As a child, one of five albums that changed my perspective on life was Edutainment (1990) by hip hop group Boogie Down Productions (BDP). The group was originally comprised of members KRS-One, D-Nice, and the late DJ Scott La Rock.
Whereas Bernice E. Cullinan’s book Mr. Fig was instrumental in helping me learn to read, BDP’s song “Love’s Gonna Get’cha (Material Love),” featuring a sample of “Love’s Gonna Get You” (1985) by Jocelyn Brown, assisted in my knowledge about different types of love.
In particular, the Greek word φιλαργυρία (philarghyría) can be translated to ‘love of money’, as the song from Edutainment addresses this topic regarding material possessions. For instance, the introduction of “Love’s Gonna Get’cha (Material Love)” states:
You know, that’s why, man, I’ve been telling you all the time, and you know, love, that word ‘love’ is a very serious thing, and if you don’t watch out, I tell you that
(Love’s gonna get you, love’s gonna get you, love’s gonna get you)
Because a lot of people out here, they say, “I love my car” or “I love my chain”, or, or, “I’m just in love with that girl over there”, so for all the people out there that fall in love with a material items, we’re gonna pump the beat a little something like this […]
Before proceeding further, I quibble with KRS-One’s reference to love of people as relating to material love. Although other Greek words for love address affection for people, philarghyría doesn’t apply to being “in love with that girl over there,” as it instead pertains to material love.
Now, as stated elsewhere in “Love’s Gonna Get’cha (Material Love)”, “Let us move on.” I appreciate how KRS-One addresses a strong desire to escape the clutches of poverty and how when his goal is met through criminal activity he continues thirsting for material possessions.
There’s a difference between wanting to fulfill basic needs and craving material possessions. As an example, the chorus of “Love’s Gonna Get’cha (Material Love)” draws a distinction when highlighting the latter, as the lyricist states:
That’s why, (Love’s gonna get you)
(Love’s gonna get you, love’s gonna get you, love’s gonna get you)
You fall in love with your chain
You fall in love with your car
Love is gonna sneak right up and snuff you from behind
So I want you to check the story out, as we go down the line
(Love’s gonna get you, love’s gonna get you, love’s gonna get you)
(Let us move on)
Material love, when manifesting as a craving for possessions such as a chain or a car, tends to be driven by a self-disturbing belief known as demandingness. When examining this matter through the lens of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I think of the ABC model.
This model illustrates that when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe some unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption and not the occurrence itself that causes an unpleasant Consequence. As such, demandingness is a form of irrational belief.
For example, you identify a car that appeals to you (Action) and you unproductively Believe, “I love this car and I must have it, or else I won’t be happy,” and with this rigid demand you experience anger or sadness when not receiving the car for which you crave (Consequence).
Rather than self-disturbing in such a manner, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of your unproductive assumption in order to explore Effective new beliefs. Considering this model that helps people to un-disturb themselves, love’s not what’s “gonna get you,” “gonna get you.”
Rather, what you believe about “material love” is what’s “gonna get you” to self-disturbance. Now, “let us move on.” When further contemplating this topic, I’ll shift from “Love’s Gonna Get’cha (Material Love)” to a similar matter of consideration.
In many hip hop songs, rappers and lyricists often mistakenly cite 1 Timothy 6:10 which accurately states: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Quite often, I hear rap songs in which artists express that money itself is the root of all evil. As an example, in the song “Nobody Believes Me” (2002), lyricist Styles P states, “I said, ‘Money, you the root of evil. How they print ‘In God We Trust’, knowin’ what you do to people?”
However, 1 Timothy 6:10 correlates the “love of money” with “many griefs” (self-disturbance). Yet, citing REBT, I’ve demonstrated that the love of money (or material love) doesn’t cause self-disturbance. As well, I’ve illustrated that money itself isn’t evil according to biblical standards.
From a Judeo-Christian perspective, one’s love (thirsting or craving) for material possessions is what leads to sin. Noteworthy, REBT isn’t concerned with dogmatic demandingness which proposes that you can’t thirst or crave for money. You’re welcome to self-disturb as you like.
However, if you want to un-disturb yourself I invite you to consider practice of the ABC model. Specifically, I encourage you to dispute your unproductive beliefs about thirsting and craving for material possessions. Finally, I offer two last hip hop songs for your consideration.
First, on their 1994 album Creepin on ah Come Up, hip hop group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony (“Bone”) released the song “Foe tha Love of $” which featured rapper Eazy-E. I wore out this joint when in high school, playing it throughout Bomb City when creepin’ on a come up.
Second, the track features a beat and background vocals from Jewell which were featured on Yomo & Maulkie’s song “For the Love of Money” (1991). Lyrics of Bone’s song include, “Gotta make that money, man,” which is a form of demandingness.
Terms such as “should,” “must,” “oughta,” “better,” “have to,” and so forth are prescriptive in nature. Demanding that you “gotta make that money” is an inflexible belief that leaves very little (if any) alternative option. Thus, when prescribing in such a manner, you’re likely to self-disturb.
Worth noting, Yomo states on “For the Love of Money,” “Life is heartache. What people will do for the love of money – suffering, pain – and then you’re gone. You’re just a sinner for the love of money. Don’t you know, don’t you know, don’t you know that money is the root of all evil?”
As illustrated herein, the rapper was correct in his Judeo-Christian perspective about the “love of money” leading to sin. However, Yomo then contradicts himself by stating that “money is the root of all evil.” Yet, I digress. REBT isn’t concerned with sinfulness. We’re all fallible humans.
In closing, you’re welcome to self-disturb regarding philarghyría. Besides, many people upset themselves with unproductive demandingness about material love. Still, if you’d like to know more about how to un-disturb yourself, I look forward to hearing from you. Let us move on!
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 (edited), fair use
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