Customer Reviews

Gangsta Rap (Teen's Top 10 (Awards))

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fifteen-year old Ray is living in a life of turmoil. He's constantly fighting with his parents --- especially his father --- in their East London flat. At school, it's even worse. His best friends, Tyrone and Prem, have been kicked out. Then Ray threatens a staff member, and he too is "permanently excluded." The only happiness the boys have is listening to music and spending time at the local music shop. The store is run by an older Jamaican, who they affectionately call "Marga Man."

Once the boys are no longer in school, they get into even more trouble on the streets. The reality of their situation hits hard when they are thrown in jail for fighting in a public park, which only angers their parents further. When the school board contacts their families, it seems as if there is only one solution. The boys have been invited to join an alternative education program targeted towards what interests them most: music. All of their studies will be focused on music and the music industry. As part of this experience, they are to work in an actual recording studio. Although some of their parents are hesitant at first, the boys give it a shot.

With Marga Man as their manager, the boys create a rap group called the Positive Negatives. They are swept up into the music industry and become superstars practically overnight. They record an album, perform on television, and are selling out live concerts. At this point, the plot seems to go off track, like a train running out of control. In the first part of the book, the reader is drawn in slowly by the characters of Ray, Tyrone and Prem. As the music takes over their lives, the plot speeds up on overdrive, and the subtleties of each teen are lost.

And then, in an odd and almost confusing twist of events, the issue of gang warfare comes into the story. The Positive Negatives are first being harassed and then attacked by unknown gang members. Now, they struggle to deal with both their fame and the world of the cruel streets.

Author Benjamin Zephaniah is a poet and performing artist in England. His poetry is displayed in the rap lyrics that are scattered throughout this work. If you want to learn more about the world of the rap music industry, then GANGSTA RAP is the book for you.

--- Reviewed by Kristi Olson (zooey24@yahoo.com)

This book definately sets the tone as a great comparison to 8 Mile. Parents should know that this book has strong language but provides an excellent storyline of three boys entering the wonderful and at points violent world. A grreat novel!

Our story begins with a shouting match between Ray and his dad. This scene displays the anger, tension and miscommunication that propels Ray and his friends Prem and Tyrone to act irrationally and rudely. RaLater tht morning, Ray explodes on his teacher and threatens him, I guess carrying on the anger from home. Ray is permanently excluded from school as Prem and Tyrone already have been. We don't really get to the root of Ray's anger. We know that his dad drinks a lot, has a temper and doesn't understand his son. We know that his mom does everything she can to hold the family together. At a final meeting before the boys are given their walking papers, they're given the option of attending an alternative school. It's a very new school, the mothers are skeptical, but it is seems to be their only hope of getting a diploma for their sons.

This school will build a curriculum around students career interests and for these boys, it's hip hop music.

At this point, it's easy to think that the boy's main problem is a lack of male presence. While a poor relationship with their dad is a crucial part of the story (because little is more important to young men than their relationship with their dad) there is an abundance of men supporting these boys. Manga Man, a local record shop owner is their surrogate dad and manager. School administrators, business people and musicians all work with the boys to help them finish their education while they begin a hip hop career. Despite all that is being done to help them, the boys manage to maintain rather surly attitudes.

Almost too quickly, the boys release a successful CD. While they don't get the glamour and bright lights that most Americans expect, they do begin to get attention and realize they have to surround themselves with people they can trust. They've been educated about the music business and are aware of contracts, obligations and all the work involved with maintaining success. They are also well read on hip hop, knowing its origins, messages and format. They want to be true British hip hop stars. The down sounds of the industry are presented, as the boys are dangerously used just for the money they generate. This bit of suspense is good for moving the story along.

I didn't really like these boys. I was glad to see them successful and did see them grow up a little bit, but they were not developed enough for me to understand and accept them. I would like to think that young people can be successful without having to limit their development by focusing on a career that may or may not be successful and I found their poor attitudes towards every adult unjustified. I do think the story will give young people a lot to consider and more than that, it will give them hope of succeeding with their own dreams.

My book was called Gangsta Rap. Over all I think it was a good book, a lot of drama, comedy and action. The book was about three kids in high school who got expelled for being yelling and cursing at all the teachers. All three of the kids are friends who want to be famous rappers. After there expelled they get a chance to become real rappers. They ask there older friend, Marga Man, to be there manager and producer, he agreed. They get to use a real recording studio to make there music. After a couple of weeks, they have there first concert. After the concert they about to leave when a bunch of hooded men approach them, and start to tell them that they suck and there music sucks too. This started a war between the east side and west side of London. A group from the west side starts to call the east side rap group and make threats. Throughout the whole book the east and west side is in a huge fight. The book was a very good book to read and I would suggest this book to anyone who likes rap and living in the streets.

This book tells the story of Ray, a teenager living in London who gets kicked out of school and almost his own home. His friends Prem and Tyrone also are kicked out, and think they are too good for it anyway. Ray a Tupac fan decides that maybe it's time for him and his friends to stop freestyling and get into the rap game. Trouble stirs up with another rap group and it ends with bullets and knives. This book was great because it showed how hip hop can involve you in other situations not intended. Plus it shows rap from the other side of the world. Finally something fresh to read about that appeals to teenagers all around the world with music to relate.

gangsta rap is thebest because its about this kid who has a hard time at home and all he wants to do is become araper and make it big. he makes it big and he gets into problems with the romg people. i thik kids my age should read it because i never like to read and until i read this book i like to read now and i make an effert to read now!!

This book was very interesting. It had alot of action and it revealed how platitum rappers really live. I could not put down the book when I reached the first climax. It was so suspenseful. I reccomend this book if you like action and music. I give this book a 9 out of 10.

RAY IS A TENNAGE BOY THAT WANTS TO BE A RAPPER. HIS FRIENDS TYRONE AND PREM STICK WITH HIM TO THE END. RAY GOES THROUGH A LOT OF TEOUBLE TO BECOME A RAPPER. HE BECOMES RIVALS WITH THE WEST SIDE OF LONDON. I HIGHLLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO SOMEONE WHO LOVES ACTION AND SUSPENSE.

Gangsta Rap is one of the best books i ever read. After i read this,i wanted to read it over and over again. If you read this book you will want to read it to. This book is an action book.So all of you action book lovers, just read this book!!!

this book starts with a boy named ray and his friends tyrone and prem they all have recently been expelled from school for just about breaking every rule in school.Ray gets kicked out of his home by his father. then leaves to live with another man named marga man. ray tyrone and prem hit it big and become a hit rap band called the positive negitives from east england.they get ino some trouble with another band called the dragons. but they later solve their differences.