Styles P, one-third of the Grammy-winning hip-hop group The Lox, recently marked a milestone by hosting a private listening session for his upcoming three-part final album, Ghost of the Past, Present, and Future. Held inside the downstairs lounge of his dispensary to celebrate the one-year anniversary of his Strains For Life dispensary, the event offered a glimpse into his project.
Inside the Final Chapter of a Hip-Hop Career
The private gathering brought together guests to experience an 11-track project. Production on this project comes courtesy of AraabMuzik, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Rsonist of The Heatmakerz. Longtime collaborators and fellow Lox members Jadakiss and Sheek Louch also appear on the project.
The album confronts aging, accountability, legacy, and the competing identities Styles has carried throughout his career. On one track, he says: “They saying lyrics is dead, fuck it, I’m resurrecting ’em.”
The Spiritual Framework Driving the Project
The title of the LP stems from a spiritual framework Styles has developed over decades. According to the rapper, the concept acknowledges the multiplicity of the human psyche. “In a spiritual sense, you’re always dealing with three different you’s,” he noted. “The past is what you’re dealing with, what you came up with.”
The present, he explained, represents awareness and appreciation for life. The future remains uncertain, but Styles imagines himself becoming “even more elevated.” He has already begun recording the second installment, while the third remains unwritten.
Expanding Wellness Beyond the Booth
This commitment extends beyond music. Styles has spent years building businesses centered on wellness, including Juices For Life and Farmacy For Life. Strains For Life continues that philosophy through cannabis education and community programming.
“My fanbase knows I eat and smoke plants,” Styles explained. “Strains For Life is for those who do the same.”
Cementing a Legacy of Raw Truth
Styles remains focused on how he wants hip-hop to remember him. “What I would hope my impact would be,” he reflected, “is for those who have received my impact is to say, ‘He was genuine, he was honest, and he was raw and authentic.’”
As the first installment of Ghost of the Past, Present, and Future approaches its fall release, it is clear that Styles P is exiting the game on his own terms. What are your thoughts on artists crafting definitive, multi-part final statements to close out legendary careers? Let’s talk about it in the comments below.
