Love vs Money

I don't like hippy's. I don't like anything about them. To be they are basically just glorified pikeys. They 'love the world...man', they often don't have jobs or at least permanent ones that mean something. They hate any kind of corporation and authority, and feel they never need money because they have love. 

Love doesn't keep you alive though, strangely, you need money for food and water for that. You preachy fucks.

1-0 reality vs optimism 

There's a saying, and it seems to be able to switch between two key variables, pending on your views, which is:

Love Makes The World Go Round

&

Money Makes The World Go Round

Now, which one of the two are you? One is the eternal optimist, the other is the realist. I don't think it'll take much guessing to work out which side of the fence I sit in. 

The strangest thing is, that being one doesn't mean you can't be the other. They aren't opposites, one is  a feeling - and is entirely dictated by yourself. The other is a situation, it's influenced by your but not controlled. You can't just say I want to be a millionaire one day and it happens. You can fall in love alot easier than you can becoming rich. 

What I've tend to find is that people who are all about the 'love' often haven't experienced what it's like to be well off. Whilst those who are rich, have experienced love, so they've had it all, so to speak, and what do they believe? Money is more powerful than love, obviously. Only a moron would think otherwise. 

I've never been rich, I doubt I ever will be, but I still am normal enough to understand that money is more powerful than a feeling or emotion. Fine, I'm sure many of you would take being in love with someone over, say £100. Of course, that is understandable.

 But what about £5 million? Who would seriously turn that down? I think you're lying to yourself if you say you'd pass that up. Imagine the doors it would open - and it's easy to double that 5 into 10 million and so forth. Love will come back around for you, if you're smart enough to avoid the gold diggers (you don't have to tell anyone you're a millionaire do you, in fact you don't even have to change your lifestyle. That's just a choice people make).

To try and put it into even more context. What if basically you had this choice, you've found your true love and are happy, but both in pretty shit jobs, renting an average flat, but both have aspirations for something more. Anyway one day some absolute hero appears and says 'come with me, to Australia, and I'll give you £5million, but we have to leave now and you cannot tell your partner'. It's all genuine (obv, to make this example work, as whilst would be banteriffic if it was some elaborate setup, I assure you it's not). Would you go? The rule is then you have to live in Oz (or a country of your choice) and cannot take your partner, the fact I called her your true love, is obviously debatable, how do you know, have you met every woman on the planet? 

So now you can start afresh, single, but a multi millionaire, with the world as your playground. In fact after let's say 3 years you can even return home and try to track your Ex down and make it work with them again if you want.

Would you do that? ANYONE who says no. I don't believe you. We shall duel, with sticks, upon a rickety bridge, until one of us becomes the victor (I'll print you a t shirt saying 'I love...love' or something)

As usual I sort of forgot my point, I think it was inspired by overhearing someone the other day say how they'd happily be poor for all their life, as long as they were together with their true love. And that no amount of money would change that situation (i.e. they'd turn down my offer of a million quid). I think that's bollocks. They've not experienced the situation of having that money so how can they say that. I just think that people who say how love is more powerful than anything, don't live in a real world. You'd honestly rather be poor? Love is what you make it, and the funny thing is, most people end up 'loving' more than 1 person in their lifetime. Think how many bf's/gf's you have in your lifetime, how many of them you've said you love. It decreases the emotional value of 'love' everytime you say it to someone new. If you've only ever said it to one person (and you're over 30, let's give it some context at least) then fair enough to you, and maybe you can be excused from this. 

The truth is, and as shallow as it sounds, money is what makes the world go round. Having it doesn't make you a worse person, or incapable of love, it doesn't even make it harder to find - the right person is still out there - it's just how you choose to find them. I just think people should be a bit more grounded and realistic about things than have an endless optimism and trying to recreate loves young dream. It's ridiculous. 

Whilst my offer isn't of course a real thing, it was more a point to make, and if anyone would actually decline the offer, I'd like to hear about it, and why. Because I'm not sure I believe you. It may seem cold hearted and whatnot, and yes I've dropped the old L bomb before - but that's my point, it didn't change anything. I didn't just suddenly think oh well I've got that so I don't really need to work or become successful anymore.

Anyway, point made. Which is, I hate hippies. 

(This blog post is full of generalisations, sweeping statements and stereotyping. Course it is, I need to make my points valid :-) ) 

The Old Dating Game...

