Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson

Let Me Hear a Rhyme is the third novel from Tiffany D. Jackson and I can't speak highly enough of her writing.  She is incredible.  I would read her grocery list if she published it.  I loved her first two novels, Allegedly and Monday's Not Coming, and I have been anticipating this one for a long time.  It did not disappoint.  This was such an incredible throw back to the 1990s and 90's rap and hip-hop.  But it is also a story about so much more.  It is about giving a voice to those who may have been taken too early.  It is about protecting those around you.  And it's also about being real with the people you care about most.

Let Me Hear a Rhyme is a story about three friends, Quadir, Jarrell, and Jasmine who are determined to keep the memory of their murdered friend (and Jasmine's brother) alive, even if it means pretending that he is not dead.  Steph was an aspiring rapper, poised to be the biggest thing from Brooklyn since Notorious B.I.G.  But when he is unexpectedly killed, these three want to make sure everyone knows how talented he was, while at the same time wanting to solve his murder.  When they fall in with a big time producer, they have to figure out how to sign a deal as the Architect without giving away their secret first.  As they struggle to keep up with the demands of the hot-headed producer, they also must navigate their own personal secrets that are working at splitting apart their group.  When they discover the truth is the only way to make it all work, they can finally begin to heal and spread love.  It's the Brooklyn way!

From Amazon:

In this striking new novel by the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly and Monday’s Not Coming, Tiffany D. Jackson tells the story of three Brooklyn teens who plot to turn their murdered friend into a major rap star by pretending he's still alive.

Brooklyn, 1998. Biggie Smalls was right: Things done changed. But that doesn’t mean that Quadir and Jarrell are cool letting their best friend Steph’s music lie forgotten under his bed after he’s murdered—not when his rhymes could turn any Bed Stuy corner into a party.

With the help of Steph’s younger sister Jasmine, they come up with a plan to promote Steph’s music under a new rap name: the Architect. Soon, everyone wants a piece of him. When his demo catches the attention of a hotheaded music label rep, the trio must prove Steph’s talent from beyond the grave.

As the pressure of keeping their secret grows, Quadir, Jarrell, and Jasmine are forced to confront the truth about what happened to Steph. Only, each has something to hide. And with everything riding on Steph’s fame, they need to decide what they stand for or lose all that they’ve worked so hard to hold on to—including each other.