I Love Being A Man Pt. 3: Chances?!?

I watched this in disappointment: Men talking about how guys need 2 or 3 times to really prove themselves. Girls (albeit ugly ones in my opinion) talking about how they would give a cute dude another shot or so. Word?

I come from a long line of pastors and players. Yes they are the same in ways I might consider posting about one day... the point is that I have been raised to put the woman's feelings ahead of yours. Sex is a job: your pleasure is my priority. It's a job I enjoy thoroughly, a job I can come back to over and over, a job I can work over and over... but a job regardless.

Then I stopped and thought about it. Within my tiny circle of friends, if a girl does not come back for more then you are booted from the circle. Harsh, but you have to watch the company you keep.

But in the outside world... do girls come back to see if you can do better? Wow.

My mood shifted from disappointment in these men who are below my standards for myself, to relief that the world of women does not expect that much for me. This reality only gives me the opportunity to outshine the status quo, introduce a woman to my reality so that we may shake our heads at this video together.

But the safety net that men have is comforting. I know stories of my homeboys that have slept with girls that were less than spectacular (never had the misfortune, love yall), and they don't answer their phone calls or texts anymore. But men, we get chances. That is one double standard I can't appreciate really, but I can rock with it regardless.

Please note: For any girl that has had sex with one of my homies and have not heard from them since, sorry you had to find out on my blog.

Life: Priceless. Worthless.

“Am I wrong for wishing somebody would get killed? I mean, it just doesn’t seem like Hip-Hop gets it until somebody gets killed.”

-illseed, August 10, 2009, posted in rumors

I read this in the rumors section of AllHipHop. I respect illseed because he has a lot of insight and wisdom in matters of Hip-Hop and life. He's also funny. At the time he said this, the beef between Joe Budden and Raekwon had escalated to fisticuffs when Budden was decked by Rae's entourage. While some, who do not understand the state of Hip-Hop or illseed's dry humor, were enraged by this statement, I understood the point he was trying to make. That it is only in death, does Hip-Hop appreciate life and seek to preserve what has already been lost.

But this is a bigger issue than the callousness of those within the Hip-Hop world. Even now, I write this piece because I have lost someone dear to me. And while I have attempted to remain a douchebag and poke fun at the useless sh*t of life, I feel like I have treated life itself the same way.

Regret is a useless emotion. It is also a avoidable one. Just appreciate your family. Your friends. Yourself. Your life.

Justice Must Be Served

I'm from NY, so I've seen a lot of f*cked up sh*t. I've seen enough to know it isn't something to brag about, especially when you get numb to it. Very little can bring out a lot of emotion in me: I see ignorant sh*t, SMH and keep it moving.

But this...

This has me twisted.

This isn't television. This is a young man who was beaten senseless and discarded like trash. WTF?

Just... post this and get the word out. Help ensure justice is served for that nigga and that all those f*ckers pay for letting that happen.

Life Is Overly Complicated

So I haven't update my blogs in a few days, but I was most frantic over not being able to play Mafia Wars. That should be okay, but I'm obviously an addict so I thought my world was going to end. I thought the router was bugging, but I couldn't figure out how to reset it. Needless to say, I was depressed.

Then my uncle pulled out his laptop because he wanted to get on. I told him of my plight and since he knows electronics, maybe he can reset the router because I can't. He pulls out his laptop and a minute later he's asking for the password to the network.

Wtf?

We looked at the message on my wireless. It is turned off, I have to flip the switch on the front of the laptop. Switch? I looked at the front and there was a the wireless symbol next to a f*cking switch. I flipped it and everything popped up like nothing happened.

Things are so much complicated in life nowadays. From the moment we wake up we're making all these decisions that can work your last nerve: what am I going to wear, eat, how am I getting to work, am I GOING to work? Think about the bigger trouble you go through to apply to college or sign up for classes. Or even for the trouble of getting an ID card. How about something simple: how easy is it to go grocery shopping when you have to think about which store to go to, when, and how, what you're going to get and how you're going to pay.

I know some of the issues my homies have with their laptops are so complicated that they have to take them to IT or the Geek Squad at Best Buy. Forgive if I didn't find the switch on my laptop, I didn't think of even looking.

Sh*t should be simple, but I doubt it ever could be. If it was there would be no need for nearly any job in this world, as well as politics and religion. We try to control every facet of our life with these rules and regulations, and as a result lose control because we can't remember all the rules and regulations. Ever get a ticket for some random sh*t like jaywalking? Word?

I was looking for something to blog about and I found inspiration in this little *ss switch that made life miserable for 2 days. LOL. Life is a simple b*tch sometimes.

