Lets Get It

I was watching a Frankie Boyle performance not long ago and he discussed the illusions of language in society today. One claim that particuarly rang true was about the term “Stress“ being an invented term, essentially meaning unhappiness but since it is labelled as stress people are expected to put up with it. Just one of many misconceptions in society today and these attitudes only lead to further stigma against mental health disorders- whether it be how to act around people who have them or seeking help yourself.

In a world where one in three people suffer from a mental health issue we have to ask ourselves how it has become such an epidemic. I do not attribute the fact that depression, anxiety and various other stress-related illnesses are so widespread due to being oversensitive, attenton-seeking or any other outdated and judgemental opinion, but rather the evolution of how personalities are formed in our current society. The disconnect between ourselves and what we see via television and social media naturally leads to unhappiness. In Humanism, this is known as incongruence and is at the root of many self esteem issues all over the world.

In my own experiences and from what I have seen, mental health issues are not caused by any one specific event- however the presence of one combined with internalizing it or reacting to it in an abnormal way is more often than not the case. This isn’t saying that this is through any fault of their own, but more the society around them that has influenced their personality and from which they have learned and picked up traits. For examples check out Seligman’s theory on Helplessness or Kernberg’s theory on Narcissism.

One thing I have been guilty of in the past is taking the mantle as the victim when I make a mistake or behave in a self destructive way. It is so easily done and very tempting to do. By taking a position as the victim you relieve yourself of all responsibility and blame and in the short term this is a good thing. However, in the long term it only serves further to develop this incongruence as by continually passing responsibility you will never learn skills that help you progress as a person, affecting your career, relationships, and other things. If you believe things you do are someone else’s fault the belief will only get bigger. How long before you shoot someone and blame the person in front of the barrell?

By taking responsiblity you can build on your personality by becoming a stronger person- increasing in confidence and lowering your inhibitions. I like to think of it as if you are a child and eating your broccoli is akin to taking responsibility compared to eating a chocolate bar and succumbing to the temptation of being a victim or thinking in these negative mindsets. It is these basic frameworks that therapies such as CBT is based on and helping people unravel these thought processes are picked up like viruses in physical health. The cure is becoming self aware of these processes- that’s when you begin the journey to immunity.

When moving somewhere new like Cheltenham, it can be difficult to know what to go for when looking for a quick food fix. Fear not, I have tried them so you don’t have to! Hopefully this guide can save you some M’s and help you choose some dope-ass food instead of some shitty food haha.

CHEESY CHIPS: 

Pretty slim pickings finding good cheesy chips in Chelt, but 321 Kebab & Pizza is better than most. Their secret is they put salt and vinegar on before they put the cheese on. Props to Ryan Paxford for this one. If you’re getting Cheesy Chips after a night out as well please note that most places just chuck grated cheese on, make sure you ask for them to melt the cheese. I always do.

CHIPS:

Havana’s burgers and shakes do a different take on the usual greasy takeaway fries. Their chips are crispier and clearly made of actual potato. If you’re looking for Chippy Chips- Simpsons Fish & Chips were voted best Chippy 2016 and definitely live up to the hype.

PIZZA (DUTTY):

Proper Pizza is infamous for it’s 22″ Wagon Wheel, and at £13.99 is roughly the same price as a large Dominoes pizza (But almost twice as big.) The overall reception I’ve heard of this pizza is “Not as bad as it looks.“

PIZZA (REASONABLE):

Papa John’s classic base is difficult to beat, but the introduction of Fat Toni’s in Cheltenham changes the game. if you’re after a quick takeaway pizza go for Papa John’s, but if you want a real Italian meal it has to be Fat Toni’s. Parehe Pizza offer a Marmite pizza if you fancy a quirky twist.

PIZZA (CLASSY):

Pizza Express is always my option for giving myself a treat or to celebrate something. The master’s at dough depth and cheese amount. Simply perfect and worth the money. Nothing like a Margherita from Pizza Express and a glass of Prosecco.

VEGETARIAN:

IT MAKES ME SO  HAPPY THAT FALAFEL KING EXISTS YEEE BOI. NEED I SAY MORE?

I recently watched Youtube personality Anthony Fantano review Lil Yachty’s debut album Teenage Emotions, and with Fandango being impressed with Boat’s debut tape I expected a decent and well balanced review.

Here is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjx2OBFrUAE

Spoiler: Anthony trashes the album.

Now, my advice to anyone who wants to delve into Lil Yachty (Or Anthony “Melonhead” Fantano for that matter) has always been to take him with a pinch of salt. He is a 19 year old kid just trying to have fun, and that is exactly how he makes music.

Many people have mirrored Lil Yachty’s career trajectory so far with artists like Lil B and Soulja Boy, rappers who didn’t really care much for public opinion and commanded a large fan base. Both these artists became famous with rap that was, by it’s very nature, to shock people and get bloggers blogging about how different their music was from mainstream rap at the time. Sure there was an element of IDGAF in there, but both these rappers knew exactly how people would react to their very distinctive styles. Yachty is clearly massively influenced by this generation and brand of rap music (One only needs to catch the similarity in fonts and colours between LIl Yachty’s Teenage Emotions and Lil B’s I’m Gay).

But while Lil B and Soulja Boy still have large dedicated fanbases, neither of them really stayed relevant beyond a few years- no offense to either artist, but when was the last time you heard something by either of them that was new and buzzing? Rapping in this “I don’t give a fuck I am who I am and I’ll rap about flowers and shit because I am different to other rappers“ style has an expiry date. There is only so long it can shock and entertain people.

This is where I believe Lil Yachty maintains cultural relevancy, he has the same buzz as Lil B and Soulja Boy- but clearly harbours a different ambition. While Lil B and Soulja Boy are perfectly happy with hardcore but niche fanbases, Yachty clearly has bigger ideals and dreams of being a generational leader in the same vein that David Bowie was to so many kids all those years ago.

Let me make this clear for any haters reading this post (and I guarentee there will be some)- Lil Yachty does not give a shit whether people hate him! This is a kid who has seen Lil B build a career on that same template. He has used that method to get where he is now, but he can succeed where Lil B and Soulja Boy didn’t by using his versatility. He showed all over Teenage Emotion that he has that in spades with hard rap songs like Dirty Mouth (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ia54sgbxDA&t=26s) and Peek A Boo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8OG5ffqfoE), but also with softer songs such as 80′s inspired ballad Bring It Back (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPtu2kcaa1M) and the painstakingly relatable Made Of Glass (This song sold the album for me. Re-fuckin-latable Boi haha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7IT8HvfczY).

Teenage Emotions showcased exactly what it said on the tin, the life of a teenager who while trying to grow up has been blessed with a stage on which to bare his feelings. To so many, that relatibility alone will be enough to connect with an artist- especially one like Yachty who apparently even Skypes with his fans.

As I sit in my kitchen getting my hair dyed again, I can’t help but think about Yachty’s influence on myself, and how his positive music and IDGAF ethos has impacted my own life. Whether Lil Yachty realizes it or not, he is a poster boy for a whole generation of kids. He said in a recent interview prior to the release of his album: “I used to have visions of being a star... Of flashing lights and red carpets” It would be no less than what the humble 19 year old from Atlanta deserves.

Some cool videos to check out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw5eDxOdowI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_IbIMUbh-k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpIz7haWz6U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc6_EXmghp4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s26hMLD0ik

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6quFApjugY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmjlA4LSaN4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyqcrHW-CuU&t=1s