"dead men don't smoke marijuana" was rogie's final album, and was recorded for the british world music record label real world records. given that the label is affiliated with the world music-celebrating womad arts festival, "dead men don't smoke marijuana" and the label's other albums bear the credit "a womad production." the album was produced by tchad blake, whose production style on the album was described by "the beat" as intimate and profoundly felt, transcending "mere record production" and instead resembling "a more sentient form of portraiture." the album features new collaborators danny thompson on double bass and alfred bannerman on lead guitar in addition to rogie's band, who include keyboardist simon clarke, guitarist and backing vocalist emile oogo, and zozo shuaibu, who contributes electric bass, percussion and backing vocals.