Things are spiraling out of control, and Fray is caught up on the wrong side of a bad situation. In the midst of the storm, Charlie found one good thing that gave her hope, while Fray fell into a situation that he didn’t know he needed. They both have opened themselves up to the possibility of a new beginning, but life keeps getting in the way. Will Hawk finally get the revenge that he’s been looking for, or will Charlie be able to step up and ride for the one who unexpectedly stole her heart? Tek is feeling an all time high as he partners up with a mystery woman who could potentially help him secure a major deal. Because of his new partnership, Yaz finds herself out on the streets and at her lowest point. This low point makes her realize that she has to do better for herself, but she has burned so many bridges that she doesn’t have anyone in her corner. As fate would have it, Yaz finds support and friendship in the unlikeliest place, and she must separate her feelings in order to regain control of her dysfunctional life. Too bad those around her don’t believe that she has any redeeming qualities, or do they? Will Charlie and Fray get to explore their connection or are his days numbered? Will Yaz get to prove that she can be a better person, or will it all be in vain? Part two exposes new secrets as well as new faces and budding relationships. The journey has just begun, and there’s so much to be discovered. Love, lies, and betrayal definitely play out as this story unfolds, and the key players have to choose sides and choose wisely. The wrong move could be deadly. The stakes are at an all time high, but that’s to be expected when you’re Ridin’ With The Realest!
Charlie Jones Life was good for Charlie. For the past five years, she had been in love with the man of her dreams. A man who had given her the world. Because of that love, Charlie had a free ride to college, nice cars, an expensive home, and she owned her own business. In her eyes, life was as good as it could possibly be. She had the love of her life, and success. Now if she could just survive the next four years while he finished a bid for yet another parole violation. As hard as it made life, and as lonely as she was, Charlie loved her man, and was going to get through it. Calvin “Hawk” Cason Hawk was in the streets, but he wasn’t like your typical hustler. Hawk was about his money and loved his woman. So much so that everything he gave Charlie was hers. He never wanted her to feel like the things that he did were because he was buying Charlie’s affection or because he wanted to control her. Charlie owned the title to everything Hawk purchased for her, so with or without him, her life would always be financially stable. Hawk knew that Charlie loved him and not the things that he did, so he had no problem helping to secure her future. The perfect union, right? Sometimes things aren’t always what they seem. Hawk paid his way out of a five-year bid after only doing one year, and was coming home. The problem being, who is he coming home to? His secret life has caught up with him, and it’s time to make a decision. A decision that will possibly rock Charlie to the core. Yazmine Carter Yaz is your typical hood certified chick. She refused to work for anything, but feels like she’s owed everything. That attitude created a love hate relationship between Yaz and Charlie. Yaz claims Charlie as her best friend but secretly hates everything about her. With friends like that, who needs enemies? Yaz doesn’t understand how Charlie is always winning, while she has to struggle for every dime. Even when it comes to Charlie’s relationship with Hawk. Yaz feels like it should have been her. When Yaz finds out that the one person that she really wants has eyes for Charlie instead, Yaz is fed up. She makes some decisions that could cancel years of friendship, and after a one night stand with a man who Yaz doesn’t know but quickly finds out is a powerful ally, Yaz decides that sometimes you have to just go for yours. Will that one decision cost her not only her friendship with Charlie but also her life? Delvin “Fray” Simmons Fray is all about his money. Fray puts nothing before it, which is why he has a reputation of being a savage. It’s nothing for him to take the life of those who are disloyal or try to get in his way. Being the top solider on Hawk’s team, it just made sense that he would be the one to take charge when Hawk got sentenced to a five year bid. Fray was the type to just do what was necessary, and made no apologies for it. For that reason, while Hawk placed him in charge, Fray decided to make sure that when Hawk came home, Fray could walk and still be in charge. Not only did he build Hawk’s business, but he began building his own. Fray understood that money changed everything, and there was no way that he was going to go from running it all to being second in command when Hawk returned. It wasn’t a respect thing, it was simply code of the streets. Things eventually get even more complicated when Hawk asks Fray for a favor that would put him right in the middle of a tug of war between Charlie and Hawk. Not only was Fray preparing to be Hawk’s biggest competitor in the streets, he would now find himself being Hawk’s biggest competitor for Charlie’s heart.
