Straight Up Rapping takes no prisoners as one of the world’s biggest spitters rises up on the Rap Game Scene! Handsome, fierce, and pure fire, Rapper, Dirty Ryse grew up in the East Oakland ghetto where rising above takes some work? Somehow the most difficult elements of his “Hood” environment was the great rapper's motivation for his eventual global domination of a tough street game. Dirty’s father denied him the night he slit his son’s throat in a house fight over whether or not he was his son. This was a move that changed Dirty Ryse forever when he heard his dad call his mom a DAB. In one of the smartest moves of his life, Dirty creates a rap, “Dirty Ass Bitch” as his motivation to get out of his awful condition. When the song becomes a stratospheric hit here and abroad, Dirty, a “A” student, challenges his abusive father, rejecting the idea that rapping won't get him out of the ghetto. Before Sony came-a-calling the world knew Dirty stood the means of claiming the rapping throne over some of the largest figures in the game. The rapper's meteoric rise to the top made Dirty Ryse an overnight superstar; but the past, that one painful incident of his youth; kept coming back to haunt him until one day the consequences of Dirty’s childhood ignorance stood to bring down his empire along with all those around him. When Dirtys father finally gleaned Dirty Ryse is his biological son, will Sal Ryse be able to make it up to his son by catching the vengeful agoraphobic killer that’s after his son? Or will it be too late? Carol Denise Mitchell’s soaring novel, Straight up Rapping reminds all that there can be bitter consequences resulting from the pure innocence of youth! Review 5/16/2024 Readers Favorite: Straight Up Rapping Reviewed by Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers' Favorite In Straight Up Rapping by Carol Denise Mitchell, Daryle "Dirty" Ryse and Raymond Richard "Clean" Washington have been friends since they were youngsters. Even though they know they're destined for fame, the two adolescents involve themselves in a criminal act just before their high school graduation. Dirty tries to make restitution to the woman he and Clean robbed, but her agoraphobic son holds a grudge against the boys who assaulted his mother. Dirty and Clean live the rapper lifestyle, giving their families the money they always needed. Even though they don't have to dodge bullets flying through their homes or make homemade fries to survive, they still have to worry about the vengeful man who is determined to settle the score for the night they robbed his mother. Carol Denise Mitchell tempts her audience with the allure of the rapper's lifestyle. She spins the story of two boys who climb out of less-than-desirable circumstances and make drastic strides in the world of music. Dirty gets the idea for his biggest hit after he hears a fight between his mother and father, and he sets his sights on his future. Mitchell reveals the effects of his fame and how deeply his father's abandonment affects him. She shows the raw truth, complete with all the drama and heartfelt moments. Readers will feel like they are transported to Oakland, living alongside Dirty and Clean as they try to help their families make ends meet and buy time in the studio through their crimes. The narrative conveys themes of forgiveness, redemption, acceptance, and retribution, making it a unique story. Readers who enjoy books with strong characters will like Straight Up Rapping. 5/20/2024 Readersfavorite Editorial Review Reviewed by Alicia DeBerry for Readers' Favorite Can you gain redemption if you regret mistakes you made when you were young, or will the past haunt you forever? Carol D. Mitchell addresses this question in Straight Up Rapping. Rapper Dirty and his best friend Clean grew up in a ghetto in East Oakland. Struggling to survive, as they dreamed of making it big in the music industry, they made a terrible mistake in their youth. The consequences follow them into adulthood. Dirty, a survivor of his father's abuse, used his experiences to create motivational raps with the help of Clean, his beatmaker. Now, as a featured artist with Sony and one of the highest-paid young artists elevating the rap industry, will they be able to keep everything together as old grudges resurface? Carol D. Mitchell has written an excellent coming-of-age drama that is thrilling and has fast-paced action, some romance, and so much more in Straight Up Rapping. The plot is gritty and addresses some social issues concerning poverty, domestic violence, drugs, alcohol abuse, and mental illness. The suspense was intense as I anticipated whether Botox, the vengeful son after Dirty and Clean, would succeed in his plans. I was excited and anticipated the success of Dirty and Clean's dreams coming true. Just when you think everything will be okay, the surprise ending blew my mind. I thought about the importance of making positive and wise daily decisions and that you will have to face the conse