Still hood

K'wan (Hoodlum; Hood Rat) delivers a convoluted, overplotted and ultimately disappointing cautionary tale. Early on, the reader is introduced to Black Ice, the slick pimp; Don B., the rap entrepreneur and head of the Big Dawgz crew; True, Don B.'s hottest new rapper and protege; Jah, the increasingly reluctant bodyguard; Jah's makeup artist girlfriend Yoshi; and Dena Jones, a local girl who falls into the wrong crowd. As True and the Big Dawgz crew prepare for a video shoot in Harlem, no one's aware that there's someone out to kill True. The video shoot sets up the rest of the novel's tragic events, including murders (there are a lot), a gang rape and manifold permutations of the mayhem caused by greed and deception. The novel's long on grit and violence, but readers will be put off by the scattershot structure, an unmanageably large cast and a consistently half-baked feel. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Verdict: The strength of K'wan's novels lie in his use of street language and wordplay to establish a harsh realism. Cold-blooded killers, girls working the game, and innocents unaware of danger are all woven into this sequel to Hood Rat, which encompasses hot, hot sex and incredible violence. Buy multiple copies as there will be demand. Libraries launching a street-lit collection should immediately purchase this urban fiction star's entire backlist. Library marketing campaign. Background: K'wan's large cast of characters have the odds against them as they struggle to remain true to their people and their 'hood. Stacks Green, a hip-hop mogul from Texas, arrives in New York City's Harlem neighborhood to participate in a video shoot that features new hip-hop sensation True. Hovering nearby are players Don-B and Black Ice, both with noses for quick cash. The less flamboyant Jah is a warrior working security for True. His honesty and nobility (he stays true to his boss and his woman) is admirable, but he's challenged to maintain his street cred when the other players are anxious to take what they can.--Rollie Welch, Cleveland P.L. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.