Being Different Vs. Being Yourself

People are so consumed with being different that they 1) Emulate someone who is considered different, thereby joining the hordes of people who already copy said idol; or 2) Move so far out of the status quo that they are ridiculed and mocked into submission.

If you're trying to be different because you want people to admire you (ie follow you on twitter or read your blog), then you won't get anywhere. You're like these one hit wonders that MIGHT put out a summer jam but brick when the actual album comes out. Your type is a dime a hundred or two, and you'll fade out of existence as quickly as you pounced on you 10-15 seconds of fame.

If you want to truly be different, you've to do so for yourself. You have to appreciate your hobbies, follow your dreams and stand on your values. If you can do so, you will truly be different. Other people will respect and admire that and follow your lead. The secret isn't that people like what you're doing, they like who you are as you do it. And if they don't follow you, it isn't supposed to matter right?

And that's how you become different: being yourself. There is no one else like you in the world. No one else can like anything else quite like you can. Take myself as an example (yeah right). I'm Josh and I like riding the train, the color red and King of the Hill. Random, but that's me. I stick to it, and my friends appreciate it. My friends read my blog and follow me on twitter: if no one else ever did I would still be content.

Forget me (not that quickly nucca) and consider two trailblazers in fashion, music, etc but really who they are: Kanye West and Soulja Boy. Both of them followed their own blueprint.

For a time, Kanye's style was ridiculed as too preppy and gay. Jay-Z originally dismissed Kanye's style, now he copies it down to the album covers. As much of a fool Soulja Boy is, he's following his dreams and making music that resounds with a lot of people despite SoundScan numbers. Half of his last album is on the radio. I believe that he bricked not because no one liked his music, but because it was shared widely over the net. Still, they stuck to what they appreciated and now they are successful.

Bird walking in Osaka, Japan...

But there is the downside to being yourself, sometimes you will leave the status quo. You have to stick to your guns however. I'm always strapped... when I hit the club... Both Kanye and Soulja have had b*tch fits and nervous breakdowns because of the pressure. Kanye has been called a gay fish and Ice-T told Soulja to eat a dick.

...word? What's really good with the allusions to homosexuality when niggas don't like how you rock? Like I'm trying to impress dudes anyway. Pause.

Being different can be heartbreaking, but being yourself is always fulfilling. Success is sometimes random, but peace, happiness and joy are always available.

Sent from Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Men: Don't Change

It's a douchebag thing to say, but I think if every man stuck to their guns, life would be simple and happy.

Picture this: You find the girl of your dreams, but she finds the project of her dreams. You're obviously starstruck, so you can find nothing wrong with her. She only the other hand, thinks that there are some things you would work on. Now you're still starstruck so you're willing to make any changes and be on your best your best behavior.

UNFORTUNATELY...

No changes actually stick. They won't, especially if you're making them for someone else. If you've been getting along just fine in your life before this girl, you probably don't see a valid reason for the change other than impressing the girl.

NOW...

You've got the girl: She likes you or or she has had sex with you or (please no...) she is in a relationship with you or (GOD no!) she married you. All of a sudden the old you... or REAL you... begins to resurface. She starts complaining because she obviously didn't like the old or real you, and you're getting frustrated because you want to start slacking off. Or maybe you want to start being the real you, the person you were before you met her.

Problems arise. Arguments ensue. Breakup is possible. Misery is unavoidable.

All because you changed for her. Now you have to deal with losing her or worse, LIVING with her.

Although the title of this post says that you shouldn't change, I'm not saying you shouldn't. Title is just to catch your eye. Compromise is a necessary part of any relationship. Put the toilet seat down. Eat at the table and not in front of the TV. Scheduling time to go out with the guys. Not farting under the covers. Sh*t, let's throw in stop flirting with other girls.

But if there are things about yourself that you refuse to give up for your friends, homegirls, or ugly people, don't do them for your dream girl.

Try to change, or actually change something you love about yourself, and that sh*t will become a nightmare. And you'll have only yourself to blame.

Affion Crocket - Best I Ever Had Video Spoof

I'm on the fence concerning the public's reaction to Drake. I don't know if his meteoric rise is attributed to hype or genuine anticipation.. does anyone realize that meteors fall down?

I was rocking with Drake back in 2006 when I first heard Replacement Girl (probably because I was dealing with a lil heartbreak and harboring some vengeance). People say he reminds them of Kanye West. While I can understand that Drake descends from hipster hip-hop, he is no swagger jacker. This dude's flow is tight, he can actually sing, and he's one of the few rappers out now that I consider an artist... ie, for the love of the craft and fans, not money.

