[DISCLAIMER] The American Psychological Association defines knowledge as “the state of being familiar with something or aware of its existence, usually resulting from experience or study” and “the range of one’s understanding or information,” as you’ve just gained knowledge of this definition. In hip hop culture, there’s a popular saying “do the knowledge,” as one source succinctly describes it as “to break down and explore a subject with another person.” For instance, wi

[DISCLAIMER] Lyricist 2Pac released his third studio album, Me Against the World (1995), during my senior year of high school. Per my recollection, my peers who weren’t as focused on rap as I expressed adoration for the album. On it was the track “Dear Mama”, about which one source states: Dedicated to his mother, Afeni Shakur, Shakur [2Pac] details his childhood poverty and his mother’s addiction to crack cocaine, but argues that his love and deep respect for his mother

[DISCLAIMER] In high school, I had a friend who expressed a desire to one day own a gold-plated handgun. “I’m gonna call you Half Ton [stylized 1/2 Ton], because that shit’s gonna weigh about half a ton,” I laughed and responded. From then on, that’s how I’ve referred to him. Recently, when listening to “Solid Gold Guns” by rappers Banish and Conway the Machine, as well as lyricists Recognize Ali and Supreme Cerebral, on German underground hip hop production team Snowgoon

[DISCLAIMER] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) was formed by the late psychologist Albert Ellis, who reportedly developed the first cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) psychotherapeutic modality in 1955, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding his book, Ask Albert Ellis?: Straight Answers and Sound Advice from America’s Best-Known Psychologist. Now, as the matter pertains to this blogpost, the American Psychological Association (APA) defines social l

[DISCLAIMER] My introduction to gangs and gang sets was in fifth grade, when I was occasionally assaulted and battered by members of the Crips during recess and after school let out for the day. Unlike the common saying “if you can’t beat them, join them,” I simply chose to befriend gang members. In doing so, I was no longer bullied. Then, after having continued friendly relations with the Crips until and throughout high school, I also befriended members of the Bloods and

[DISCLAIMER] On Canadian lyricist Classified’s fifth major release, Tomorrow Could Be the Day Things Change (2018), is the song “Accept It”. Personally meaningful, he states on the second verse: He was searching for some work, referred to the reserves Took it further, got deployed to serve his country undeterred His wife worried, crying, when she hugged him and said goodbye Told his kids he had to leave, but they never understood why, no Active duty, overseas, saw some th

[DISCLAIMER] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) was formed by the late psychologist Albert Ellis, who reportedly developed the first cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) psychotherapeutic modality in 1955, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding his book, Ask Albert Ellis?: Straight Answers and Sound Advice from America’s Best-Known Psychologist. REBT has a longstanding foundation within the field of mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collective

[DISCLAIMER] I’ve long-enjoyed the pastime of miniature golf. When given the option to choose (to select freely and after consideration) activities for the friends with whom I spent time in Bomb City, they anticipated that I’d select going to a movie theater, a gun range, or to play miniature golf. In my head, my miniature golf skills were good (of a high or desired quality). Moreover, I maintained that I was good (of a favorable character or tendency) for having possesse

[DISCLAIMER] From when she was approximately six-months-old, until the week of her fifth birthday, I helped raise the daughter of the woman with whom I was in love. After marrying the woman, the dad of my stepdaughter insisted that she not refer to me as “dad,” “father,” or any derivative thereof. Therefore, she called me “my Deric.” Admittedly understating the matter, I loved her very much! Nevertheless, when my wife left me, contact with the little girl I’d helped raise

[DISCLAIMER] Photo credit, Designed by Magnific, fair use What comes to mind when hearing the term unfavorable conditions? Do you imagine something like a small sea vessel navigating choppy waters of the sea? That’s one way of thinking about unfavorable conditions, pertaining to circumstances, environments, or states which are disadvantageous, challenging, or harmful to success, growth, or well-being. Yet, that’s not quite what this blogpost is about. Rather, unfavorabl

[DISCLAIMER] On the collaborative album by lyricist Kota the Friend and music producer Statik Selektah, To See a Sunset (2023), is the song “Real Ones”. Noteworthy, it contains a sample of Bettye Swann’s track “Either You Love Me or You Leave Me” (1975) and has a relaxed quality to it. In his first verse, Kota states, “People judge left and right, everyone is fallible [liable to be erroneous]. Fuck the world! Focus on the babies comin’ after you. Middle finger to your opi

[DISCLAIMER] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) was formed by the late psychologist Albert Ellis, who reportedly developed the first cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) psychotherapeutic modality in 1955, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding his book, Ask Albert Ellis?: Straight Answers and Sound Advice from America’s Best-Known Psychologist. REBT uses unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve self-induced suffering. This is accomplished through use

[DISCLAIMER] On his album ElCamino 2 (2019), lyricist ElCamino released the track “Eat”, which was produced by Rick Hyde. Within the chorus, ElCamino states, “I did some dirty shit that’s way far out my reach.” Here, “dirty” regards impure, and “shit” relates to deeds. When contemplating the lyricist’s healthy perspective, concerning matters of the past being “way far” out of is reach, a psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) now comes to min

[DISCLAIMER] The above photo was taken months before I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. I’m featured posing with members of a family who took me in from my residence at a children’s home. For context, the American Psychological Association (APA) thusly defines family: 1. a kinship unit consisting of a group of individuals united by blood or by marital, adoptive, or other intimate ties. Although the family is the fundamental social unit of most human societies,

[DISCLAIMER] When listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ Set by Lisa Marty, I heard her spin the song “Take Control” (2026) by Alexey Union and Aves Volare. The lyrics state: It’s you that must change when enough is enough You gotta get on your feet when the goin’ gets tough There’s no time to think, just the time to react Life is gone in a blink; it’s a matter of fact No one will come to save your own soul It’s not done till it’s done, you must take full control

[DISCLAIMER] A psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) came to mind when listening to the track “Grab Hold” by the Perceptionists (lyricists Mr. Lif and Akrobatik, and DJ Fakts One), produced by 8-Bza, and from the album Resolution (2017). The chorus states: Trying to grab hold of what you can’t control [x2] (There’s no end, when you’re…) Trying to grab hold of what you can’t control (You can’t win, when you’re…) Trying to grab hold of what yo

[DISCLAIMER] This morning, when getting ready to start my day, I listened to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Mili Priolo, an Argentinian DJ and music producer. The selected mix of Latin house and hard house wasn’t what I anticipated, as I was overall enthusiastic about the set! Per the American Psychological Association, enthusiasm is defined as “a feeling of excitement or passion for an activity, cause, or object.” When listening to Priolo’s manipulation of her

[DISCLAIMER] Photo credit, property of New Line Cinema, fair use I recall when the hip hop comedy film House Party (1990) was released. As I was a fan of duo Kid ‘n Play (lyricists Christopher “Kid” Reid and Christopher “Play” Martin), I laughed quite a bit at their comedic antics. Among my peers, recitation of House Party lines was common. This included one scene in which members of R&B group Full Force confronted singer George Clinton (of music collective Parliament-Fun

[DISCLAIMER] In elementary school, my sisters and I were latchkey kids (children who return to an empty home after school, or who are often left at home with no supervision). Frequently subject to boredom, we found novel ways of entertaining ourselves—often to the detriment of one another. Employing a psychotherapeutic technique known as use of self, I told client X, “My sisters and I would intentionally drag our thick cotton socks across 1980’s plush carpet, generating l