In this standalone novel, 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 is still alive.

Biggie Smalls was right. Things done changed. But that doesn’t mean that Quadir and Jarrell are okay letting their best friend Steph’s tracks lie forgotten in his bedroom after he’s killed—not when his beats could turn any Bed-Stuy corner into a celebration, not after years of having each other’s backs.

Enlisting the help of Steph’s younger sister, Jasmine, Quadir and Jarrell come up with a plan to promote Steph’s music under a new rap name: The Architect. Soon, everyone in Brooklyn is dancing to Steph’s voice. But then his mixtape catches the attention of a hotheaded music rep and—with just hours on the clock—the trio must race to prove Steph’s talent from beyond the grave.

Now, as the pressure—and danger—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, together they need to decide what they stand for before they lose everything they’ve worked so hard to hold on to—including each other.

Reader Reviews

Emma Giordano

(4/5)

200

Nov 23, 2024

4.5 Stars! Review to come.

C.G. Drews

(5/5)

I am just going to sit here and sHOUT that this book is masterful brilliance. It's left me in awe with just the skill of the storytelling. You know when you read a book and it's just plotted so tightly, the puzzle-pieces fit together with satisfying snaps at the end, and the characters feel so real you're shocked at the last page that you don't get to spend more time with your new best friends?!??! Me. This book. Us together. 🥺And, as a writer myself, I constantly read to glean craft tips and I

J. Greene

Love! Love! Love!The young adult genre has not yet seen a novel the likes of Let Me Hear A Rhyme, and whoever signed on for this title knew what they’re doing.Let Me Hear A Rhyme brought forth memories long since buried. It felt like someone ripped these pages right out of my childhood. Jackson knows, and she gets it.If LMHAR, were out when I was a teenager, I would have devoured it, in the same manner, I devoured my fifty cent snack: a bag of chips and a quarter juice.LMHAR is what Urban Fictio...

Tiffany Jackson

139

I mean...it was okay. 😏

Ellen Gail

Okay I know Monday's Not Coming has just barely hit the shelves. But I'm already ready for this one anyway. More Tiffany D. Jackson!GIMME!

Celia

HOW DARE THIS BOOK COME INTO MY HOME. How dare it put me through a torrent of feelings. In the place where I sleep. Where I watch Netflix and eat jalapeno Cheetos. Thank you Edelweiss and publisher for the honor of reviewing this title ahead of its release date. This is the first book I’ve read by the author, but believe me, I’m scooping up her other titles shortly. This book follows three friends who, after the murder of their friend, set out to 1.find out who killed him and 2. Show the world h...

Katie Hanna

Well, that was a surprise.The only other book I'd ever heard of by Tiffany D. Jackson is Allegedly, a (I THINK?) crime/trial/general suspense thriller, and that never sounded like my cup of tea. But I saw Let Me Hear a Rhyme on the YA shelf at our public library recently, and, drawn by the vibrantly colorful cover, I decided to give it a try. Best. reading. decision. of. the. year. Because this book is a GEM, folks. Basically, Let Me Hear a Rhyme follows three teenagers in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Ne...

Katie.dorny

(3/5)

This just reminded me of on the come up and I couldn’t help myself but choose my favourite child in this battle.I loved both, but this felt lacking compared to that and I couldn’t help but do so with all the plot similarities.The characters are well developed and the dialogue is witty and fast paced; as is the plot.There were startling differences with our main artist here being deceased, but it felt like death and grief were pushed aside for some humour and light hearted romance and that didn’t...

R.F. Gammon

*sighs* SOOOOOOOOOI actually really like thisThe writing style? Fantastic. The characters? Compelling. The plot line? Amazing. I think I'm definitely GOING to finish it.However...for right now, I'm DNFing, simply because I've been reading SO MUCH contemporary lately and I am in DESPERATE need of a fantasy kick xD Basically? I can't give this book the attention it deserves right now. Which makes me sad, because it deserves all the attention. Hopefully I'll be trying it again, soon.

Maddie (Inking & Thinking)

⭐️ 4 Stars ⭐️ SPOILERS AHEAD!! BEWARE!One of my favourite things about this book was the storyline. It's so interesting and unlike anything, I have ever read. After the death of 16-year-old Steph, His sister and best friends decide to share his music with the world and they pretend Steph is alive. They end up going super far with this by signing Steph up for a record deal, getting his previously recorded music remixed, going to appearances with other famous producers and singers and selling his

Claude's Bookzone

A brilliant book about three teenagers commitment to realising the unfulfilled music career of Steph, their friend and brother. Steph was shot and killed in his own neighbourhood. Using some of the music he recorded before his death they pretend he is alive in order to secure a record deal. The message in the book was incredibly poignant. Steph lived. He was someone. He had incredible potential and because of a violent crime he was robbed of the opportunity to follow his passion, and in turn, th...

Stella❤️ 孔凡星

I applaud the author for being able to write realistic characters with complex flaws and desires 👏🏻

Tabrizia

(2/5)

It wasn't bad. This was more of a trip down memory lane for me, growing in the '90s and through the rise of hip hop. The book managed the culture of gun violence, paranoia of the police, snitching, financial strain...the background of this book I felt really capture the true atmosphere of the 1990s.However, this book wasn't what I expected and not in a good way. While reading it, I felt that it was lacking the emotion and the connection you should feel with the characters. I don't know if it was...

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Let Me Hear a Rhyme

Let Me Hear a Rhyme

Let Me Hear a Rhyme

More books from Tiffany D. Jackson

Monday's Not Coming

Allegedly

Blackout

White Smoke

His Hideous Heart

Santa in the City

Whiteout

Reader Reviews