One

[DISCLAIMER]

In 2007, the late rapper Sean Price (also known as Sean P, Ruck, Scagnetti, Tha Inflicsta, Ruckus, Decepticon Sean, Tawl Sean, Kimbo Price, Mic Tyson, Donkey Sean, Jesus Price, Sean Da Barbarian, and Luga Lifta) released the album Jesus Price Supastar. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

On the track “One”, which was produced by Khrysis, Sean P stated, “Got a call from your bitch, she like, ‘Son, need help,’ I’m like, ‘One,’ click.” In that line, the rapper expressed how he told a woman goodbye. Basically, Sean P didn’t want to offer assistance so he terminated the call.

I laughed at that line when first hearing the track, because the rapper’s direct approach could be perceived as disrespectful by some people, and for reasons I’ll explain herein. Also, for decades, that’s how I’ve gotten off phone calls with fellow hip hop fans. It’s either that or “aight, bet.”

At the risk of torturing a joke by explaining it, or what writer E. B. White once referred to as dissecting a frog, allow me to explain one reason why I found Sean P’s response humorous. When I was in high school legendary lyricist Nas dropped his classic album Illmatic (1994).

The anthology contained the track “One Love”, which featured Q-Tip, and one source describes the song as being “composed as a series of letters written by Nas to his incarcerated friends, describing events that have occurred prior to and after the receivers’ imprisonment.”

Presumably, Nas adopted the expression from the song “One Love” which was featured on the debut album The Wailing Wailers (1965) by Bob Marley and the Wailers. Per one source, the track wasn’t released as a single until April 16, 1984, in promotion of the album Legend.

According to another source, “Marcus Garvey, the early 19th-century Jamaican-born black civil rights activist, sometimes concluded his speeches with the phrase one love, as he notably did in his 1924 speech ‘Look for Me in the Whirlwind.” Apparently, the phrase goes back quite a ways.

A separate source defines colloquial use of “one love” by stating, “The universal love and respect expressed by all people for all people, regardless of race, creed, or social status.” Ostensibly, Sean P’s version of “one” is a shortened expression of a relatively old saying.

It’s also something I recall saying for years prior to the release of Jesus Price Supastar. In any case, the farewell statement Sean P used to a woman on “One” was funny to me, partially because its roots connote unity while the rapper’s use of the term conveyed disconnect.

Considering this matter through the frame of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I think of the ABC model. Thus, I imagine that the woman in Sean P’s song would’ve perceived the rapper’s behavior as disrespectful. This perception would then lead to self-disturbance.

For context, the ABC model is used to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and a person Believes an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s the individual’s unfavorable assumption and not the occurrence itself that causes an unpleasant Consequence.

As an example, Sean P says “one” to a woman who seeks his assistance, and he abruptly terminates the call (Action). For the sake of demonstration, suppose that she then unfavorably Believes, “Sean Price shouldn’t disrespect me when I need help, and I can’t stand his actions!”

With this unhelpful attitude the woman then experiences Consequences of her self-narrative which include ruminating thoughts (cognitive), anger (emotive), tingling throughout her body (sensory), and she throws her cellphone against a wall (behavioral). Why is this funny to me?

While I was in the Marines I had a roommate (“Freak Nasty”) who frequently self-disturbed when he and his girlfriend argued via phone call. During their talks, she’d often announce that she intended on terminating calls and simply hung up (Action). (I imagine her saying, “One.”)

Freak Nasty likely Believed any number of the five major characteristics of four major irrational beliefs recognized in REBT literature. Using these unrealistic philosophies of live, my former roommate broke many cellphones when throwing them against the barracks wall we shared.

One thing I find humorous is that no matter how regularly this sort of experience occurred, Freak Nasty never learned that his reactions had consequences. For a more personal explanation, my roommate and I weren’t all that unalike. I also frequently experienced enragement.

Although in 2003 I left the command to which Freak Nasty and I were both assigned, I laughed at Sean P’s line on “One” when the song dropped in 2007. I was laughing at the fact that Freak Nasty and I had behaved so poorly. (Sometimes it’s okay to laugh at one’s historic mistakes.)

Now I present this psychoeducational lesson to you. Do you enrage yourself with unfavorable beliefs when perceiving disrespect? If so, would you like to know more about how to un-disturb yourself? I may be able to help. Of course, if you prefer self-disturbance, then “one.”

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

Photo credit, fair use

References:

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