Anti-Energy "Drank" Set to Sedate NYC Tomorrow

2008_08_drankp%3B.jpg Get ready to "slow your roll" New York; the mass-produced version of "Purple Drank" will hit shelves in Manhattan and the Bronx tomorrow, Fork in the Road reports.

According to Wikipedia, the homemade version of the beverage is "a recreational drug popular in the hip-hop community of the southern United States. Its main ingredient is prescription-strength cough syrup containing codeine and promethazine." Purple Drank was supposedly popularized by Houston's DJ Screw, who then died in 2000 from a codeine overdose, thus assuring the drink's eternal fame. More recent celebrity cachet comes courtesy Britney Spears.

The canned product being unleashed on famously frenetic New Yorkers tomorrow is a little more tame then the folk concoction. Drank is a non-alcoholic, grape-flavored beverage made with melatonin, valerian root and rose hips. A publicist tells Fork in the Road:

We're calling this the extreme relaxation beverage. Every aspect of this calming drink was inspired by today’s popular hip hop artists who embrace the much sought-after hip hop lifestyle that encourages people to capture a stress-free state of mind.

A spokesman for local distributor Good-O could have definitely used a Drank when we called this afternoon. "Wrong number!" he snapped, and hung up before we could explain. After several repeat attempts, he finally took the call and explained that "the publicists are on their way up from Memphis." So until the Drank store locations are revealed, you'll just have to make do with grape soda and Robitussin. Back in the day, when the quest for sedation used to mean something, kids called that Robotripping.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in Food on August 19, 2008 4:37 PM

Comments [rss]

tommytom

If you dont want such a ghetto relaxation drink try an R&R. www.twistyourbuzz.com

longacre

"hip hop" was supposed to have a line through it. Comment preview lied to me.

longacre

the south. the worst thing to ever happen to hip hop America.

There, I fixed that for ya.

aveB4life

whatever happened to smoking weed

Novanglus

Oh gee, what calm and peaceful people thugged out rappers and street criminals are!

Bozack

"Booty Sweat"

QM

I hope it comes with a warning on the can. Otherwise the makers are opening themselves up for a lawsuit. Valerian root can put some people to sleep.

NannyState

Trust me, Lorazepam or Vallium beats this crap any day.

jackdonaghy

How did this garbage get approval for distribution? First, we see a hyper-caffeinated energy drink called Cocaine (or something to that effect) and now this? You want a real anti-energy drink? Try an egg cream soda or a milk shake.

breaknight

This is a joke right?

AggieAngst

Valerian tastes nasty. It's gonna need a whole lot of artificial something to cover it up. I can't even stand to smell it. :p

However, the idea of an anti-energy drink cracks me up, but Dog knows I don't need it.

r_friend

It sounds like yoga in a can. But with more emphasis on the "Yo".

With all due respect, I think the hip hop lifestyle's idea of a stress-free state of mind is a little different from most.

Amanda Harletsch

HipHop stress-free state of mind ?!

Yeah right...flying bullets are soooo calming.

zodak

good-o!!! i cannot begin to tell you how much i love their soda. i drank that stuff all the time, coco rico & colony. when i see some kola champagne in a store i always buy a bottle. i'll try some of this purple stuff.

plk779

Wow, robotripping. that takes me back..

liulide

the south. the worst thing to ever happen to hip hop.

lanciano

Uh, why are we talking about this shit in a can and helping to make that publicist's job so easy? This sort of garbage probably doesn't need any extra help.