THE BORING EPILOGUE (skip this bit if you want the crux of the blog! It's more personal and includes at least 2 feelings!)

Ah, dating, dates, 'seeing' someone, all that stuff before you get the nitty gritty of actually becoming a couple, if you ever do of course. Some people love this, some people dislike it. I'm somewhere in the middle I guess.

The inspiration for this post is that whilst I've been single for a while now, but there was someone who I was pretty close with over the last half a year and spoke with alot, thought we were going to give things a go but she decided she didn't want to in the end. Normally that's fine, but I guess one of the downfalls of Twitter is that I had to see her flirting with other guys whilst telling everyone she was single and looking - which really started making me feel like shit, and something that happened last month sort of really made me realise she wasn't serious about me. Shame, I was incredibly fond of her, still am. Sob.

It's fine. Life goes on, I hope she doesn't get fucked over by this other guy. Being told to do one has  happened to us all I'm sure. I guess if it hasn't now is the time for you to point and laugh at me. Anyway, I'm not sure currently I can deal with seeing her get with someone else, as I'm one of those blokes who get's all a bit caught up in these things - so I have to try best to just move on and the best way by doing that is getting back into the 'dating game'!


THE MAIN BIT (all the personal rubbish shit has been said, read on for normality!)

However, times have changed - no longer can I just approach a woman in a bar and get her number to arrange a date another time. Not that I ever could do that before, I don't have the bottle/confidence/borderline arrogance, I'd need to get drunk before even beginning conversation with a complete stranger and by then I'll probably say something ridiculous as it's fair to say I'm not the best drunk.

Anyway, luckily for me I'm living in the age of THE INTERNETZ! Where actually meeting someone in person is fully discouraged and instead replaced by being an online persona where I can cower behind a computer screen whilst saying what I want to who I want and not really having to care. With this, comes something that is actually new to me, dating websites. I've never used them before, not because of the stigma linked to them, that never really bothered me, just for the principle of having to pay for essentially meeting someone. Least in person whilst it costs to buy drinks, I get drunk as well! So yeah I've decided to join one that a few people have recommended. I go into it with no real idea what to expect, but equally I'm not nervous nor should I be, as it's just a virtual reality of sorts. However I suppose the real nerves will come into play if no one is interested in me, and I'm just a massive failure, after all I'm horrifically un-photogenic and never know what the fuck to write to someone. In fact that's more than just nerves, that's massive self-pressure, if I can't do ok at this, what hope is there!

Speaking of writing, you also have to have those silly introduction bits, interests and what not. I can't write them for shit and aren't really in the mood for giving too much away. What I've noticed is most people agree and tend to just write a really generic middle of the road type thing. Almost every woman's that I've read so far has said something along the lines of "really like to go out, but equally love a night in on the sofa". Great, who the fuck doesn't. Not sure I needed you to say that as don't know who'd actually put "FUCKING HATE INTIMACY SO TRY NOT TO TOUCH ME, DON'T OWN SOFA, PREFER SITTING ON A BOX". Does it need to be said?
Then there's the whole put up a series of pics - going back to my unphotogenicness, it's just not good. I hate it. I only have about 2 pics of me (not including my Twitter one, but not sure that's a good look on a dating site!) so not much variety. Sod it.

Then as if all that isn't enough, I have to stipulate what I'm looking for! Well, I don't want to be 'funny' but I don't really care, I'm clearly single and looking, do I really need to be super picky as well!? Maybe they should just make a tickbox with options like 'fit', '6 pinter' etc? I make a few preferential choices, but really it's just guesswork, I don't have a fucking clue what I'm looking for, ex's and girls I've seen before have all been very different, for example, hair colour doesn't remotely bother me. I like blonde's, brunette's, black's, red, pink, whatever, I don't mind!

Then what the hell do you put in a message? Do you just say hi? That's pretty boring and can easily just be copy and pasted to 1 million (said in Austin Powers voice) girls. Do I write something that shows I've read their profile and maybe ask them a question about it? Or is this too invasive for a first message. WHAT DO I DO. I always do read the profile as I'm interested in them, but fuck knows. Some women will reply to different things. Though I've been told guys sending messages about wanting to sniff feet or simply sending a pic of their cock doesn't go down too well. I wonder, with the latter, if they even include a 'hi'? Or if it's simply just a cock, flopping about, and nothing else? How would a woman reply to that anyway? 'erm that's lovely, but you should see a doctor about that lump'? I've no clue.

