286%. Its popularity has ascended to the point where beverage companies have created grape-flavored “anti-energy” drink lines, including Drank and Purple Stuff, intended to emulate lean’s depressive effects. As opioid abuse remains undertreated—according to the White House, less than half of the nation’s 2.2 million opioid addicts have access to addiction services—limited options are available for sippers.

The nation’s purp problem has forced some artists, including OG Maco, to rethink their use of the drug altogether. Household rappers have started swearing off the opiate-based cocktail faced with its consequences, though some still embrace the drug. Public outrage has forced syrup’s top brand off the market. Lean’s grip on rap, however, remains tighter than ever.