Survivor Remorse: Cam’ron and Mase on Making It outta the Hood
On a recent episode of It Is What it Is, Mase puts his thoughts to paper on a recent event when he recalls that seeing some cash in his bank account brought to the forefront of his mind anyone left behind but a sentiment that was hard for him to wrap his head around. Cam’Ron: with humor, he kept it a little playful. He said, “I just work hard” and joking that maybe if they were still living on the block Mase should stop back by and prove a less guilty man. Mase laughed, but ducked the hit.
Their contrasting answers illustrate an inscrutable undercurrent. Mase is inspired to take his success in Black men mode and work harder for Black men back home, while cam revels in defying the odds. Underneath all the humor was a serious concern, survivor s remorse could make you selfless or become collabortive emotional relief.
It is a universal battle between these opposites for those leaving under-resourced or disinvested communities. I feel more pressure to do good when I am surrounded with prosperity, with all that success brings and the challenges that others deal with. How to stay the balance between honoring your roots and growing. Camanio playfully put it on a different level: “You know what to do when you don’t.