My Antonia is a novel by an American writer Willa Cather. It is the final book of the "prairie trilogy" of novels, preceded by O Pioneers! and The Song of the Lark. The novel tells the stories of an orphaned boy from Virginia, Jim Burden, and Antonia Shimerda, the daughter of Bohemian immigrants. They are both became pioneers and settled in Nebraska in the end of the 19th century. The first year in the very new place leaves strong impressions in both children, affecting them lifelong. The narrator and the main character of the novel My Antonia, Jim grows up in Black Hawk, Nebraska from age 10 Eventually, he becomes a successful lawyer and moves to New York City.
A haunting tribute to the heroic pioneers who shaped the American Midwest This powerful novel by Willa Cather is considered to be one of her finest works and placed Cather in the forefront of women novelists. It tells the stories of several immigrant families who start new lives in America in rural Nebraska. This powerful tribute to the quiet heroism of those whose struggles and triumphs shaped the American Midwest highlights the role of women pioneers, in particular. Written in the style of a memoir penned by Antonia’s tutor and friend, the book depicts one of the most memorable heroines in American literature, the spirited eldest daughter of a Czech immigrant family, whose calm, quite strength and robust spirit helped her survive the hardships and loneliness of life on the Nebraska prairie. The two form an enduring bond and through his chronicle, we watch Antonia shape the land while dealing with poverty, treachery, and tragedy. “No romantic novel ever written in America...is one half so beautiful as My Ántonia.” -H. L. Mencken Willa Cather (1873–1947) was an American writer best known for her novels of the Plains and for One of Ours, a novel set in World War I, for which she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1923. She was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1943 and received the gold medal for fiction from the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1944, an award given once a decade for an author's total accomplishments. By the time of her death she had written twelve novels, five books of short stories, and a collection of poetry.
Decoded is a book like no other: a collection of lyrics and their meanings that together tell the story of a culture, an art form, a moment in history, and one of the most provocative and successful artists of our time. Praise for Decoded “Compelling . . . provocative, evocative . . . Part autobiography, part lavishly illustrated commentary on the author’s own work, Decoded gives the reader a harrowing portrait of the rough worlds Jay-Z navigated in his youth, while at the same time deconstructing his lyrics.”—Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times “One of a handful of books that just about any hip hop fan should own.”—The New Yorker “Elegantly designed, incisively written . . . an impressive leap by a man who has never been known for small steps.”—Los Angeles Times “A riveting exploration of Jay-Z’s journey . . . So thoroughly engrossing, it reads like a good piece of cultural journalism.”—The Boston Globe “Shawn Carter’s most honest airing of the experiences he drew on to create the mythic figure of Jay-Z . . . The scenes he recounts along the way are fascinating.”—Entertainment Weekly “Hip-hop’s renaissance man drops a classic. . . . Heartfelt, passionate and slick.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
This book brings together veteran and emerging scholars from a variety of fields to chart new territory for hip-hop based education. Looking beyond rap music and the English language arts classroom, innovative chapters unpack the theory and practice of hip-hop based education in science, social studies, college composition, teacher education, and other fields. Authors consider not only the curricular aspects of hip-hop but also how its deeper aesthetics such as improvisational freestyling and competitive battling can shape teaching and learning in both secondary and higher education classrooms. Schooling Hip-Hop will spark new and creative uses of hip-hop culture in a variety of educational settings. Contributors: Jacqueline Celemencki, Christopher Emdin, H. Bernard Hall, Decoteau J. Irby, Bronwen Low, Derek Pardue, James Braxton Peterson, David Stovall, Eloise Tan, and Joycelyn A. Wilson “Hip hop has come of age on the broader social and cultural scene. However, it is still in its infancy in the academy and school classrooms. Hill and Petchauer have assembled a powerful group of scholars who provide elegantly theoretical and practically significant ways to consider hip hop as an important pedagogical strategy. This volume is a wonderful reminder that ‘Stakes is high!’” —Gloria Ladson-Billings, Kellner Family Chair in Urban Education, University of Wisconsin–Madison “This book is a bold, ambitious attempt to chart new intellectual, theoretical, and pedagogical directions for Hip-Hop Based Education. Hill and Petchauer are to be commended for pushing the envelope and stepping up to the challenge of taking HHBE to the next level.” —Geneva Smitherman, University Distinguished Professor Emerita, English and African American and African Studies, Michigan State University
