Berner

Gilbert Anthony Milam Jr., known by his stage name Berner, is an accomplished American rapper and entrepreneur born on October 27, 1983, in San Francisco County, California. With a career spanning over a decade, Berner has released over 40 albums, some of which have charted on Billboard’s “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.” As an entrepreneur, Berner is the creator of the Cookies brand, which comprises cannabis products and clothing gear originating from San Francisco in the early 2010s. The Cookies brand has expanded over time, boasting dozens of dispensaries across the United States and abroad, as well as multiple clothing stores.

Berner began his musical journey by releasing his first mixtape, Dirty Sneakers…Plenty Ways to Get It, in 2006. In 2007, he formed his label, Bern One Entertainment, and released his debut album, Track Money & Pack Money, in collaboration with Equipto. Berner signed with Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang Records in 2012 and released Urban Farmer, his first collection on the label. Over the years, Berner has worked with artists such as Cam’ron, The Jacka, and A$AP Rocky, among others.

Apart from his musical career, Berner has made a name for himself in the cannabis industry. He began working at The Hemp Center, a San Francisco dispensary, at the age of 18. Along with cultivator Jai Chang, Berner started selling different cannabis strains, including the famous “Girl Scout Cookies.” They eventually named their brand “Cookies” after receiving a cease and desist letter from the Girl Scouts of the USA. The brand has grown exponentially, and in August 2022, Berner became the first cannabis executive to be featured on Forbes Magazine’s cover, with the Cookies brand estimated to be worth $150 million.

Despite facing a stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis in 2021, Berner has remained active in the industry, and his cancer went into remission after chemotherapy.