Extra Thought: Overused Memes that are Overused

  First and foremost, I tend to lose interest in something when it is overdone.  I love internet memes as much as the next left-footed, organ donor. However, I get tired of it when it gets stagnant or just isn't good.  That being said, I easily get annoyed when the latest meme starts to flood my news feed or timeline, all making the same joke in a slightly more lame way than the last.

Example #1





Example #2

  Those two became annoying almost immediately as everyone put their own twist on it, making it relevant to them and funny to few, and annoying to most.

Extra Thought: How is Culture Created?

  **Ok, I'm going to address the fact that it has felt like an eternity since my last post...because it has been.  Yeah, I didn't post anything, big whoop, wanna fight about it?!?!  I've been focusing on some other aspects of life lately, not that I couldn't have updated the blog...I just didn't.  So, that's my unapologetic way of apologizing, you're welcome** 

  Culture is not something that is as black and white as we make it seem.  If we look at a certain country, we'll say from a high level that 'this' is their culture, when in actuality, that's just what we know of it.  Depending on what region of the country the source was in to make those claims, the perceived culture could be drastically different.  Let's look at good ole Uh'Merica for a second. At a high level, our culture is that of excess, selfishness, blind nationalism, and ignorance of other parts of the world.  In general, most of this is accurate.  However, region by region the culture will shift and feel completely different.  From southern hospitality to the "get out of my way" aspect of the north east, cultures become unique as they are adapted & interpreted by those living it. 

  I'm curious about how these shared traits and values started though.  I'm not going to touch any of the actual sociology behind this (because I haven't studied it) but the way I see it, people will emulate others if they respect them.  Why do people follow & emulate celebrities?  Why does all it take for a new product to succeed is having the right spokesmen?  People see a lifestyle that they want and will do what they think it takes to emulate it so they can have that lifestyle themselves.  

Diddy Told Me To Drink Ciroc...So, I Drink Ciroc

The Dating BCS: Strength of Schedule

  As flawed and subjective as the system is, the college football Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and the dating game have a few similarities. Teams are ranked based on program strength, quality wins, and strength of Schedule amongst others. similarly, people in the dating game are evaluated on similar tenants of perceived quality, dating accomplishments, and strength of those dated in the past. As we want to be seen as a highly valued bachelor/bachelorette, we should understand that it is very qualitative in nature. With that said, its funny to me how some people seem to spend a lot of time hurting their rank by diminishing their strength of schedule.

Lauren, Pre-Weezy F's Baby

  For those that do it naturally by dating people that add little value to their line up of accomplishments or quality of ex's, they are getting what they deserve when their perceived quality goes down (Prime examples; Hoops' value plummeted when she kissed Flavor Flav.  Lauren London's did as well when she let Lil' Wayne knock her up).  This is the market correcting itself, as these people who make bad decisions are being devalued.  Not saying that they are no longer desirable...just tarnished. To keep with the BCS example, a team will drop in the rankings if they have a cupcake schedule and don't destroy the weaker teams.  It shows that they aren't what we thought they were.

Extra Thought: Back-Stabbers

  I've become a fan of Fabolous over the past few years. He's grown as an artist and has started putting out a lot of music that I can get behind.  This growth is shown on his Soul Tape mixtape, as he took a page out of Joe Budden's book and added a lot of real life into the songs.  There were many stand out lines on that mixtape, however, one in particular stood out the most:

"...to know a back-stabber, gotta turn your back to em'"

Support Quality

New Sound: Ripple Cut 1: Assorted Indulgence

Ripple Cut 1: Assorted Indulgence by Steve.Be.

  Well, well, well...If it isn't my boy Steve Be., dropping his first solo mixtape, Ripple Cut 1: Assorted Indulgence.  Steve & I go way back to rapping in the dorms at VT together.  I always put pen to paper, but Steve was the motivation to verbalize the analogies, and that's something I will always appreciate him for.  Fast forward a few years, I revisit the mic as a hobby when (rarely) inspired and Steve Be. is continuing his dream of making a living out of it. He's currently doing the local circuit in the 757 (Va Beach to be specific), but it's only a matter of time before his reach broadens.

5 Tips To Go From Good To Great

*Disclaimer: My advice is to be applied at your own risk. Upon the conclusion of you reading this sentence, I will assume credit for all of your life's successes & accomplishments only, both past and future.*

  Good is cool, but great is better.  Why not be great?  Well, some people just can't without a little help from their friendly neighborhood ass hole (that's me).  So, I'd like to give you some general advice to help improve things in your meager, down-trodden life...ok, that's probably more the exception than the rule, but I know somebody fits that description.  I do, however, see those that patronize this blog being the social elite in their collective circles, not following random trends because it's popular, looking for more substance than relying on style, drinking their red flavored Kool Aid from a champagne flute...you know, as I am & do.  Still, a word to the wise never hurt anybody, since the wise know what to ignore.

New Sound: Shady 2.0 Cypher

No explanation needed