High Monkey's story began in New York with a simple idea and a distinctive visual identity. According to the original nuggnotes account, the brand started in May 2020 in Harlem and Washington Heights, without a large team or outside investors. Its development moved from loose jars and rooftop runs to holographic mylars, plush toys, private menus and interactive product drops. Throughout that growth, one phrase remained central: stay humble.
May 2020: One Person, One Idea
The original account dates the beginning of High Monkey to May 2020. The brand started in:
Harlem
Washington Heights
The caption describes the beginning as: "just 1 dude, 1 idea, & a torn notebook page."
There was no large team and no outside investors. Before branded packaging existed, the operation moved through loose jars and rooftop runs. The flower was described as candy-gas and moved hand to hand, one eighth at a time. These early transactions formed the foundation of the brand before it developed a recognizable retail identity.
2020–2022: Art Before the Tree
Between 2020 and 2022, the focus was not primarily on the flower. The original account describes the early development as being about the visual identity. Stickers, graffiti tags and cartoon monkeys holding money trees circulated through group chats. The imagery helped establish the monkey identity before the brand developed its more recognizable packaging.
Gelato 41: How High Monkey Got Its Name
The name came from a particular batch of Gelato 41. According to the original account, the batch hit so hard that the crew began calling it: "high monkey."
The name stuck and eventually became the brand identity. The first drop used a teal-on-black holographic mylar. The original caption says this first package: "flipped nyc menus overnight."
The Gelato 41 batch and the distinctive packaging became two defining elements of the early High Monkey story.
Before 2023: City of Flowers
Before 2023, High Monkey was already appearing in City of Flowers. The original account describes the location as a place where rappers came for free weed. The brand remained relatively quiet while building its presence behind the scenes. The caption contrasts this approach with people who were chasing attention and hype. High Monkey's strategy was to keep moving without making itself the center of every conversation.
Monkey Moves: More Than a Bag
As High Monkey developed, it expanded beyond flower packaging. The original account identifies several additions:
Plush toys
Glow-in-the-dark keychains
QR-coded reels
These elements helped turn each product drop into an experience. The brand also moved its Telegram menus into private access. By late 2024, High Monkey was appearing on tables in locations ranging from Brooklyn lounges to the backrooms of Astor Club NYC. The caption presents this as a sign of the brand's expanding presence.
Stay Humble: The Code Behind the Brand
The phrase: "stay humble ✍🏾" became the defining mantra. According to the original account, it was not simply a caption or marketing slogan. It became the brand's code. The philosophy was built around:
No flexing
No fake hype
Loud candy terpenes
Real movement
This approach helped distinguish High Monkey's identity from brands relying primarily on attention and exaggerated promotion.
Late 2024: The Candy Truck Scavenger Hunt
In late 2024, High Monkey partnered with Deep in the Bagg for a release called Candy Truck. The original account describes the drop as a scavenger hunt. Followers were sent across SoHo, where they searched for monkey posters. The posters contained access points that allowed participants to scan and reach secret preorder links. The jars sold out in four hours. The campaign combined physical street activity with digital access. Instead of simply announcing a release online, the brand created a citywide search around the product.
Craft Over Clout: Small-Batch Production
The original account emphasizes that High Monkey avoided fake collaborations and shortcuts. Every run was described as small-batch. The packaging included:
UV-sealed bags
Serial QR codes
These features were intended to help fight knockoffs. The caption preserves the team's statement: "if it don't peel & pop it ain't us."
The phrase connected the packaging experience with the brand's authenticity.
Early 2025: Buddy's Bodega and the Elite Flower Scene
In early 2025, Buddy's Bodega CA reposted an image of a monkey bag filled with plush toys. The original account identifies this moment as High Monkey's quiet entry into New York's elite flower scene. The brand had developed beyond its original neighborhood identity. The caption describes its position as existing between:
Street legend
Boutique luxury
It was still maintaining the original approach while reaching a more exclusive market.
2026: The High Monkey Treehouse
The original account looks ahead to 2026 with a possible physical location called the High Monkey Treehouse. The concept would combine:
A merchandise lab
A flower bar
Candy-gas culture
The caption presents the Treehouse as a possibility, not an established business location. Until then, the monkey continues moving through releases and brand experiences.
Legacy: Stay Humble, Keep Moving
High Monkey's development began in May 2020 with one person, one idea and a torn notebook page. A Gelato 41 batch gave the brand its name, and a teal-on-black holographic mylar established its first recognizable packaging. City of Flowers provided an early point of presence before the brand expanded into plush toys, glow-in-the-dark keychains and QR-coded reels. The late-2024 Candy Truck scavenger hunt with Deep in the Bagg brought followers across SoHo and sold out in four hours. By early 2025, Buddy's Bodega CA had helped bring attention to the plush-stuffed monkey bag, while the possible 2026 Treehouse remained a future ambition. The original account's message remains consistent: Stay humble. No fake hype. Real motion.
Sources
nuggnotes. "Stay Humble: High Monkey." Instagram, October 15, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/p/DP1Fti7jgh9/
The original Instagram post behind this article.
Honeysuckle Magazine. "NYC's Coolest Cannabis Brands & Industry Insiders: Best-Kept Secrets." Honeysuckle Magazine, December 6, 2022. https://honeysucklemag.com/new-york-city-cannabis-brands-industry-insiders-buddys-bodega-certz-astor-club-nyc/
Documents Buddy's Bodega as a New York premium cannabis delivery service born in 2018 and Astor Club as a members-only Lower East Side club — the two real venues the account name-checks.
Cannabis Now. "This Discreet Manhattan Cannabis Club Gets It Right." Cannabis Now, October 3, 2024. https://cannabisnow.com/this-discreet-manhattan-cannabis-club-gets-it-right/
Documents Astor Club as a members-only Lower East Side lounge launched in January 2020, referral-only access — supports the club's existence and backroom character; says nothing about High Monkey.
Oshiafi, Eniola "OJ." "New York City's Best Cannabis-Related Tourist Stops." Beard Bros Pharms, July 2, 2022. https://beardbrospharms.com/new-york-citys-best-cannabis-related-tourist-stops/
Independently describes Astor Club as an exclusive Lower East Side members club.
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