From Marijuana to Parenting, My 2014 Resolutions Posted by Nathan S. on 12/19/13 | Filed under Opinion

Yesterday I was walking by one of the eleven million medical marijuana shops in L.A. and suddenly realized, "Oh shit, it was totally by 2013 resolution to get more into smoking marijuana, and I totally failed."

Last December I had a minor revelation. I'd smoke every so often, I almost always said yes when someone offered, but had never been much of a regular smoker myself. I smoked for the first time, fuck, nearly two decades ago, but it just hadn't stuck with me; I guess mostly because at this point in my life it just felt like work. I'd have to buy supplies, find a regular connect, learn about different strains. It felt like really getting into smoking would be like learning to play a new instrument or learning a foreign language except, you know, more blazed and illegal. 

But in that revelation, I came to realize that I was getting older, and if I was going to consume anything to relax and unwind, it'd probably be far better for my health to spend the next decades (hopefully) of my life smoking than drinking like I do. And now that medical marijuana was legal in my native California, I could get it safely and comfortably. In fact, a lot of medical marijuana shops here are like high end bars. I pictured myself learning different strains and becoming an amatuer marijuana connosieur, like a cigar smoker or scotch drinker, and being happier and healtheir for it. Fuck yeah then, I had my 2013 resolution. 

And then...it just didn't really happen, and I'm not quite sure why. I wanted to, or at least thought I did, I meant to, but yet month after month went by and although I did go through the trouble of getting my medical marijuana card, I ridiculously never went into a shop and really started smoking. And then it was December 18 and what the fuck Nathan, why can't you just do some shit you know is good for you? Really? Really though? You couldn't even accomplish one yearly resolution when that resolution was to SMOKE MORE MARIJUANA? What the fuck is wrong with you? 

Maybe some of the problem though was that, outside of a handful of friends I told my resolution to, mostly as a joke, I never really put it out there. I was only accountable to myself, and myself isn't particularly accountable. So this year I thought I'd try something different and really put my resolutions on public record a rap blog. Maybe then, with the knowledge that the allmighty RefinedHype Nation is watching, I'll actually do this shit. That's right, I'm sucking you into improving my life against your will. You're welcome. So without further ado, here are my 2014 resolutions from the world of hip-hop and my non-hip-hop life. 

Smoke Weed...Everyday (not actually everyday, but regularly)

Am I allowed to re-up a resolution from last year? Well I'm doing it. 

Now I know what you're (probably not saying, but I'll imagine you saying) saying, what's going to be different this year Nathan? Huh? Good (imaginary) question, I'll tell you. While I may have problems accomplishing other life tasks, I am pretty damn good about writing things on the internet. So I'm going to make my weakness a strength. Starting in January, I'll post a monthly "My Year in Marijuana" column detailing what I'm smoking. I'll be healthier and y'all will get some amusing shit to read. Everyone wins...mostly me, but still...everyone. 

My Face...Everywhere

I've obviously been listening to "NWTS" too much, because I'm about to get all emotionally vulnerable with you and shit. I've put in my 10,000 hours in front of a keyboard and I'm supremely confident here; I'll battle any writer alive anytime. But I'm not nearly so confident when it comes to putting my non-writen self out there. That's why you'd be hard pressed to find photos or video of me online, although real internet sleuths know that one clean-shaven and well-dressed shot of me, years ago, with a couple Playboy bunnies exists because fuck you I partied at the Playboy Mansion and the haterz need to be forced to grapple with that shit. 

But being nervous is a pretty shitty reason to not do something. So 2014 is going to be the year of video for me. That's right, you're going to be forced to look at my glorious face regularly, starting with the "3 Shots With..." interview series I just wrapped filming and I'm going to start putting out in January. (Basically I take shots with rappers on camera and drunkely talk to them.)

I was convinced no one would want to hear my voice and would mock me incessentaly, which also happened, but on the whole the "This Week in Hype"podcast was a success this year. So who knows, maybe RefinedHype Nation will dig some of the video I put together. Or maybe not. Either way I'm not letting fear hold me back from going for it.

Listen to More Non Hip-Hop

I don't think I need to burnish my rap nerd credentials, and hip-hop is and always will be my true passion. I love this culture enough to literally devote my life's work to it. But in my younger years, before I had an inbox and Twitter timeline full of new rap tracks to keep up with, I listened to a much broader range of dope music, and I think I was better for it. Great music is great music, no matter the label, and listening to more diverse music helps me think about the hip-hop I hear in new ways. 

So whether it's indie rock, soul, or EDM, I'm going to do my best over the next 365 to not be so commited to a genre. Look out for a lot more #NoRapHours. 

Give Less Fucks as a Parent

I'll close with something more personal. Being a dad is a huge part of my life, and I'm on a mission to talk about it openly; being a responsible, engaged father is one hip-hop's hidden taboos. Guys will talk about murder and strippers long before they'll talk about their kid throwing up birthday cake on them, even if they latter is far closer to their real life.

So in that spirit, one of my resolutions has to revolve around being a better parent, and that resolution's going to be about giving less of a fuck. Let me explain. A few days ago I was at a Christmas party with my daughter, who's three/almost four by the way, and she really wanted to sing some karaoke. For a moment I almost said no, mostly because I didn't feel like getting up in front of a room full of strangers and singing "Jingle Bells", but then I realized not getting on that stage with her because I was worried about what people would think would be setting a shitty example. So we went up sang the fuck out of some "Jingle Bells" and it was awesome. 

Now relatively speaking her dad is already a weirdo - I'm definitely the only parent who picks her up from day care with a giant beard, tattoos and rocking Upper Playground gear - but I still have my moments when I don't want to sing karaoke, or dance in a store with her, or let her paint my nails pink. This year though, I'm giving zero fucks. If she wants to do something because it's fun, we're doing it, because I want to raise the kind of person who gives zero fucks about what people think of her too. (And yes, that actually is my daughter above. She gets all her good genes from her momma.)

So there you have it, those are my four resolutions for the year. Now, I know 90 percent of you stopped reading a sentence into this post when you realized it wouldn't be about booty or rap, but for the remaining ten percent, feel free to hit the comments with your resolutions. Maybe together we can meet back here next December with these resolutions actually completed.

Let's do this RefinedHype Nation.