Honey Spotlight: Celebrating Women's History Month With Cannabis Community Leaders: Mang-Yee Reverie Of Wu-Tang Radio And FLO 107.1
On the subject of hip hop and cannabis, Mang-Yee Reverie makes her opinion clear: “You can’t have one without the other.”
This is something the radio personality, entrepreneur, writer, and marketing expert understands well. Today she uses her voice hosting midday programming for FLO 107.1 FM in Denver, and on Wu-Tang Radio, but Mang-Yee’s good at her job precisely because she grew up in the world of hip hop, making friends with young creatives as an adolescent and then spending years in artist relations. Sometimes called “Snow White” by her loved ones, she’s used to being the only girl in a room of guys - whether that’s her blood relatives or her adopted family of Redman, Method Man, Havoc, the Wu-Tang Clan and countless music icons.
Who Is Mang-Yee Reverie? A Life In Multiple Arts
“I consider myself a hip hop historian,” the media pro says. She’s currently working on a children’s book documenting the eras of the genre, and being coached by award-winning writer Anita Kopacz. As a single mother of three, Mang-Yee considers educating young people to be her top responsibility: “I want to be able to show my kids that anything they want to do in life is an absolute possibility, because I’ve done exactly that and I’m still beating odds that were put up against me.”
Born in Panama, the Afro-Latina dynamo came to New York at age two. Because her father was in the military, the family moved all around the world and Mang-Yee found her solace in the arts.
“Music raised me,” she states. “I’m [in] lots of parts of this industry. I’m a host, radio personality, marketer, photographer, public speaker. There’s so many damn hats that I wear well, but you’ve got to learn to balance them all… I’m very grateful for what my life is, but it’s not as glamorous as it seems.”
Mang-Yee Reverie And Cannabis: Method Man's Tical And Building Brands
Though Mang-Yee grew up as much around legacy cannabis as hip hop, because everyone smoked in the “Haze Days,” she found her stride once the legal industry blossomed. Starting her job in Colorado, she noticed a lack of marketing for local brands. The strategist then determined she’d use her radio skills to “resonate in cannabis,” and she’s since helped build brands that have launched in local states, such as Method Man’s Tical, The Honeybee Collective, and High Society.
“I’ve worked on so many marketing campaigns as far as events, planning and walkthroughs,” she notes. “I was there when [Method Man] walked through all the dispensaries when Tical launched in Colorado, and artists weren’t doing that… I’ve been able to take my real world experience and gift it to people to help them grow.”
Mang-Yee Reverie Enters New York With Joe Meets Jane Coffee
It’s high time she does that for herself. New Yorkers will soon be able to enjoy Joe Meets Jane Coffee, Mang-Yee’s own line of infused java that she’s producing with state-licensed processor HPI Canna. Until last April, she also operated her business Cloud Seven Studios in Colorado, a creative space for artists where she hosted her Mile High Sessions program exploring the nuances of cannabis culture.
“I’ve got a lot of shit going on,” the multi-hyphenate laughs.
Mang-Yee Reverie On Being A Woman In Cannabis
She also never lets the difficulty of male-dominated spaces faze her. “You can’t be part of any industry as a woman and not run into ten times the amount of backlash and strife a man would get. I’ve been criticized because I’m a mother and [people think] it’s not a good example to my children. Same thing in cannabis and radio. I still, to this day, fight battles more often than I wish I did… But I like breaking barriers, so I keep my very masculine energy planted when I have to be in situations where people need to understand I'm standing firm, and whatever the hell it is, I demand my respect. So I’ve been able to earn respect in both industries.”
Her presence is felt in all senses, from sound (radio) to taste (coffee) to sight (writing) and so much more. That children’s book may be forthcoming, but we can predict the ending. “Snow White” will live happily ever after - because she always rescues herself.
For more about Mang-Yee Reverie, visit flodenver.com/mang-yee and wutangradio.com, or follow @mangyee_reverie on Instagram.
*A version of this article originally appeared in Honeysuckle's 17th print edition, featuring Havoc of Mobb Deep. Get your copy now at dispensaries nationwide or click here to order!
(C) Cam Margera @cammargera8 / Rob Hill Photography @the_rhp
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Featured image: Mang-Yee Reverie of FLO 107.1 Denver and Wu-Tang Radio (C) Cam Margera @cammargera8 / Rob Hill Photography @the_rhp