SF ORIGINS AND FIRST PANTRY GROW
Born in Spain and raised in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights, Champelli planted his first bagseed at age 12. With no equipment and no guide, he improvised—using a pantry skylight for daylight and dragging plants into a basement each night to simulate darkness. It was raw trial and error, but it worked.
CHAMPAGNE NOSE AND EXOTIC STATUS
By his teens, he had dropped out of school and was running indoor rooms on Woodward Street. Moving Skunk and OG, he chased a distinct terpene profile—a sweet, fizzy citrus note. That “champagne” cut became Champelli, an exotic strain long before “exotics” became a mainstream cannabis category.
RAP SCENE CONNECTIONS
Producing beats for Mac Dre, San Quinn, and Beanie Sigel, Champelli also put jars into the hands of Snoop Dogg and Memphis Bleek. Mac Dre’s references in his music cemented “Pelli” as stoner shorthand. At a time when almost nobody had branded cannabis on the street, Champelli stood out as one of the first.
FEDERAL HEAT AND DISAPPEARANCE
As a federal case gathered momentum, Champelli left the U.S. before indictment. He moved between Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Mexico, continuing to grow under different aliases. While counterfeit versions of his strain spread in California, the real Champelli disappeared—only fueling his myth further.
RETURN AND TIME SERVED
Eventually, he returned to the United States, only to be arrested upon arrival. He served six months in federal custody before quietly reemerging. Unlike many peers, his return was understated—focused on the craft rather than chasing clout.
STREETWEAR REVIVAL
Champelli reintroduced himself to culture through clothing. His streetwear line fused graffiti-inspired fonts, Bay Area nostalgia, and limited fabric runs. The Dynasty drop in June featured fleece, corduroy, and gold pins. Each piece carried the same rarity as his cannabis once did.
GLOBAL PHENO HUNTS
His work expanded internationally. Partnering with Cookies Thailand, Chronic Culture, and leading nurseries, he pheno-hunted more than 500 seeds in pursuit of the original champagne nose. His collaborations stretched across Europe, especially Barcelona, where cannabis culture was thriving.
SPANNABIS AND NEW GENETICS
In 2025, Champelli returned to the global stage with a Breeding Grounds launch at Spannabis alongside Sensi Seeds. The release introduced strains like Mimosa Sunrise XXL, Raspberry Critical Kush, and LA Sugar—blending legacy with innovation.
KEY COLLABORATIONS
His influence extended into modern cannabis culture through collaborations:
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Sluggers: Cassis Minis and a THCA blunt
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Sensi Seeds: Three feminized strains including Mimosa Sunrise XXL
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Boskys Genetics: “Champu” drop, which placed 3rd at Zalympix
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Fidelytics: A signature hash-hole preroll
RARE, REAL, AND LASTING
Before Cookies, before Runtz, and before designer packaging, there was Champelli. His legacy rests not in loud branding but in authenticity—rare terpenes, rare cuts, and a reputation built on rarity itself. Champelli remains true to the craft that set him apart decades ago.
— Nugg Notes
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