We Outside

[DISCLAIMER]

On his 2023 album Ultimate Gangsta Shit, rapper Tha Chill (of hip hop collective Compton’s Most Wanted) released a song entitled “Pipe Down” that featured Cinco 500 and Bookie. Lyrics include:

Got it out the mud, I’m rockin’ ice now

Hoppin’ out the Benz, I changed my lifestyle

From the city where them niggas bring the poles out

Steady talkin’, lil’ nigga, betta’ pipe down

Viewing these lyrics through the lens of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), the self-disturbing narrative of demandingness (one of four major irrational beliefs) stands out to me, as telling people that they “betta’” do something is akin to stating that they absolutely must do it.

For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and a person Believes an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s this unfavorable assumption and not the occurrence itself that causes an unpleasant Consequence (e.g., anger).

As an example, Cinco 500 improves his lifestyle and someone criticizes him (Action). When this occurs, the rapper unhelpfully Believes, “Steady talkin’, lil’ nigga, betta’ pipe down,” and with this self-upsetting narrative he then becomes angry (Consequence).

When people upset themselves with unhelpful attitudes, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of these unproductive assumptions in order to explore Effective new beliefs. Noteworthy, Actions and Consequences aren’t Disputed, as only unproductive Beliefs are challenged.

Additionally, REBT uses the technique of unconditional acceptance (UA) to resolve the unproductive effects of self-disturbance. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance, unconditional other-acceptance, and unconditional life-acceptance.

Regarding Cinco 500, the rapper could use an abortive ABC model approach to self-disturbance through use of local and reasonable (collectively “rational”) thinking. For instance, he could conclude, “I’m not entitled to the respect of others, and they are entitled to their opinions.”

Similarly, he could try a preventative UA approach to self-upset by frequently reminding himself that he’s a fallible human being, others are also faulty, and life itself is imperfect. Thus, people will behave however they do and Cinco 500 has no control and likely little influence over them.

Although not featured on the official video version of “Pipe Down,” the album version of the track features an outro in which the following dialogue unfolds (of an origin unknown to me, though I suspect it’s from a real-life internet video):

Man: He got five seconds to come out [of] that house.

Woman: You need to go.

Man: He got five seconds to come out the house!

Woman: You need to go! Wh-what’re you doing? You need to go!

Man: People need to be taught a lesson! They can say whatever the fuck they wanna say, hidin’ behind a computer. They don’t think a mothafucka will find ‘em.

Woman: You need to go. It’s just the Internet. People always talk on the Internet. You need to go! Oh my God!

Man: Tell that mothafucka [to] come outside!

Woman: No! It’s…uh… [noise]

Man: Tell that mothafucka [to] come outside! Stop playin’! [noise]

Woman: God!! [noise]

Man: Tell that mothafucka [to] come outside!

Just as believing or expressing that someone “betta’” do something constitutes demandingness, each instance of stating that individuals “need to” do something reflected herein serves as a “should,” “must,” or “ought” type of prescriptive belief (e.g., people need to be taught a lesson).

Often, these self-disturbing demands are overtly communicated. However, they sometimes manifest in the form of covertly internalized or externalized distorted inferences. I’ll provide an example of both.

On his 2020 album Don’t Come Outside, Vol. 2, rapper Uncle Murda released the song “We Outside” that featured Que Banz. Overtly communicated, not shy of hostile intent, lyrics state:

I get it, ‘cause I gotta eat (yeah)

Shit is confusin’, how could you love on a treesh

When I had her all on her knees?

Spin blocks, start shootin’, keep a thirty in the V

Clutch the ‘matic, clear the scene

Pull up and boom, and bullet holes through his tee

Lead rippin’ through his spleen

The whole gang outside with it (the whole gang outside with it)

The whole gang outside with it (we outside, we outside)

Describing the phrase “we outside,” one source states that it’s a “New York City catchphrase popularized by Sidetalk (@sidetalknyc) that refers to being outside, staying active, and making moves, rather than sitting inside and doing nothing.”