But the hate is a ripe as the love. For every dude that is banging "Successful," "Ransom" or even "Best I Ever Had," from his car on these NYC streets, I see dudes on line saying he's weak, wack and/or gay. What's really good? He's gotten props from legends like Jay-Z, Dr. Dre and Bun-B. I'm not calling Kanye a legend (yet), but the dude directed that ill-directed "Best I Ever Had" vid. That's all 4 regions of the US holding him down... and he's Canadian!

They say he only gets love from women. And they call him Wheelchair Jimmy because he was a child actor (I MESSES with Degrassi BTW), but you would not put him in the same atmosphere as Bow Wow or Omarion.

Please note how odd it is that Omarion signed to Young Money and Bow Wow signed to Cash Money, def going to blog on that later. Just ripe for commentary... or hate...

I doubt Affion is dissing Drake. He did a spoof on the Hot 97 "free"style Drake had with Funkmaster Flex. I am an avid supporter of Drake, but even I thought reading his lyrics from his BlackBerry was corny when I saw the vid. But Affion messes with Jiggaman and he has said on record that he has no issue with the comedian. Drake probably finds it funny too, and he's obviously big enough to warrant the investment into this spoof.

Spoof's funny. And I'm not saying Affion is a hater. This just gave me something to write about. Take care of those sh*t stains, ladies. They happen, but handle that.

Don't Mess With God

I attend church religiously... but I don't believe in organized religion. I believe that religion is a human construct for the supernatural, so it is imperfect. I am spiritual, and I believe that everyone has a relationship with God whether they want to admit it or even He exists. That's why attend my church, my pastor teaches his flock how to draw closer to God straight from the Word... and he's my grandfather.

Point of the matter is that I don't messes with GOD. I don't toy with Him. Don't bargain with Him. Don't test Him. For all those people who claim to be Christians but are too hung over from partying Saturday night to go Sunday morning, do you still take the Bible seriously?

If so, are you aware that God used to be a swift judge in the Old Testament? One mistake and you, your FAMILY, and all your property were destroyed QUICK. Shoot, even in the New Testament, he struck down a couple who skipped out on their tithes. Word homie?

God is a merciful God. You wouldn't believe how awful life would be if He allowed half of the stupid stuff that we do or say come back and mess us up. I'll test the patience of any dude on this earth (except my cellmate if I ever went to jail), but I hope I never put a strain on my relationship with God yo.

You know what happens when dudes go and try to do their own thing without God's approval? They get eaten by whales. That's mad dehumanizing... I'm supposed to be the top of food chain and I'm now waiting to be digested because I didn't listen to God in the first place.

I'm not the type to witness. Although I should be, since it is the responsibility of every follower of Jesus Christ to proclaim his gospel. I just needed to vent on how scary God can be if a n*gga is not careful.

BTW, has anyone notice that when you do say you do something religiously, it automatically means that you do it with mad dedication. That's funny, since most people don't actually follow religion religiously anymore...

Health Care Reform?

I don't think I could be a politician:
1. I'm stubborn.
2. I'm brutally honest.

I don't know which one is worse than the other, but I do know that neither are useful to be an effective politician.

I'm looking at this health care reform business the "World's Favorite Black Man" President Barack Obama is handling and SMH at all involved. This man is trying to bring health care to every American. In this day and age, it is just WRONG that there are people in this country who must decide to purchase their medication or purchase their medication. Insurance companies continue to rob many of their customers. Pharmaceutical companies value their patents more than patients, and oppose the generic drugs at home and abroad.

It is about time someone gave a f*ck.

Can someone please tell me what the f*ck is wrong with universal health care? Can American citizens opposed to this plan not see how they are being manipulated by insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and greedy *ss politicians who are getting paid by the insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies? President Obama has already established that no one is required to purchase the proposed state-run insurance or get to state-assigned doctors. The idea is retarded.

Are Americans that selfish that they can't chalk up a few extra tax dollars to ensure that their fellow citizen can attain decent health care? I don't even think that would be necessary. The proposed cuts on Medicare that has old people so riled up into a geriatric frenzy don't even affect benefits that my generation will have to pay for to keep them alive.

I have health insurance... it seems that I will until I'm 30 because of a new New York law that gives my grandparents the option to keep me on. Now, I am pretty sure I won't be freeloading on my grandparents for that long. Soon I will have a job with benefits, but I feel for those who don't.

But then again I have a heart. I thought this great nation that fights wars to save barbarian nations would have the heart to save its own people.

These devils have got everyone convinced that these reforms will unravel the capitalistic values that have really made this nation great.

Capitalistic values like the slave trade. SMH.