[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] I enjoy the album The Dynospectrum (1998) by hip hop collective The Dynospectrum (comprised of lyricists Slug, I Self Divine, Sab the Artist, and Swift—all who performed under the pseudonyms Sep Se7en, Pat Juba, General Woundwart, and Mr. Gene Poole, respectively). Noteworthy, the first song on the anthology is “You Can Lose Your Mind” on which Sep Se7en states, “Became accustomed to carrying weight, and waiting for better days to come, and if they don’t come

[DISCLAIMER] When dabbling in amateur photography while residing in Bomb City during 2009, I met person X. She was an alternative model, associated with the scene subculture, and someone I once considered a relatively close friend (one attached to another by affection or esteem). To provide an adequate example of our tight bond, when person X told me that she received a death threat of imminent potential, not wanting to involve the police – as was the case with many of my

[DISCLAIMER] The James Talarico Fiasco In my personal and professional practice of care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), I sometimes encounter the unhelpful effects of stigma—which the American Psychological Association thusly defines: [T]he negative social attitude attached to a characteristic of an individual that may be regarded as a mental, physical, or social deficiency. A stigma implies social disapproval and can lead un

[DISCLAIMER] On the album Brighter Days (2014), by lyricist Awon and music producer Kameleon Beats, is the track “Still Waters”. Containing a sample of the Four Tops’ song “Still Water (Love)” (1970), Awon states on the hip hop track: We all know what it’s like, surviving nights after fights With the love of our life, it’s never right You[’re] so restless, butt naked, even your mind’s froze Seeing his face every time your eyes close Words do hurt, you chopped down that ma

[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] In 1989, as a youth, I attended lyricist LL Cool J’s Nitro World Tour, which featured rapper Eazy-E, his group N.W.A, rapper Slick Rick, legendary group De La Soul, and though he was scheduled to perform, rapper Too $hort was unable to attend the Denver, Colorado concert. One of the songs I most looked forward to hearing by Slick Rick was “Hey Young World”, from his debut studio album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (1988). I envisioned that the track was

[DISCLAIMER] When listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Lysa Chain, I heard her spin the track “Never Gonna Stop” (2026) by Marie Vaunt. Unless my understanding of EDM genres is askew, the song represents both acid techno and hardcore styles. At any rate, I dig it! When listening to the fast-paced track, as the lyrics repeatedly state “never gonna stop,” I thought of a psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). It’s my go-to met

[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, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelp

[DISCLAIMER] The above photo features a New World Translation of the Bible that was bestowed upon me by my dad on August 14, 1989. Regarding this specific translation, one source states: The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT, also simply NW) is a translation of the Bible published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society; it is used and distributed by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Unlike many of the other children with whom I attended Crawford Elementary School

[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. Although it isn’t uncommon for people to think or believe themselves into a problem, it isn’t likely that t

[DISCLAIMER] What’s Culture? What’s War? And What’s That About Cleavage? I used to enjoy discussions with other hip hop aficionados about whether or not the element of society in which we partook was a culture or a mere subculture. For context, the American Psychological Association (APA) thusly defines culture: 1. the values, beliefs, language, rituals, traditions, and other behaviors that are passed from one generation to another within any social group. Broad definit

[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] Earlier this morning, when checking my mailbox while the sky was still dark, I observed the behavior of an armadillo, of the nine-banded variety. Because the placental mammal is nocturnal by nature, it likely didn’t anticipate or expect me to be out and about while it strolled around. The creature probably had poor hearing, as my knees and ankles make the sound of crackling firewood when I walk. Thus, the armadillo didn’t hear me approaching, as I apparently

[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, I invite you to consider that as I’m writing this blogpost, I’m passively hearing an electronic dance

[DISCLAIMER] When recently speaking with a client who frequently attends electronic dance music (EDM) concerts, raves, and music festivals (collectively “shows”), as I once did, I thought of a psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) that I’ll now share. For context, when I attended EDM shows in the ‘90s and ‘00s, the term “cheese” was used for music that people considered cheesy (something regarded as cheap, of low-quality, cliché, overly sent

[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. When providing psychoeducational lessons on the two main techniques of REBT, the ABC model and unconditiona

[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. When providing psychoeducational lessons on mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental