Gangsta Rap by Benjamin Zephaniah

Around the world, teenagers dream of becoming famous for making music.  In Gangsta Rap, Benjamin Zephaniah explores what happens when these dreams come true.

Gangsta Rap follows the story of three teenage boys from East London who have been expelled from school; they care nothing at all about academics, and instead all of their focus is on rap music.  As a last resort, they are given the opportunity to attend an alternative school and pursue their musical interests.  The boys form a rap group called Positive Negatives and cut a single that quickly becomes a hit.  Their fame--and the problems inherent in being famous--escalates, leading to both tragedy and triumph for the members of the group.

The strengths of Gangsta Rap lie in the imaginative relatability of its story line.  I think teens would enjoy a peek into what it's like when their contemporaries ht the big time.  The book is a quick read without difficult concepts or ideas; I imagine it would be a great recommendation for a reluctant reader.  However, a weakness in the book lies in its use of London dialect.  Having lived in England for a year, I was familiar with many of the terms being used.  But for a reader unfamiliar with British slang, the unfamiliar terminology could be a frustrating turn-off.

Ultimately, I think the book would be a great addition to a YAL curriculum.  The ideas expressed in the book would definitely lead to great class discussions about the costs and benefits of fame and the importance of loyalty, and its readability would make it more likely that most students would be engaged.  Because of the focus on rap music throughout Gangsta Rap, a cross-curricular connection with music (focusing on the origins and musicality of rap and hip-hop) would be easy to create.  Gangsta Rap would be a wonderful way to invite fans of rap music to share their ideas in the classroom.