Never satisfied.
I have been struggling with some things lately. Well, namely one thing. And that is with never being satisfied. I always want more, I always want to be more successful, I always want more money, I always want better quality videos, I always want to accomplish more things. I am simply NEVER satisfied. In ANY area of my life. I’ve started to notice this more recently, but thinking back on things, I think I’ve been this way my whole life really.
2013 was one of the best years of my career. The shows, the release of my documentary, the 5 Madison Hip-Hop Awards & more. Yet at the end of the year, I probably felt the most empty and dissatisfied I ever have been in my whole life. I, as well as others, always thought of myself as simply a hard worker and over achiever. But I think it goes deeper than that. I think that no matter what I achieve in life, I’ll never be satisfied….with ANYTHING.
So one day I finally decided to Google: “Why am I never satisfied?”, and I came across this book. It looked like a good book, with possibly the answer to my question. So then my girl (being the best there is) decided to surprise me by ordering it and having it sent to my house. Must admit, it was dope to come home to that in the mail!
I am going to read this book as soon as I can, and I hope to start finding some answers so I can start appreciating and enjoying life in the present moment. Cuz Lord (and some of my close friends, even my girl) knows I need to start basking in the moment and start enjoying the simple things in life!! Carpe Diem.
Will keep you all updated on my progress and thoughts on the book!
Goodbye 2013: Best year of my career; Welcome 2014
In the last 13 years of my career, since launching RiP Records in 2000…I don’t think I’ve ever hit a point that I could look back on my music career and say “this was my best year yet”. In 2013: I DJ’d over 150 shows, released my “Dreamgirl” music video, released my “Must Have Been” music video, released a full feature length documentary/film “The Making of a Sellout”, re-released my “Sellout” album with all new bonus tracks, performed at some of the most coveted shows in Madison, WI: The Dane County Fair, Taste of Madison and the Orpheum with Lupe Fiasco. I was nominated for 8 Madison Hip-Hop Awards and took home 5 in one night…more than any other artist in the awards show history! And just yesterday I was asked to perform at the MAMA’s (Madison Area Music Awards) in 2014 as well as being a nominee for some awards. There is one sentence that could sum up 2013: This was the best year of my career; God has been EXTREMELY good to me.
And although it has been good to me, I still went home for the holidays realizing how my Mom and family is still struggling and how I have so much more work to do. I have yet to finish what I started. Although I am coming off the best year of my career to date, I have yet to hit my peak. I’ve lost some people this year but also met some great new people as well.
So unlike every other rapper on this planet who claims “This is my/our year!” on January 1st, Imma do what I did last year. Keep my mouth shut and let me actions do all the talking.
Starting the first Sunday in 2014 I will be releasing a new weekly web series on my YouTube page called “Sellout Sundays”. Make sure you subscribe now: www.YouTube.com/RipRecords
Happy New Year to you and yours, I wish you all prosperity in 2014.
Sincerely,
Rip
Rant from an avid yet frustrated Bears fan…
Look…I don’t hate Cutler…I never did. In fact I was pro Cutler for the longest time; I was on his side even when he had shit WR’s and a shit O-Line. But I just don’t think he has the heart anymore and he’s definitely not in his prime; I also don’t think he is a leader…in fact I’ve never seen that quality from him. Trestman, if you know what’s best for you…your team…and your city…start McCown. OH….AND OVERHAUL YOUR DEFENSE!!!!!!!
