The perfect piece of artist merchandise is the kind that first makes you think, "I can’t believe this exists," followed microseconds later by, "Actually no, this makes perfect sense." Of course FKA twigs sells $600 satin bomber jackets with her face airbrushed on the back. Of course Beyoncé has a range of nail art decals inspired by her music videos. Of course Ted Nugent has his own line of ammo.
So it is with the Weeknd’s new collaboration with PAX Labs, makers of the popular PAX line of portable vaporizers. Commemorating his ongoing North American tour, the Madness Tour Limited Edition PAX 2 is the company’s latest update on its already iconic (in certain circles) flagship product. It has a special matte black finish, a special yellow LED in its status indicator, the XO logo silkscreened on the front, and a chip inside that plays a snippet of “The Hills” whenever it’s activated. It’s both completely ridiculous and perfectly on-brand.
Perfectly on-brand, because Weeknd’s brand is being luxuriously high, and the two PAX models so far have been widely praised, even outside of stoner circles, as the ne plus ultra of portable vaporizers for their impeccable design, satisfyingly solid-feeling construction, and high-quality performance. Snobbier potheads—the kind who care about strains and stuff—love them. (I was at a small experimental music festival this summer and at one point pulled out my PAX at the same time two complete strangers standing either side of me pulled out theirs.)
Ridiculous, because the Madness Tour Limited Edition costs $45 more than a regular PAX 2 (even the new all-gold model) and doesn’t offer any actual improvement to the product other than aesthetics. In fact, before I got my hands on one I wondered if it might actually be less functional than the standard model. Having a PAX that plays a clip of music every time you power it up seems like it would ruin everything that’s made it—and I hope I’m not snitching here—one of the best products ever for smoking weed on the low in places where you’re not supposed to be smoking weed. (Turns out it’s a very quiet MIDI clip—like a first-wave ringtone—that you can barely hear unless you have the PAX next to your ear.)
For any of the thousands of fans who spent last week’s Weeknd set at Madison Square Garden screaming along to every word and generally losing their shit for two straight hours, that $45 premium might seem totally worth paying in order to get the overall aura of Weeknd-ness that comes with his signature edition. People have been happily buying overpriced tour merch for years (and no doubt will be for years to come) for the same reason: that totemic sense of connection with the artist that’s no less real for its intangibility, or its seeming silliness to people who don’t get it.
If you’re not a bloodsworn member of the Weeknd hive, it may not be worth it to you, although the combination of matte-black finish and yellow LED is very fly. (In certain geek circles, having a new or rare LED color on a gadget is considered an extremely strong flex.) If not, snag that gold one and save the $45 to get yourself a little something extra the next time your guy comes through.