Last week’s CHAMPS Trade Show 2025 in Las Vegas was a one-of-a-kind event that felt more like a pop-up mixtape than a traditional B2B expo. The convention, held from July 23-26, was a melting pot of rap icons, industry professionals, and cannabis enthusiasts, all coming together to celebrate the latest innovations in the hemp industry.
As soon as you walked through the doors of the convention center, you could feel the energy and excitement in the air. The aisles were filled with vendors showcasing their latest hemp products, glass art, and vape technology. But what really set this trade show apart was the presence of hip-hop culture. Rap icons like Twista, Curren$y, and LaRussell were seen trading verses for vendor badges, immersing themselves in the world of hemp and cannabis.
During his performance on the hhemp.co-stage, Twista took a moment to observe the crowd and remarked, “It’s a youth-driven sport, but us OGs get inspired by the new wave.” This sentiment perfectly captured the essence of CHAMPS 2025 – a place where hip-hop culture and counter-culture commerce collide. Since its inception in 1999, CHAMPS has been America’s premier counter-culture marketplace, attracting hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of retail and wholesale buyers to its six annual shows. What started as a smoke-shop accessory fair has evolved into a platform for celebrity-backed lines, terp-heavy vapes, and designer blunt wraps. And in 2025, hip-hop’s influence could be felt everywhere – on stage, in boardrooms, and across every buzzworthy booth on the show floor.
One of the busiest spots at the convention was Booth 7001, where contract manufacturer hhemp.co had transformed its space into “Hemp World” – a four-day micro-festival that was seamlessly integrated into the trade show. The live performances from LaRussell, Twista, Fortunate Youth, and Curren$y drew massive crowds, while surprise appearances from Lil Baby, Runtz-founder Yung LB, and Kill Tony comedians Uncle Lazer and David Lucas added to the excitement. In between sets, buyers flocked to the booth to learn about new product launches from hhemp.co’s partner brands, including Sherbinskis, Boutiq, CAM, Punch Edibles, NUG, CHFN, and Lovepot. According to hhemp.co CEO Dr. Bao Le, the goal was not just to debut products, but to also build the next chapter of cannabis culture – one where retail buyers, legacy artists, and Gen Z creators could come together and learn from each other under one roof.
The trade show also saw a meeting of the minds between hip-hop OGs and the new wave of artists. Lil Baby made a surprise cameo alongside Dr. Bao Le and Litty’s CMO, Sam Chao, showcasing the star power that was present at CHAMPS. This was not the first time a hip-hop legend had graced the trade show – earlier this year, Snoop Dogg had announced that he would be judging the blunt-rolling finals and debuting his SWED wraps at the winter session, solidifying CHAMPS’s reputation as a magnet for hip-hop royalty. And at the summer show, Curren$y and Twista hinted at a potential partnership between CHFN and hhemp.co, while Lil Baby shot promotional footage with Litty Flower Shop for his “Wham” line. Yung LB also generated buzz for the Runtz+Litty collaboration. With heavyweight visits from Mike Tyson, Lil Wyte, and Wiz Khalifa, the trade show floor resembled a backstage at the Grammy Awards rather than a typical B2B marketplace.
It’s clear that hip-hop artists have become more than just performers – they are now cannabis architects, designing products, patenting devices, and negotiating brand collaborations. And at CHAMPS Trade Show 2025, they were at the forefront of the industry, shaping the future of cannabis culture. With its unique blend of hip-hop and counter-culture commerce, CHAMPS has solidified its position as the ultimate destination for all things hemp and cannabis.