This biographical memoir takes an in-depth look into the life of Mutah Beale, formerly known as Napoleon of the legendary Outlawz rap group who was affiliated with the late Tupac Shakur. It examines his life starting from birth after the murder of his parents and growing up in an unforgiving environment where he encountered insurmountable obstacles at a young age. Becoming intimately acquainted with Tupac Shakur, Napoleon rises to stardom as a member of rap's most recognizable groups only to suffer tragedy after tragedy. He becomes embroiled in one of hip hop's fiercest rivalries, trying to navigate life at the height of the East Coast vs. West Coast saga. Throughout the turmoil and tumult, Mutah looks for guidance and ultimately finds his inner peace when he accepts Islam. His life is a vivid walking example of the complexity of America as the book examines timely issues that plague American society such as police brutality, mental health, gang politics/violence, and spirituality. Life is ЯAW features intriguing stories involving hip hop's most recognizable legends including The Notorious B.I.G., Ice Cube, Nas, Fat Joe, Kurupt and many others. The book presents an authentic, well-documented narrative that includes over 150 research sources and features exclusive interviews from countless friends, family members and industry icons such as Steve Lobel, Young Noble (Outlawz), Storm (Outlawz), H-Ryda (Outlawz), Wack Deuce (Outlawz), Trey Lane, Gonzoe, and many more. The book will undoubtedly serve as an important relic for hip hop history and culture. A powerfully meaningful foreword from Professor Awad Ibrahim (with an insightful and comprehensive Afterword by Dr. Othman Barnawi) sets the stage to prepare for the incredible journey of the life of Mutah Beale. With reflection and introspection, Life is ЯAW is sure to change your perspective on life forever.
"Obscure Destinies" is a collection of three interconnected short stories written by American author Willa Cather, first published in 1932. The stories in this collection are known for their vivid depictions of life on the American frontier and the people who inhabit it. The three stories included in "Obscure Destinies" are "Neighbour Rosicky," "Old Mrs. Harris," and "Two Friends." Each story explores the lives and struggles of ordinary people living in the rural Midwest, and they focus on themes such as family, community, and the passage of time. Cather's writing is praised for its evocative and realistic portrayal of the American heartland. "Obscure Destinies" showcases Cather's talent for creating memorable characters and capturing the essence of everyday life in the early 20th century. The collection is celebrated for its insight into the human condition and the enduring spirit of the American frontier.
What do millennial rappers in the United States say in their music? This timely and compelling book answers this question by decoding the lyrics of over 700 songs from contemporary rap artists. Using innovative research techniques, Matthew Oware reveals how emcees perpetuate and challenge gendered and racialized constructions of masculinity, femininity, and sexuality. Male and female artists litter their rhymes with misogynistic and violent imagery. However, men also express a full range of emotions, from arrogance to vulnerability, conveying a more complex manhood than previously acknowledged. Women emphatically state their desires while embracing a more feminist approach. Even LGBTQ artists stake their claim and express their sexuality without fear. Finally, in the age of Black Lives Matter and the presidency of Donald J. Trump, emcees forcefully politicize their music. Although complicated and contradictory in many ways, rap remains a powerful medium for social commentary.
Overflowing with juicy gossip, passion, over-the-top antics, and drama, Big Booty keeps readers on the edge of their seats wondering what happens next. Born in the projects and bred in the streets, Cassandra has been on her own since age fourteen. She learned how to make a way out of no way—from boosting clothes to credit card scams to sex, doing whatever she had to do to survive. Now, as a single mother, she’s is determined to give her children—and herself—a better life than the one she was forced to live on the streets—no matter how she has to finance it. Seducing men out of their money (and their minds) came easy. And it didn’t take much for a young Cassandra to have guys of all ages eating out of the palm of her hand. A blessing and a curse, the alluring sway of her hips commands attention—wanted and unwanted. But escaping the ghetto has never been a desire for her, she’d be happy just living a more ghetto-fabulous life. And she has no qualms about sleeping with anyone who is willing to satisfy her libido and help her in her in that quest—no matter the costs.