So yeah, overall there seems a few obstacles for me to overcome, and alot of self pressure to actually try and get something from the experience. And all this happens before I even a) get a reply from someone and b) actually arrange to go out!! Then the real full on nerves kick in, fuck Dan, you're going on a fucking date! I hate the word date though, to me, it's always just drinks. No pressure, nice and relaxed, no expectations. Just a couple of drinks and take it from there. A meal is way too OTT for me on a first date, way too pressured and you're trapped there for ages - what if she eats like a fucking horse? What if she hates everything on the menu and just has water whilst I scoff 3 courses? WHAT IF SHE SAYS ITS NOT AS GOOD AS NANDOS. All reasons for me to die a little inside.
Cinema isn't great for a 1st 'date' either, it's dark, you don't speak for 2 hours - do you share the popcorn? Do I offer pick and mix but have to warn her sternly about picking up fudge (you know how heavy it is!). It's just another minefield I'd hope to avoid.
Drinks, drinks are safe, drinks are relaxed, everyone likes them and once tipsy everything becomes a little bit easier. It can range from 1 drink - half an hour, to endless drinks - closing time. It allows for lots of conversation, and if it's shit, just suggest shots, many many shots.

Well I've come to the end of another post of nonsense, so thanks for reading. My profile is done so I'm going to see how I get on - might even write about some results. But yeah, wish me luck I suppose, or that something hilarious happens and I end up married to a 50 year old box owning Nandos loving flirt!

Back In My Day...

I miss Hip-Hop.

I should probably slighter alter that. I miss MY Hip-Hop. (and I'll say from the offset I'm pretty much a commercial whore, 80% of what I listen to is mainstream hip-hop, so apologies those who despise it!)

I think it was best to put some clarity on that, as it's unfair to say something so generic when hip-hop itself is still around, and arguably as strong as ever. Whilst sales may have slumped comparitively to the late 90's and early 00's, music is still everywhere with the strength of blogs, the internet and iTunes. Good hip-hop is still in abundance and even some of the mainstays have released strong efforts in the last few years (Nas, Watch The Throne, Em to name a few).

However to me, it's just not quite the same. I've been wondering why this is, and I think I've put it down to age, laziness, and maybe even a slight arrogance I've taken with the genre. Gone are the days where between the ages of about 15-23, I would religiously check blogs/websites/XXL/Source for new music to listen to, artists to read about, and albums to emmerse myself in. Nowadays I use Twitter for alot of my music sourcing, finding out about album and mixtape releases. I've pretty much given up on tracking new songs, or being the first to listen to the newest rapper. I'll happily go to YT and listen to a new album track by track, and sometimes the odd mixtape if I'm in the mood, but I find nowadays tough for me to really get into new artists.

Is it just me?

Perhaps. But I remember when I first got into hip-hop and was actually a bit of a late bloomer, starting with what was all the rage, Biggy, Pac, Nas, Jay, Em, DMX, Ja Rule and going from there. I caught onto Royce Da 5'9 early in his career and have been a massive fan since, Big Pun and Big L were lyrical gods to me, and I remember at school when no one had heard of Gangstarr apart from me and a couple of mates. Those were the times.

In fact one of my favourite times in hip-hop, that I was a part of and can actually fully remember, was during the G-Unit breakout. I'm sure alot of you are now sighing, or closing this blog page down, but seriously those days were NUTS. It was about 8-10 years ago, and 50 Cent had released the 11million DIAMOND album, Get Rich or Die Tryin' - It was epic. It was 'hard'. It was something that had club bangers on it, songs for the ladies, yet also tough street cuts. The world went APESHIT. Eminem was also in his prime (just about), and along with Dr Dre who had not long released 2001, and wasn't a running joke about Detox - Aftermath were smashing it.

But that wasnt it. No no no. Nas might have been having a strange time of it, but he was still a Titan, and would always be simply due to Illmatic. However God's Son was a strong output that got him back in the public eye. Jay had released The Blueprint, a classic album IMO, and still was not regarded as the biggest living hip-hop artist, hell at that point he wasn't largely known outside of hip-hop circles! DMX and The Rough Ryders were in full stride with Kiss (And The Lox), Eve and Jin all doing good stuff.  Man hip-hop was great.

