At the turn of the 21st Century, Y2K, a time oft-copied by Gen Z for fashion pointers, rapper Wiz Khalifa attended Pittsburgh’s Taylor Allderdice High School and was known by his nickname Mistercap for his love of hats. Two decades later, after skyrocketing to fame with hits like “We Dem Boyz” and “Black and Yellow,” the Grammy-nominated artist is also wearing the hat of entrepreneur.

He’s calling his newest venture Mistercap, but we’re not talking about hats anymore. He’s referring to the structure that sits atop a mushroom’s fruiting body. Khalifa’s first wellness brand is all about the power of the mushroom and the raw nutritional and functional benefits freshly grown fungi can provide. 

‘Brain-Boosting Nutrition’

Khalifa launched Mistercap in September with three grow-your-own mushroom kits: Shiitake, Lion’s Mane and Oyster. The kits comprise a mix of organic substrate and mycelium—the vegetative part of a fungus consisting of a network of fine white filaments, or hyphae.

“We’ve basically created the forest floor, allowing consumers to grow the freshest mushrooms in their own homes,” Mistercap’s general manager Philippe Chetrit, told Nutraceuticals World. “Lion’s Mane mushrooms are known as a great source of natural brain-boosting nutrition; Oyster mushrooms are packed with nutrients like protein, fiber and antioxidants; and Shiitake mushrooms are high in B vitamins, and they serve as a food source of vitamin D.”

The kits allow wellness enthusiasts the chance to experience the life cycle of a mushroom in its entirety, from mycelium to meal through a weeks-long culinary journey that promises to be both fun and educational.

“As you start your kit, you’ll see it beautifully transform in front of your eyes from an organic log to a natural work of art,” Chetrit said. “And once they are full and mature, customers get to harvest and enjoy them in their favorite dishes.”

Each mushroom species’ functional and nutritional benefits include improving energy levels and brain function, reducing inflammation in the body and supporting a healthy immune system, according to Chetrit.

“I personally love incorporating mushrooms into my meal lineup because of their nutritional power,” he added.

And the kits can be enjoyed by vegetarians and cholesterol-watching consumers alike looking to decrease their intake of red meat. “I love the fiber and protein I get while reducing my meat consumption,” added Chetrit.

‘Amazing’ Health Properties

Shiitake mushrooms are touted to have what Chetrit called “amazing health properties.” Used in Far Eastern medicine for centuries, Shiitake mushrooms have been cultivated for more than 1,000 years in Asia. Today, they are reportedly the third-most cultivated mushroom variety in the world.

A fascinating fact about the Oyster mushroom is its carnivorous properties. It has a diet of damp logs, which are low in nitrogen, meaning it feeds on microscopic nematodes, a kind of worm, to obtain the essential element, according to Chetrit.

‘Edible Art’

What sets Mistercap apart? For one, the brand sources its mushroom mixes from North America.

“Wiz and the Mistercap’s team connected with Holburne Farm, a RedLight Holland partner, to develop these grow kits because of their network of mushroom farms across North America and Europe,” said Chetrit.

As far as taste, Lion’s Mane mushrooms have what Chetrit describes as a “delicate, slightly sweet flavor,” while Oyster mushrooms have a “softly sweet, toasty taste.” Shiitake meanwhile are “rich and savory.”

“People love growing their own food,” said Chetrit, “and the kits provide a fun and friendly way to introduce mushrooms into our customers’ lives allowing them to discover the beauty of the process. It becomes edible art.”

Partnership with the Fungi Foundation

A portion of Mistercap sales will benefit the Fungi Foundation, a global organization that explores fungi to arm consumers with the knowledge of their diversity, promote innovative solutions to problems, educate on their existence and applications, and recommend public policy for their conservation.

The partnership is a full-circle moment of sorts for Khalifa, who wants anything but to keep the potency of these mushrooms under his “cap.” Proceeds from Mistercap’s will impact the foundation’s Fungi Education Curriculum—the world’s first designed to introduce the study of mycology into middle and high schools.

“Our goal is to increase awareness around mushrooms and all of its incredible health benefits,” said Chetrit. “With Mistercap’s, we are making home-grown functional mushrooms more accessible than ever before and introducing them to a new global audience.”