Wu-Tang legend Raekwon, who's pushing his solo album The Emperor's New Clothes, his first solo in 8 years, in a big way, to radio stations, in interviews, and everywhere! Raekwon's marijuana shop, HashStoria "Legal AF," and Black-owned, allegedly paid $500,000 short of rent and related fees before it was ordered to close by a New Jersey court. But if you ask Rae and company, the actual story stinks like something rancid.
"We got played," Raekwon, who deploys the "John Blaze" alias for the restaurant business, said, shaking his head, the day of the closing, a low blow for a company that never, he said, received a fair shot.
Check Out this Article: Hot 97 Host Nessa Nitty Torches Roc Nation in Scathing New Video
The landlord, BMHC LLC, contends that HashStoria fell behind on several months of rent, precipitating the current ruling. But according to Raekwon's crew, that's not the story they were told: a tale of construction delays, permit purgatory, and a handshake deal that was ultimately broken. They say there was a verbal agreement to pause or adjust rent during months of red tape and city-level gridlock, making it impossible for the shop actually to operate.
As their shop was jumping through the legal hoops, the team says the landlord allowed an unlicensed dispensary to operate next door. This enterprise supposedly attracted police raids like moths to a flame, casting a shadow over HashStoria's legitimate attempts to remain clean and compliant.
"It's a very sad ending," Raekwon said, "but we will see them in court."
HashStoria wasn't just another dispensary but was billed as a community-run space for a community hoping to diversify an industry that still struggles with representation. The team stated that they encountered regulatory barriers that many other businesses operating in the same sector didn't have to face.
BMC, LLC, on the other hand, says they've been more than generous, allowing HashStoria time after their grand opening to right the ship and are now just hoping to move on and find new renters.
The battle is bittersweet for Raekwon, coming at a time in his life when he is beginning to feel the weight of everything. His latest album, 'The Emperor's New Clothes,' was released on July 18, 2025, via Mass Appeal as part of the label's 'Legend Has It...' series, a jam-packed slate that also features new music from Nas, Mobb Deep, Ghostface Killah, and De La Soul. With heavy hitters such as Ghostface Killah, Nas, Method Man, and Conway the Machine appearing on the project, the music serves as evidence that Raekwon remains razor sharp.
0 Comments