And that was without me having to be some underground loving fanboy either. Mainstream was accepting club bangers but also just good tracks. Fat Joe had us all Leaning Back, Lil John was all over the shop (though that wasnt a good thing), Fabolous was about to drop what would be the biggest track of his career with Breathe - I actually asked Just Blaze about that when I saw him live once down here, as rumour had it that Jay had wanted the beat but Blaze gave it to Fabolous as he saw it as a career defining moment, he was right - Fab smashed it.

This was all surrounded as I mentioned earlier by G-Unit really leading the way as well, after GRODT - Fiddy basically had a free reign in hip-hop, releasing The Massacre a couple years later and going Plat without even trying. Lloyd Banks was relevent, releasing Hunger For More and actually being a very competent rapper - releasing a slew of freestyles littered with punchlines. Seriously him and Fabolous were KILLING the punchline game, it was disgusting, and I loved it. Young Buck went Plat somehow, fuck EVEN TONY YAYO released an AWFUL album that probably went Platinum - seriously, have you ever heard Dear Suzie? I think it's the worst hip hop track I've ever heard on a mainstream album, it's so bad ITS NOT EVEN ON YOUTUBE!!!!!! Game brought the West Coast back to the masses with The Documentary. Man everything was good. God even Cassidy was doing his thing, and Roc-A-Fella had Beans/Memph/Young Gunz, good times.

I know I'm dilluting the years a bit, this all didnt happen in the space of a week! It was a good 2-3 year period but I still think it was my favourite time, a 'golden era' if you will. I sound awful I know, because after that it's not like things went downhill - with Kanye West, Lil' Wayne, Rick Ross, Drake, J Cole etc coming to the forefront. But still.

To me it's just not been the same. Nas might just have released his strongest album in a decade but to me he's on his way out, maybe one final paycheck before he looks to bow out gracefully? DMX's comeback stuff is such a low standard compared to when he was in his prime. The guy was a Top 10 MC for life, until his awful decline. Eminem and Jay are about still, but somethings not quite the same with them. And this can be applied to a million other rappers. It's weird. and the thing is I don't really even care for many new rappers who are coming out the woodwork on a daily basis.

You know, I like J Cole, alot. He's not going to be the best, or break Top 5, but he's not bad. Kendrick Lamar is getting better and better, whilst Big K.R.I.T certainly hasn't let the South down (don't be fooled, Ludacris/Scarface/UGK have held the South down for a long time now). I did like Mac Miller's K.I.D.S offering, but not really anything since. & Wiz Khalifa is my guilty pleasure, as in reality as MC's go - he's like Pac to me, all delivery but no real skill such as punchlines or wordplay. Wale I've enjoyed over the last few years, however apart from him I can't stand MMG. YMCMB really are awful.

But to me, Machine Gun Kelly, French Montana, and various others just don't do it for me. At all. Drake's already starting to bore me, after only his 2nd album. Big Sean is good, but once more - I don't love him, same goes with B.O.B. Yelawolf/Future/Meek Mill/Diggy/Lil B/Asher Roth etc. None of them do it for me - even Danny Brown I can only take in small doses.

So I think I've sort of made my point, a moan at current hip-hop and saying how back in my day it used to be good. But that wasn't really what I wanted, I just meant that I don't feel hip-hop is like it used to be, not that it's not as good, just different, very different. And I don't think I like it...


Anyway if any of the above didn't make sense, here are a couple of tracks that I used to really enjoy that might have been lost over time now!  Trying to stick away from the Em's/Jay/Nas biggest hits (1st 'club' video is COMPLETELY hypocritical of this, but fuck it, it's my blog!)


Freestyles I loved

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL6wTfTc-uA (This was INSANE)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2s2hTTqIpg (What happened Lloyd, smh)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owPiIve-2xg (Fab at his best IMO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqtvd6MRH0o ( REAL ACTUAL FREESTYLE!!)



For the Club. (I wanted to insert videos but it was being annoying :()

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qm8PH4xAss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3Oux1lN__4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7yzEyO7Wnk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GvB9ySUJ3A


Just some other tracks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLdKmQ1g4YE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeBqAawxl1Y&playnext=1&list=PL8BE809C81CD5C775&feature=results_video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ6ZiJKGJI0&playnext=1&list=PLC46FEFDBA567B98A&feature=results_video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7isHGmwySa0 (1st verse is one of my fav ever)