Do the Knowledge, Ya Heard?
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, within my blog, I do the knowledge about Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).
Generally, when someone in hip hop does the knowledge, one may follow up a lesson by saying “ya heard?” as one source states that this question means, “You know what I’m saying?” Thus far, I did the knowledge on hip hop cultural expressions, ya heard?
Now, I’ll provide a practical example of these sayings. Thus, I present the hip hop supergroup known as the Athletic Mic League (AML), comprised of lyricists Buff1, 14KT, Grand Cee, 3Steez, VaughanTego, and Wes Taylor, and DJ Haircut (also known as Mayer Hawthorne).
On their album Giants of the Jungle (2012), AML released the song “Ya Heard” which was produced by the Lab Technicians. On the track, the lyricists state, “Do the knowledge, ya heard? Except that’s not preferred. A million listeners, but they don’t listen to the words!” I’m listening!
For their perspective, REBT uses unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve self-induced suffering about a willfully ignorant audience – done by use of unconditional self-acceptance (USA), unconditional other-acceptance (UOA), and unconditional life-acceptance (ULA).
With my approach to REBT, I incorporate author Stephen Covey’s concepts regarding the circles of control, influence, and concern, as well as an area of no concern. UA maps onto the circle of control (USA), circle of influence (UOA), and circle of concern and area of no concern (ULA).
The circle of control encompasses only oneself, the circle of influence encapsulates elements which may be subject to one’s sway, the circle of concern engrosses most matters one can imagine, and the area of no concern relates to all content which isn’t yet imagined.
I use UA when the majority of my blogposts—in which I offer knowledge, wisdom, and understanding about REBT tools—are mostly ignored by audience members. Even though they’ve disbanded, perhaps members of AML can use UA when the audience doesn’t listen.
Presuming you’re anyone other than the typical artificial intelligence mechanisms which review my blog, I invite you to use UA when self-induced suffering presents itself. Simply accepting that some people are willfully ignorant may go a long way in the reduction of your suffering!
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, 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
References:
101Licious. (2011, October 24). Athletic Mic League - Ya Heard [Image; video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/fchLGiB1Wqg?si=-XcWtU_MzGNovqgY
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