Suppose some people are on the other side of your front door, they’re presumed to be self-disturbed into anger, and you hear one of the individuals loudly declare “we outside!” This overt admission is a declaration that violence is likely forthcoming.

Alternatively, imagine being in your home, people show up to your front door, and a covert distorted inference is used. Would you be able to interpret that you may be in danger regarding this circumstance? I’ll expand upon this topic.

When contemplating this matter, I’m reminded of the 2001 satirical stoner buddy comedy film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, featuring Jay and Silent Bob (fictional characters portrayed by actors Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith, respectively).

The current post is as close a reference to The Empire Strikes Back (1980), a film in the series of the Star Wars franchise, as I’ll come on this day (May 4th) to acknowledging a trend of geekdom (i.e., “May the Fourth be with you”). Yet, I digress.

In Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jay and Silent Bob’s personas are used as inspiration for Bluntman and Chronic (characters in a fictional eponymous comic book series). Yet, as Miramax begins production of a film relating to these characters, one source states the following:

[F]ilming is interrupted by the comic’s inspirations, Jay and Silent Bob, who arrive hoping to stop the film, as they worry that it will damage their reputation (after having been upset by comments made by Internet trolls on a movie gossip website about the film and the characters).

Self-upset by demandingness about comments of trolls effectively relates to overt beliefs such as, “People shouldn’t make fun of us!” However, the covert cognitive distortion used by characters in the film results when Jay and Silent Bob track down internet trolls and confront them.

Photo credit, property of Miramax Films (through Dimension Films), fair use

Bear in mind that the film was released in 2001, before the era of smartphones and online fuckery to which so many people are currently accustomed. In one scene, having compiled a list of where each online troll lives, Jay and Silent Bob confront one boy in the following manner:

Jay: Do you post as Magnolia Fan on moviepoopshoot.com?

Boy: Yeah.

Jay: Did you write “fuck Jay and Silent Bob; fuck them in their stupid asses”?

Boy: Yeah, a while ago. So?

Jay and Silent Bob: [commence physical battery of the boy, to include foreign objects which elevates the charge to commission of a crime under aggravated circumstances]

For context, the term “distorted” means that something is altered from a true, natural, or normal state, shape, or condition. In REBT, cognitive distortions are self-disturbing thoughts or thought habits, as irrational beliefs are self-disturbing prescriptions targeted by the ABC model.

An “inference” is the act of passing from one proposition, statement, or judgment considered as true to another whose truth is believed to follow from that of the former. To better understand overt (O) irrational beliefs and covert (Co) inferences, consider the following syllogism:

Form (hypothetical) –

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

Example –

If people disrespect me, then something must be done in return [Co]. If something must be done in return, then I must punish those who disrespect me by physically assaulting them [O]! Therefore, if people disrespect me, then I must punish those who disrespect me by physically assaulting them!

When Jay and Silent Bob compiled a list of online trolls, they likely used a covertly distorted inference. People on the Internet disrespected these characters. Therefore, some ambiguous retaliatory act must have been done in return.

The act of passing from one proposition (i.e., something must be done) to another (i.e., I must punish those who disrespect me by physically assaulting them) represents a covert distorted inference to an overt irrational belief.

Ergo, when the boy in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back opened his front door, it was as though Jay and Silent Bob stated with their behavior, “We outside!” Thus, the latter two characters were already self-disturbed into an unhealthy emotional state and unfavorable (illegal) behavior.

Rather than being posted up outside, or self-disturbed into unproductive outcomes, I invite people to use the abortive strategy of the ABC model and to routinely practice the preventative tool of UA as a means of avoiding unnecessary conflict. This is a matter of rational living.

Besides, you aren’t the only one who’s “outside.” Other people are ou’chea, too. As my late stepmom used to say, “Honey, they didn’t stop makin’ guns when they made yours,” as Cinco 500 warned that he was “from the city where them niggas bring the poles out.” Therefore, maybe you recommendatorily should give peace a chance.

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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