OG means a few things, depending on how you use it. It started as “original gangster,” made popular by Ice-T’s 1991 album, and with weed it often means “Ocean Grown,” as in OG Kush. Others say “Organic Grown” or “Original Generation.” Below, we cover each meaning and where it came from.
What Does OG Mean?
The answer- OG means a lot of things, depending on how you use the term. OG is one of those terms that started out as one thing and evolved into much more, coinciding with the rise in popularity of stoner culture and, of course, the internet.
A true OG meaning is multifaceted. The term is used in all sorts of pop culture references and products. For instance, there’s the MTV show Teen Mom OG , or the popular Air Jordan series sneaker Air Jordan Retro High OG, but, again, what does it mean?
What Does OG Stand For?
There are many definitions that the initials OG have come to stand for over the years. Here are some of today’s possible meanings – some weed-related, some not.
Original Gangster
The term “original gangster” first came into popularity when rapper Ice-T coined it back in the early nineties on his 1991 hit album OG Original Gangster . He is not credited with inventing the term, but he definitely had a hand in its massive popularity.
After Original Gangster came out, other popular rappers began using the saying, ‘original gangster’ in their song lyrics. Then the term started to be used in movies, such as in Boyz in the Hood. By the mid-nineties, everyone was using the term original gangster, but it was shortened to the initials OG. Soon people forgot about the initial meaning, original gangster.
Ocean Grown
Of course, OG also stands for “Ocean Grown,” giving credit to the Pacific Ocean off of the coast of California. This definition is often referring to strains of weed. The original OG strain was OG Kush, and it gained popularity in the nineties, which of course, is the reason why the term OG is often associated with weed.
Now, the OG strain has many variations. You may have heard of some of these strains, such as:
- Fire OG
- Skywalker OG
- SFV OG
- Platinum OG
- Tahoe OG
All of these strains are super sticky and super dankalicious.
Grow your very own OG strain in one of our world famous indoor pot growing kits!
Original Generation
OG could also stand for “Original Generation,” which is similar to “original gangster,” but it goes back further than nineties hip hop culture. Original generation refers to the original mobsters of the early twentieth century, particularly those who ran bootleg operations during America’s failed experiment with prohibition in the twenties and early thirties.
Mobsters such as Al Capone, John Dillinger, and Bugs Moran were part of the original generation of gangsters, so it makes sense that they would be immortalized as such. ‘Original generation’ also refers to a TV trope of an original group of characters in a television or movie franchise with many sequels and spinoffs. The cast from the original 1960’s Star Trek would be an ‘original generation,’ for instance.
Organic Grown
OG could also stand for “Organic Grown” when referring to weed. As with most things organically grown, this means weed that was grown without pesticides or any other harsh chemicals. That means the soils and nutrients are all-natural, resulting in delicious tasting weed, where you can taste and smoke all of the plant, and nothing that the plant was grown in.
It is challenging to grow weed this way. That’s why many newbie growers use pesticides and soils such as Miracle-Gro to give their plants that extra boost. These inorganic methods often lead to unhealthy, stressed out plants, which, of course, affect the quality of your homegrown buds. If you want a healthier grow with the least amount of effort, use A Pot for Pot Complete Kit instead.
Related: Growing Marijuana: Step-by-Step Guide
Original Gatorade
The initials could easily be referring to things outside of stoner culture, such as Original Gatorade. Gatorade has been around since 1965. It was first created in a lab by physicians at the University of Florida after their assistant football coach wanted to know why his players were having so many issues with dehydration and exhaustion during practice.
Science to the rescue! University physicians concocted a beverage containing not just water, but sodium, carbohydrates, and electrolytes designed to replenish as well as rehydrate. Thus, the neon-colored “Original Thirst Quencher” was born. Gatorade has gone through many different iterations over the years and spawned many imitators, but it is no doubt the original.
Orangutan Ganja
A term that has become popular in the last decade, Orangutan Ganja, according to Urban Dictionary , initially referred to the really strong weed that “Asian orangutans smoked with the Buddha in Buddhist mythology.” The term now refers to really strong weed strains such OG Kush , Bruce Banner, and of course, the famous Gorilla Glue #4.
This is one of those meanings that grew out of internet culture. When someone is talking about smoking “some of that Orangutan ganja,” they are referring to any high THC strain that might make you feel like you are glued to your couch or one that makes you, well, feel like a wild primate. Basically, this version means really dank buds.
| OG meaning | Weed-related? | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Original Gangster | No | Ice-T’s 1991 album; everywhere by the mid-nineties |
| Ocean Grown | Yes | California’s Pacific coast; OG Kush, popular in the nineties |
| Original Generation | No | Prohibition-era mobsters of the 1920s and early 1930s |
| Organic Grown | Yes | Weed grown without pesticides or harsh chemicals |
| Original Gatorade | No | Made at the University of Florida; around since 1965 |
| Orangutan Ganja | Yes | Internet slang from the last decade for very strong weed |
What is OG?
What is OG: the answer is simple. OG is anything you want it to be, whether it’s original gangster, original generation, ocean grown, or even orangutan ganja. Like the origin of 420, the origin and original meaning of the term OG is something that no one will ever agree on unanimously. Technically any of the above meanings can be the real definition because they all have the correct initials.
Maybe we aren’t supposed to know. What really matters is whether you are OG in your heart. Now light up some Fire OG and stop asking questions about a potential OG meaning .
Frequently asked questions
What does orangutan ganja mean?
Orangutan ganja is internet slang for really strong weed. According to Urban Dictionary, it first meant the strong weed Asian orangutans smoked with the Buddha in Buddhist mythology. Today it means any high-THC strain that glues you to the couch, like OG Kush, Bruce Banner or Gorilla Glue #4. Basically, really dank buds.
What does OG stand for in weed?
In weed, OG most often stands for Ocean Grown, a nod to the Pacific Ocean off the California coast. Some people also use it for Organic Grown, meaning weed raised without pesticides or harsh chemicals, in all-natural soil and nutrients. Nobody agrees on one true meaning. Like 420, the origin is still up for debate.
What does OG stand for in OG Kush?
The OG in OG Kush is usually read as Ocean Grown, after the Pacific coast of California. OG Kush was the original OG strain and caught on in the nineties, which is a big reason OG got tied to weed. It led to a whole family of OG strains, including Fire OG, Skywalker OG, SFV OG, Platinum OG and Tahoe OG.
What does OG stand for in slang?
In everyday slang, OG means original gangster. Rapper Ice-T made it famous with his 1991 album OG Original Gangster, though he didn’t invent the term. Other rappers and movies like Boyz in the Hood picked it up, and by the mid-nineties everyone was saying OG while the full phrase was mostly forgotten.
