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Writer's pictureDeric Hollings

Irrational or Radical?


Photo credit, Djamilla Rosa Cochran, WireImage/Getty Images, fair use

 

I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan when Confessions of Fire by rapper Cam’ron (also known as Killa Cam) was released. Hearing an album from someone the same age as I was, considering how differently we grew up and the choices we made thereafter, was meaningful to me.

 

As he progressed in his unique and often comedic style, as well as content subject matter, I was pleased to be a fan of Killa Cam. Not long after I departed by final duty station in the Marines and obtained employment in the field of nuclear security, Cam’ron released Purple Haze.

 

By that point in his career, the rapper was known as having a perspective that was somewhat radical—very different from the usual or traditional, favoring extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions, or institutions. To some people, Killa Cam was an anathema within hip hop.

 

For instance, although Cam’ron rapped about themes of and presented himself in regard to hyper-masculinity, he was apparently fond of wearing the color pink—a color traditionally associated with femininity. Because of his disregard for social norms, some rappers balked at Cam’ron’s style.

 

Nevertheless, Killa Cam seemed to delight in the reactions from others. As an example, on the song “Take ‘Em to Church,” featuring Juelz Santana and Un Kasa, Cam’ron bragged, “Right out the flesh, sit in a house and rest. He don’t pout, get him gear, in the house he fresh. Not that you care, just getting clear and think. One glare and wink, everyone wearing pink.”

 

Typically, if a man in hip hop were to be criticized about displaying feminine traits, a fight may’ve ensued. However, Killa Cam’s radical approach was to discuss that when others glared, he winked back, and suddenly many people started emulating his style by also wearing pink.

 

That took courage. When viewing this matter through the lens of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), I equate Cam’ron’s radical approach to fashion as a form of shame attacking. This REBT exercises involves deliberately doing things which are correlated with shame or fear.

 

As an example, when I was growing up, males who wore the color pink were often labeled as “sissies,” “faggots,” “punks,” and other pejorative terms as a matter of socially shaming against their behavior. Using the ABC model, I now know that such terms didn’t cause shame or fear.

 

REBT theory maintains that when an unexpected Activating event occurs and a person uses an irrational Belief about the situation, it’s one’s unhelpful attitude and not the undesirable circumstance that causes unpleasant emotional, bodily sensation, and behavioral Consequences.

 

Rather than remaining self-disturbed, an individual is invited to try Disputation which may lead to an Effective new belief that’s used in place of an unproductive self-narrative. With the ABC model, a person learns to stop needless suffering which is caused by unhelpful assumptions.

 

Because pejorative terms are correlated with – though don’t cause – shame or fear, shame attacking exercises are used to show an individual how one can tolerate and accept undesirable labels and unpleasant situations without self-disturbing about the matter.

 

Such exercises are used to build resilience. In Cam’ron’s case, I suspect that he has a relatively high level of frustration tolerance. After all, not only did the rapper parade around New York City wearing pink, he also did so when donning articles made of fur.

 

To some people, Killa Cam’s radical style may’ve seemed irrational—that which isn’t in accordance with logic and reason. To better understand this proposition, consider the following syllogism:

 

Form (hypothetical) –

If p, then q; if q, then r; therefore, if p, then r.

 

Example –

If men who wear pink are looked at as less than, then men shouldn’t wear pink.

 

If men shouldn’t wear pink, then Cam’ron definitely shouldn’t wear pink fur.

 

Therefore, if men who wear pink are looked at as less than, then Cam’ron definitely shouldn’t wear pink fur.

 

This proposal follows logical form—adhering to syllogistic design. However, it isn’t reasonable. This is because the proposition is based on subjective standards of masculinity.

 

Bear in mind that in order to be considered rational, the proposal must adhere to both logic and reason. Therefore, the proposition is irrational. Ergo, Killa Cam’s style is radical though rational.

 

Affirming his knowledge of this matter, on the song “Get Down” from Purple Haze, Cam’ron states of his method of living, “It’s not irrational (Yeah, what), I grew up radical (So what?).” Alas, it would appear as though the rapper maintains unique self-awareness.

 

Still, Cam’ron is a fallible human being just like any other person. To provide an example of his imperfect nature, consider an interview with the rapper that unfolded as follows:

 

Interviewer: Is pink for everyone?

 

Cam’ron: Nah. A lot of people try, but they don’t look really right when they do it. I appreciate the effort though. I also hate people who wear dirty pink. You can get away with black sweatpants for a day or two, but pink is something you wear for one day, the day before you go to the washer or cleaners. When people wear pink t-shirts for three straight days it disturbs me. It aggravates me.

 

Killa Cam expressed a self-disturbed disposition caused by demandingness. In this case, the rapper ostensibly maintained the absolutistic belief that people shouldn’t, mustn’t, or oughtn’t to wear pink t-shirts for longer than Cam’ron’s arbitrarily-prescribed amount of time.

 

While the rapper’s decision to wear pink fur is radical though not irrational, Cam’ron’s demand regarding how others must dress is irrational and perhaps even radical. Now, suppose that someone who hears of Cam’ron’s declaration about wearing pink disagrees with the rapper.

 

Perhaps this individual replies, as Killa Cam stated on his song “Leave Me Alone, Pt. 2,” also from Purple Haze, “Uh, that shit you talk don’t move me, nada.” Simply dismissing the irrational demandingness of people seems to be something with which Cam’ron is familiar.

 

Therefore, what’s good for the rapper is also good for other pink-wearers. Radical positions from a fashion perspective are one matter. However, it’s an altogether other matter to use irrational demands regarding other people. Thus, one glare and wink, everyone’s wearing pink for as long as they please.

 

If you’re looking for a provider who works 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 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 helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!

 

 

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

 

References:

 

Cam’ron. (2018, July 24). Get Down [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/CQEK8XKUObM?si=mBzXGGAOAe180NZz

Cam’ron. (2018, July 24). Leave Me Alone Pt. 2 [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Hy5rSlioucs?si=BQyEiqAs8ARD_P6e

Cam’ron. (2018, July 24). Take Em to Church [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/LoQtjVnKeIc?si=wiQhYJ-hlensV73b

Discogs. (n.d.). Un Kasa. Retrieved from https://www.discogs.com/artist/257275-Un-Kasa

Hollings, D. (2024, October 18). ABC model. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/abc-model

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Hollings, D. (2024, May 8). Resilience. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/resilience

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Kearns, S. (2023, April 14). Cam’ron sued over use of photo picturing him wearing iconic pink fur coat. Hypebeast. Retrieved from https://hypebeast.com/2023/4/camron-pink-fur-coat-photo-lawsuit

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Cam’ron. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cam%27ron

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Confessions of Fire. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessions_of_Fire

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Juelz Santana. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juelz_Santana

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Purple Haze (album). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Haze_(album)

Wong, A. (2016, November 22). Cam'ron is very particular when it comes to the color pink. GQ. Retrieved from https://www.gq.com/story/camron-dipset-interview

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