In the ever-evolving landscape of culture, hip hop has not only asserted its timeless relevance but has also paved a golden path for folks like me to rise as prosperous entrepreneurs. My name's Terry Parker, but in the pulsating world of rhythm and rhymes, I'm better known as MC JUICE. My journey from a celebrated icon of freestyle and battle rhymes to where I stand today is a tale of luck, timing, and pure hustle.
Luck smiled on me in the form of a cannabis dispensary license, won through a lottery back in my home state of Illinois. While the bureaucratic gears turned slowly, finalizing my license paperwork, I wasn't about to sit idle. Alongside my lifelong companions, Belle Wise, affectionately known as B. Girl, a maestro of yoga, and Aaron Duncan, a visionary with a knack for spotting the next big thing, we embarked on a new venture—an infused beverage line that we proudly named Weed Water.
Our debut was nothing short of a bold gamble, introducing Weed Water to one of the most discerning audiences out there—the unforgiving streets of Chicago. Infused with CBN, a compound akin to CBD but with a heftier punch, our creation was an instant sensation. The reception was beyond our wildest dreams, with nearly 1,300 bottles flying off our makeshift shelves in just three months.
The buzz around Weed Water wasn't confined to the Windy City for long. Our success caught the eye of retailers far beyond Illinois, leading to our products being stocked by four stores in the glitzy neighborhood of North Hollywood, California, and two in the sun-drenched city of Phoenix, Arizona.
Behind the scenes, our holding company, HYE 5 (Harnessing Your Energy), is laying the groundwork for what's next—propelling Weed Water onto the national stage. The road ahead is shrouded in mystery, but if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that HYE 5 brands are on the cusp of becoming the most coveted names in the world. As I reflect on this journey, from spitting verses to stirring up the beverage industry, it's clear that hip hop's gift to me was more than just a platform—it was a launching pad to dreams I never dared to dream.