Ever wondered how Herbistry420’s host got his name? The story of how Fordee got his name is equal parts nerd origin story, teenage graffiti culture, and 40-ounce malt liquor. It starts in Los Angeles and ends with one of the most recognizable names in cannabis YouTube. Here are 3 incredible origin facts.
How Fordee Got His Name: The Complete Origin Story
Fordee grew up in Los Angeles. In elementary and middle school, he was a straight-A student — and a self-described super nerd. His social life was minimal: one real friend from third grade onward, no girlfriend, and exactly one memorable first kiss (the Coke-can-in-the-locker story deserves its own article). But this Fordee name origin story really picks up when he hits high school.
1. The LA Nerd Who Taught Himself to Tag
In high school, Fordee noticed the graffiti kids. They could draw, they hung out in groups, and — crucially — there were always girls around. As someone who could already draw, he saw an opportunity. Learning to tag seemed like a two-birds-one-stone solution: get a crew, meet people, finally have a social life.
His Fordee graffiti tag name took a wrong turn at first. The initial tag was “Wiz” — W-I-Z, short for Wizard — which, as he freely admits, was not exactly a crowd-pleaser. “That’s not going to get any girls,” he recalls thinking. Time to rebrand.
2. The 40-Ounce Party Culture That Named Him
Around ninth grade (14 years old), the social currency at parties was the 40-ounce malt liquor — cheap, iconic, and everywhere. The Fordee 40 ounce nickname was born out of this scene. He drank them, friends noticed, and someone said, “You should just be 40.” The Fordee 40 ounce nickname stuck immediately — he went from “Wiz” to “40” and never looked back.
3. The Spelling: F-O-R-D-E-E
Here’s what makes this name memorable: the spelling. “40” became “Fordee” — F-O-R-D-E-E. Not “Forty,” not “Fordy.” The double-E ending is intentional, stylistic, and completely on brand for someone who came up in graffiti culture where how you write your name matters. That is how Fordee spelled his name, and it’s been his identity ever since.
From Graffiti Walls to Herbistry420
The name carried from teenage graffiti walls in Los Angeles all the way to a cannabis YouTube channel with over 28,000 subscribers. The persona evolved — straight-A nerd became cannabis educator, graffiti artist became video host — but the name stuck. This Fordee name origin story gives you a window into who he actually is: a self-aware, funny, authentic person who turned a nerd-to-cool-kid journey into a lifelong identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Fordee got his name — the short version?
He drank 40-ounce malt liquors as a teenager in LA. Friends started calling him “40.” He adopted the Fordee 40 ounce nickname, spelled it F-O-R-D-E-E, and it became his permanent identity — first as a Fordee graffiti tag name, then as the Herbistry420 YouTube persona.
What was his first graffiti tag?
“Wiz” — short for Wizard. He switched to “40” after the 40-ounce party culture nickname took hold. He admits “Wiz” wasn’t going to help his social life.
Is Fordee his real name?
It’s his real nickname, used since high school. The name came from his teenage graffiti days and the 40-ounce malt liquor culture of 1990s Los Angeles. How Fordee spelled his name — with the distinctive double-E — has stayed consistent for decades.
References
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