I Should Have Never Joined a Gang: A Rap-Along Storybook

I Should Have Never Joined a Gang is a children's book for at-risk youth. It tells the story of a young kid who is peer pressured into joining the local gang in his neighborhood, although his sagacious mother ardently warned him not to do so. The main character finds himself in a world of trouble due to his affiliation with his new "homies." In the end, he eventually realizes that his mother was right and that furthering his education is much more beneficial than gang-banging. The unique thing about this book is that it is written in the form of a rap and can be read along with the audio rap version that the author, who is a seasoned rapper, produced himself. Thus, children are taught lessons about peer pressure, decision-making, and the ramifications of associations in a language that they are very familiar with: hip-hop.