Berner (rapper)

Gilbert Anthony Milam Jr. (born October 27, 1981), better known by his stage name Berner, is an American rapper and entrepreneur signed to Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang Entertainment. As of 2019, Berner has released 16 albums, several of which have charted on Billboard's "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" chart. As an entrepreneur, he's credited with the creation of multiple companies including Cookies, and is heavily active in California-based cannabis trade market.[1]

Berner
Milam in 2019
Background information
Birth nameGilbert Anthony Milam Jr.
Born (1981-10-27) October 27, 1981
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • entrepreneur
Years active2007–present
Labels
Associated acts

Early life

A Sunset District native, Berner attended Galileo Academy of Science and Technology before dropping out. His mother was an office worker and his father was a chef at a Mexican restaurant on Fillmore Street.[2] When Berner was 13, the family moved to Arizona, where his father planned to open a restaurant. During high school, Berner began battle rapping and in 2006 he released his first mixtape, Dirty Sneakers.[2]

Musical career

After forming his own label, Bern One Entertainment in 2007, Berner released his debut album, Track Money & Pack Money, with Equipto. His first solo album, Weekend at Bernie’s arrived in 2009, along with four other albums.[3]

In March 2012, Berner signed to Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang Records. Urban Farmer, Berner’s first collection to be released on Taylor Gang Records, was released on October 2, 2012. In 2013, Berner embarked performed on the "Under the Influence of Music Tour" alongside Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, Trinidad Jame$ and Joey Bada$$. In 2015, Berner released Contraband, a collaborative album with Cam’ron, as well as Drought Season 3 with deceased rapper The Jacka. In 2016, Berner released the solo album Hempire, also producing a 4/20 show at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium with a lineup that included Cypress Hill, Juicy J, Dizzy Wright, J Boog, Kool John, and Berner.[3][4]

Urban Farmer, another of Berner's albums, features Iamsu! from The HBK Gang on two tracks; and the Jacka, Rydah J. Klyde and San Quinn on 21 Gunz.[5]

Berner's single, 20 Lights reached #95 in Billboard's 200 chart. It was released on January 6, 2015. "Best Thang Smokin" is the lead single in Berner's album Hempire, released April 1, 2016.[6]

On May 4, 2019, he released a new album with one song featuring T3R Elemento star Kris Nava called El Chivo.

Business career

Berner ran a cannabis club from age 18 to 25; after meeting Wiz Khalifa, the latter heard Berner's release with Equipto, and signed him under the Taylor Gang.[5][7]

Berner opened a clothing and lifestyle store in San Francisco called "Cookies", selling items such as lunch bags, duffle bags and "smell proof" backpacks.[8] He is associated with the "Cookie Family" of marijuana geneticists, who produce strains common in California, such as "Girl Scout Cookies" and "Sunset Sherbet".[9][10]

Discography

Solo albums
  • 2007 - Dirty Sneakers...Plenty of Ways to Get It[3][11]
  • 2009 - Weekend at Bernie’s
  • 2011 - The White Album
  • 2012 - Urban Farmer
  • 2013 - Drugstore Cowboy
  • 2015 - 20 Lights (EP) - Billboard Top 200 #95 [12]
  • 2016 - Hempire - Billboard Top 200 #54 [13]
  • 2016 - Packs
  • 2017 - Sleepwalking
  • 2018 - The Big Pescado
  • 2018 - RICO
  • 2018 - 11/11
  • 2019 - El Chivo (Produced by Marv Dank Records)
  • 2019 - La Plaza
  • 2020 - Russ Bufalino: The Quiet Don

Collaboration albums
  • 2007 - Track Money and Pack Money (with Equipto)[3][11]
  • 2008 - Drought Season (with The Jacka)
  • 2009 - Drought Season 2 (with The Jacka)
  • 2009 - Blow (with Messy Marv)
  • 2009 - Traffic (with Ampichino)
  • 2010 - Traffic 2: Trains Planes & Automobiles (with Ampichino)
  • 2010 - Blow (Blocks and Boat Docks) (with Messy Marv)
  • 2012 - Border Wars (with The Jacka)
  • 2013 - Cookies & Cream (with San Quinn)
  • 2014 - Prohibition (with B-Real)
  • 2015 - Drought Season 3 (with The Jacka)
  • 2015 - Harvest Season (with Liqz)
  • 2015 - Prohibition Part 2 (with B-Real)
  • 2015 - Contraband EP (with Cam’ron)
  • 2016 - Prohibition Part 3 (with B-Real)
  • 2016 - Public Enemies (with Lil Evil and Aftah Sum)
  • 2016 - Guilty by Association 2: Criminal Enterprise (with Rich Rocker and San Quinn)
  • 2017 - Vibes (with Styles P)
  • 2017 - Tracking Numbers EP (with Young Dolph)
  • 2018 - Terra Firma EP (with Omni Alien)
  • 2019 - Slimey Individualz (with Mozzy)
  • 2019 - Pheno Grigio (with Curren$y)
  • 2020 - Los Meros (with B-Real)
  • 2020 - The Warning (with R-MEAN)
  • 2020 - Cooks & Orange Juice EP (with Larry June)
  • 2020 - Respect the Connect (with Cozmo)[14]

Compilations
  • 2010 - The Best of Goldtoes & Berner
  • 2014 - Dirty Money - Compilation, Vol. 1
  • 2017 - Dirty Money, Compilation Vol. 2

Singles

References
  1. "Rapper Berner Talks Cannabis Business Ventures, Shares Advice For Entrepreneurs". finance.yahoo.com.
  2. Harmon, Steve. "How Do You Spell Hip Hop Entrepreneur? Berner". Huffington Post. Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  3. Berner at AllMusic. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  4. Quitzon, Kimberly. "RECAP: BERNER PRESENTS HIPPIE HILL 2016". LA Music Blog. LA Music Blog. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  5. Meline, Gabe. "Berner, the Rapper King of Girl Scout Cookies, Plays Tonight". SFWeekly. SFWeekly. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  6. Mench, Chris. "Berner, Snoop Dogg, and Wiz Khalifa Burn One in Their Video for "Best Thang Smokin"". Complex. Complex. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  7. Trivino, Jesus. "HOW RAPPER BERNER BECAME ONE OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST MARIJUANA ENTREPRENEURS". Latina. Latina. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  8. Palmer, Tamara. "Bay Area Rapper and Weed Entrepreneur Berner Opens Haight Street Clothing Store". NBC Bay Area. NBC Bay Area. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  9. Scerrato, Alisa. "Long Lines At 'Cookies' Store Opening Today". Hoodline. Hoodline. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  10. Roberts, Chris. "Million Dollar Cookie: How Berner Built a Business Empire on Marijuana". SFWeekly. SFWeekly. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  11. Berner discography at Discogs
  12. "Berner 20 Lights (EP) Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  13. "Berner Hempire Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  14. "Berner & Cozmo - Respect the Connect". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  15. Ramírez, Erika. "Berner, 'All In A Day' Feat. YG, Young Thug & Vital: Exclusive Video Premiere". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  16. Ashagre, Aggi. "Collie Buddz Invites You to 'Wake & Bake' on New Track: Exclusive Premiere". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  17. Smith, Trevor. "Berner Feat. Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg & B-Real "Best Thang Smokin" Video". HotNewHipHop. HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  18. Mazariego, Omar. "Berner ft. Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg & B-Real "Best Thang Smokin,"". HipHopWired. HipHopWired. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
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