Need wisdom teeth removed
This past weekend I been going through an ordeal. My wisdom teeth have been coming in now more than ever causing me some excruciating pain. About 4 years ago my dentist took an xray of my mouth and noticed I had 3 impacted wisdom teeth (no 4th) and advised me to have them removed soon. Being the stubborn person I am, WITHOUT any insurance, I put it off…they never really bothered me much. Til recently. About a year or so ago..they started slowly breaking through my gums in the back of my mouth. This last Friday…they REALLY started coming through. Now I don’t know how many of y’all saw my documentary, but I’m a lil older than the average age where people’s wisdom teeth come in. Long story short, this weekend has been hell for me. Can barely open my mouth fully to eat, it hurts that bad. Only time I been in worse pain was when I dislocated my foot and broke my ankle at 19 tryna do some dumb shit on a skateboard. I was being a baby all weekend. Either way, I’m calling a dentist first thing Mon morning (so in like 4 hours). I was on the phone with my Mom earlier talking to her about it and she reminded me of a simple truth: There’s people who have it WAY worse than I do…cancer patients etc…people who would kill to be in my shoes. And it’s true…I am blessed and shouldn’t take the simple things for granted. Especially now during the holiday season..these are the times I really realize that there are a ton more people in this world who have it WAY worse than I do. And I never have problems giving to the less fortunate. Stay posted for updates on my wisdom teeth…
Catch 22
The catch 22 of my life – I am succesful (in my own right..maybe not monetarily yet), I absolutely LOVE everything I am doing and accomplishing right now in life. I have my health…great family and friends…God has been very VERY good to me the past few years…sometimes I ask why? The ONLY thing to complete my success right now is Love (which I believe is the ultimate success in life…more than any amount of $). The Catch?? I have absolutely very little to no time, money or resources to give in a relationship right now. One of the biggest things my past GF’s have been attracted to in my past is my drive and deterimination…knowing I can and will do (or have done) whatever I set my mind to. So my question is…if my work ethic and drive is what they’re attracted to…yet, because of it, I have no time for them..how does one even win!? How does one seriously win in a situation like this? I know what people are going to say too cuz I already heard it a million times: “balance the 2 out”. How do you balance it out!? Then your career gets 50% and your girl gets 50%. Is that fair to either one!? If I choose to give my career my all…i enjoy that success alone and share it with no one. If I choose to give a girl my all…I give up on something im so passionate about (which is one of the things the attract women)…then I lose my determination to succeed…and become succesful with “Love”. But am I really “succesful” if I am no longer pursuing what I love in life!? Its a lose lose situation I been battling the last decade of my life. Which is why…when people ask me for advice on a music career…I tell them from the bottom of my heart…get out now before you’re in too deep like me.
So many good songs out there right now that I’m feeling…
Check out some of my favorites right now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAhHNCfA7NI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVk1HOlkq_o
Women
The past few weeks I have been growing a deeper respect, admiration and appreciation for women. Not that I have never have respected or appreciated women before, but I think as I age I am starting to really sit back and let things soak in. Let me explain what I have really been realizing alot lately:Women are the driving force of our species. They are the ones who bare children, and for the most part…raise the kids of our society (whether the father is still in the picture or not). It really takes ALOT for someone to raise another human being into adulthood….so think about all the single mothers out there who do it on their own. My own mother recently just passed her motorcycle test at the DMV and I haven’t seen her this ecstatic or make a big deal about something like this probably my whole life. Reason being..she was busy raising 4 kids on her own for the majority of her life, as a single mother, waiting tables. She got pregnant when she was 19 and spent the next quarter century+ of her life raising her boys the best she knew how, which meant little time for self fulfillment. I am soo happy my mom is finally able to finally enjoy and live her life for HER. Last Sunday in Church I was looking around and seeing some of the mothers who were at church with just their children…and I started thinking…whether these woman are married or not, at the end of the day, THEY are the ones raising these kids, getting them ready in the morning and making sure they are at church on time, every Sunday. Whether a man is out making a living or not and supporting the family…at the end of the day…THE WOMAN is the one getting the kids up in the morning, SHE is the one getting them ready for school, taking them to the doctor, taking them to church, making all their appointments, raising them, cooking their meals, washing their clothes and in most cases STILL working a 9-5 (just to name a few). Face it…in this society…most women are working…whether their husband supports the family or not. And if they’re single..it makes it even that much harder. The idea of a “stay at home mom” is a concept of the past and I think as time goes on, it will be just that..a thing of the past. Face it..WOMEN are stronger than men.
Maybe not physically…but Mentally, Emotionally and spiritually I DEFINITELY think women are the stronger sexes of the human race without a doubt and I commend them highly for it. I have to be honest with you…unless I absolutely had NO choice what so ever…I don’t think I could EVER do what a woman does as far as being strong and raising kids in this day and age, especially on my own. And even if I had no choice at all and I absolutely HAD to raise a kid on my own and had no option to fail…I still think a woman would have the patience, endurance, love, strength and mental capability to do a better job than I ever could.
The last girl I dated had 2 kids…and I watched in admiration every day as she got up at 6am to make sure those kids were fed, clothed, off to school as she hurried off to work a 9-5 herself…all in the name of her kids as she pushed her goals in life to the backburner. I was happy to help out in any way that I could…but at the end of the day…she had to remain the driving force of raising those kids…before, during and even after me. Another girl I dated before that had a kid as well…and she made sure her kid was taken care of too before anything.
I can’t tell you how much I admire you women out there, ESPECIALLY the single mothers…I DEFINITELY see how much work it takes to be a Mother in this world…and to you mothers out there who are doing your best to raise children, I tip my hat to you all for being the strongest humans I know!
Sincerely,
Josh “Rip”
Follow Rip on Social Media!
DONATE
