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I Can't Call It

  • Writer: Deric Hollings
    Deric Hollings
  • Oct 12
  • 4 min read

 

I recall the golden age of hip hop from when many slang forms of expression originated for me. For instance, although I didn’t enjoy the comedy film High School High (1996), I purchased the soundtrack and played it frequently.

 

On the anthology was the track “I Can’t Call It” by the legendary hip hop trio De La Soul. Describing the phrase “I can’t call it,” one source states that it’s a “shorter version of I cannot call it, I do not know, I am not too sure.”

 

As an example, a friend during the golden age of hip hop may’ve sais, “Deric, what’s good?” If I didn’t have anything meaningful to say, I’d simply reply, “I can’t call it. What’s good with you?”

 

Recently, I used this phrase with a client who wasn’t around for the old days of hip hop, as some explanation was required. I was asked about peculiar behavior regarding people’s reactions to the death of right-wing political activist, entrepreneur, and media personality Charlie Kirk.

 

I replied, “I don’t know which of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s five stages of grief grifting falls into, but I can’t call it.” In common parlance, a grift is to acquire money or property illicitly.

 

Colloquially, grifting refers to the act of deceiving or manipulating others for financial or personal gain. Since Kirk’s death, I’ve observed a number of people who were directly and indirectly associated with him who appear to be grifting.

 

It seems like some people’s supposed suffering has turned into a money-making experience. However, I can’t call it. In other words, I don’t know for a fact that this is what’s occurring.

 

Therefore, rather than harshly judging the behavior of fallible human beings, I practice unconditional acceptance of the self (for my judgmental beliefs), others (for ostensibly grifting), and life (for the imperfection which is inherent in the world). Ergo, I can’t call it.

 

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


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References:

 

Adx.la. (2015, November 20). Whats good. Urban Dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=whats+good

Hollings, D. (2025, September 24). Animalistic instinct: Just because it seems right doesn’t mean it is. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/animalistic-instinct-just-because-it-seems-right-doesn-t-mean-it-is

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2025, March 9). Factual and counterfactual beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/factual-and-counterfactual-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use

Hollings, D. (2024, May 11). Fallible human being. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fallible-human-being

Hollings, D. (2024, May 17). Feeling better vs. getting better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/feeling-better-vs-getting-better-1

Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2024, January 22). IDK. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/__idk

Hollings, D. (2025, April 23). Judgment. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/judgment

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2022, June 23). Meaningful purpose. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/meaningful-purpose

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2025, September 27). The 5 stages. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-5-stages

Hollings, D. (2023, September 6). The absence of suffering. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-absence-of-suffering

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2024, October 20). Unconditional acceptance redux. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-acceptance-redux

Hollings, D. (2023, March 11). Unconditional life-acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-life-acceptance

Hollings, D. (2023, February 25). Unconditional other-acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-other-acceptance

Hollings, D. (2023, March 1). Unconditional self-acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-self-acceptance

Lisa Ceezay. (2003, February 19). I can’t call it. Urban Dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=can%27t%20call%20it

WeAreDeLaSoul. (2015, July 12). I Can’t Call It [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/JWVq6wOic-g?si=kcp-GSzXccYMRDDM

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Charlie Kirk. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Kirk

Wikipedia. (n.d.). De La Soul. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_La_Soul

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabeth_K%C3%BCbler-Ross

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Golden age hip-hop. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_age_hip-hop

Wikipedia. (n.d.). High School High. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_School_High

Wikipedia. (n.d.). High School High (soundtrack). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_School_High_(soundtrack)

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