Gangsta Rap (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) [Library Binding]

Benjamin Zephaniah (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 7, 2004

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. .

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up - Rebellious in his East London home and deeply alienated from his alcoholic West Indian father, 15-year-old Ray pops off during class, gets expelled, and joins his best friends, outgoing Prem and contemplative Tyrone, who have also been "excluded" from school. All three are passionate hip-hop lovers who hang out in a small music shop run by a sympathetic Jamaican named Marga Man. After they are jailed following a fight, the headmaster decides to enroll them in an alternative program that allows them to pursue their rap interests. Marga Man uses his music contacts to get them started in a band - the Positive Negatives - and they soon become successful. Unfortunately, they attract the attention of a rival band. Spurred on by a greedy promoter, the rappers engage in a deadly gang fight that both groups later regret. With the promoter in jail, they vow to work together to end the violence. Ray is an appealing and multidimensional character, but many of the others are little more than types. Mirroring the culture of "gangsta rap," some of the dialogue is misogynist (girls are referred to as "bitches"), stereotyped (Marga Man speaks a combination of mainstream and pidgin English), and raw. A mixed bag with a wholesome message. - Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 9-12. Growing up among working-class immigrants in east London, 15-year-old Ray and his two best friends are in danger of being lost. All three have been expelled (Ray for calling his headmaster "a big pussy"). Their only passion is hip-hop, and Manga Man, an older Jamaican who owns a music shop, is the only adult they respect. Then the boys' former headmaster enrolls the teens in a progressive school that combines traditional coursework with practical music experience. With the help of Manga Man, the boys dive into their work and form a band. A fairy tale of hip-hop success follows: a record deal and massive fame and wealth. A few characters lack dimension, and a subplot about a violent hip-hop rivalry doesn't entirely work. The boys' speech also occasionally echoes the harsh misogyny in some of the hip-hop they love: "I see some bitches that look like they want some training." But teens will enjoy the thrilling music fantasy, while many will identify with the smart, talented boys who grow up quickly and rescue themselves. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Library Binding: 333 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback (August 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1417653728
• ISBN-13: 978-1417653720
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,668,613 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting look at the rap industry, September 7, 2004

By 

Teenreads.com (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gangsta Rap (Teen's Top 10 (Awards)) (Paperback)

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 ([e-mail])

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 8 Mile for TEENS!, August 29, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Gangsta Rap (Teen's Top 10 (Awards)) (Paperback)

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!

3.0 out of 5 stars Gangsta Rap, November 27, 2009

By 

Edith A. Campbell "crazyquilter" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gangsta Rap (Paperback)

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.