What a great summer read...
It had drama and love and cat fights and friendship
and it's all about finding out who you really
are when you're not pretending to be someone else.
I feel for Thug, poor dude got shot (again) lived (again)
came home only to find his queen with another king...sigh...
no wonder the dude is so paranoid.
What a great story and I loved how there were little random things
that paralleled my life at the time. The song quotes at
the beginning of each chapter were the best. I was singing
U.N.I.T.Y at work when I read "Who you callin' a bitch?"
and a few others that I can't put my finger on.
I absolutely see it as a great movie and I saw it as I was reading. My question is... what is next for you? The poetry is so good and when you speak from your heart it shines so bright. I want to see more of that. Hip-hop you the love of my life...
Love,
Gillian P.
HEY
THERE,
I read your book and from the time i met Maya at the Thug concert
all up until she was back on The Hip Hop Resuscitator Show for her final performance in the book I loved it!! It was a great
novel and I would seriously expect for more books from you because this one was great very indulging and I was engulfed in
Maya's sadness about the eight words she still remembered all up until the end great book and I can't wait for more.
Did i mention i was 14?? lol Bye!
Shanita
Darnise S.
I JUST FINISHED YOUR BOOK.
The girl's got skills! I knew it was gonna be great but you redefined
what greatness is. for me. i can only imagine what puffy had to say about it. Finally(!) a book about hip-hop that
gives light to its brilliance, creativity and spirituality. There are few times when a book has such mindblowing subtext,
exotic literary references, and courageously tackles pop-culture taboos. It took me on adventure to my self and I feel like
a better person after reading it. Its bigger than Hip-Hop....My cousin angie is reading hers and I cant wait till she finishes
so we can discuss.
Anyway. Job well done and you go Goddess!
Erica P.
DARE
IS A HIP HOP BIBLE
...that was scribed by the goddess Abiola Abrams.It is about a young woman named Maya who takes destiny into her own hands as
she pursues a career as rap artist. The author depicts the drastic transformation an artist undertakes in order to excel in
the music industry. Abrams shows the visible and invisible scars that the artist carries and candidly gives
an inside scoop on areas of the Hip Hop industry that are hardly spoken of.
DARE is a book about courage, faith, deception, sexism, drugs, gun play,
suspense, banging lyrics, male and female posturing, materialism vs. the simplicity of life. DARE
has more twists than a roller coaster and has jewels for everyone. This book is banging and the trigger never gets jammed!
Shadagga P.
HI
ABIOLA,
Thank you for the autographed
copy of your fabulous debut book Dare. When I heard you wrote a book, I was taking classes which comes along with required
reading so I didn't have the time to dedicate my full attention to the book.Yet I visited you website, listen/viewed clips
of your readings and in my head tried to make time to at least attend one of your book signings. Unfortunately I was not able
to attend any and I wanted to wait to purchase the book when I know I could read it I was excited. You are griot. An
amazing story teller always with a hidden message of truth. I was shy to admit, I am a big fan of yours and all your works
over the years. You have used every medium to tell your story and may have found some hidden ones along to the way.Brava!!!
When the book arrived I read it on the train to and from work and sometimes stayed up late nights. I've almost
missed my stop numerous times and have laughed, sighed, smiled, and added other audio sounds to my otherwise mute commute.
Abiola, reading your book has been a pleasure. I plan to read it again. It was (I'm not sure I can express this exactly
how I feel but) amazing, you had me at the first word. I identify with Maya, remembered Athena, and Bobby and I'm still
trying to release Thug. You spun a tale that inspired, and entertained. One of the last books I read that took
me there was Their Eyes Are Watching Good, yet... yet your book did not trigger me to search for my Deepak Chopa or
my Eckhart Tolle. It was like reading a Paulo Coelho book great surface story, wonderful message with something to think about.
What else can I say? I am looking forward to reading the rest to come.
With great love and admiration.
AZC
I
am enjoying Dare so much and I love
how you are including references from so many different sources including The Tempest, Colored Girls, and that each chapter begins
with an epigraph/quote from various female MCs/rappers, writers. That is genious. All of the people who you qouted
from should be aware so that they can have it in their archives so show that you are paying them homage when some folks don't
even know who they are.
AJ
I ordered this book, not really knowing what to expect.
I LOVE it! I haven't finished yet, and I had to stop long enough to write this review. That's
how good the book is. I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised by the author's talent at weaving a believable tale that
is NOTHING like what's out in the mainstream media right now. I've been sick of reading the same ol' thing. You
know, girl meets boy, girl has trust issues and diva'tude,girl loses boy, girl gets boy back and life is all good again.
Well, this book has so much more meat to gnaw on
than that. My favorite character is Maya. She has some self-esteem issues and she's still trying to figure out WHO she
is, but when she finally finds herself, LOOK OUT! DARE is an urban literary treat. Don't believe me, grab a copy of this
book for yourself if you want to be convinced!
All
content copyright Abiola Abrams, 2008. Plagiarism is considered intellectual property theft and will be prosecuted to the
fullest extent of the law.
