Hello!
I am happy you are here
and am looking forward to hearing feedback from each and every one of you about
what you liked (and didn’t like about this upcoming novel) Got the Flow: The
Hip-Hop Diary of a Young Rapper. I am writing this book because I have seen
(and worked with so many educationally-disenfranchised kids that “hate school
and reading”. This book is designed to be engaging and riveting for those
students who feel like most books don’t speak to them and can’t connect to the
characters of the book.
Book synopsis:
Troy Jones is a
16-yr-old high school student with the dream of becoming a successful rapper.
Not chasing fame, Troy wants to help his mother who works three jobs to support
her family after Troy’s father was killed as a bystander in a tragic drive-by.
Having problems in school, Troy tries to get I.S.S. as often as he can so he
can work on his rap lyrics. Mrs. Hass, his science teacher hates rap &
hip-hop music and constantly gives Troy a hard time. On the other hand Troy’s
English teacher, Mr. Salas, is a beacon of hope and inspiration to the young,
aspiring rapper. Mr. Salas provides him with the tools to improve his craft of
writing hip-hop lyrics. When Troy’s best friend Jimmy moves to another school,
Troy’s opportunity to perform in rap battles arrives. Being a nobody, he has
nothing to lose and everything to gain. Along the way, he meets his idol
rapper, a love interest (Tonya), gets his music equipment stolen, and
temporarily gives up on his “crazy” dream. He knows that he does not only want
to succeed; he needs to succeed.
I hope you are as
excited as I am for the completion of this young adult novel! Please consider
sending me feedback on what you liked and didn’t like about this excerpt to authorcarlossalinas@gmail.com. As a thank-you, I will add your email to my free eBooks email
list and will happily send you a copy of the finished eBook when it is
published later this year!
“Slim Samurai” Rap Intellirap Lyrics
Lyrics:
I’m a slim samurai
comin' straight from the south
That's dope alliteration comin’ straight out my
mouth
Cali’s got the weather and they got hills
I’m just a poet... that's flexin’ my skills
Yeah I slay the rhymes, and I kill the hooks
I’m worse than the murderers in horror books
See me flowin’ with the skills of a ninja
Comin straight atcha with the heart of a soulja
Me? I'm just an educated fool
Not really interested in lookin’ cool
Never been behind bars but I been in school
You gotta use your mind, man, cuz it's the tool
So gimme a clean beat and I will kill it
So gimme a clean sheet and I will fill it
Gimme a 10-second track and you'll start to feel
it
These rhymes are my property so don't try to
steal it
I can keep it real and I can keep it clean
Cuz life ain't always nice it can be mean
But you gotta stay true and do your thing
Cuz it ain't all about gold and rings
There's more to life than what we see
But it takes an open mind and curiosity
To change the world we gotta change ourselves
It's more than just havin’ books on the shelves
Me? My name is Battle of Troy
And if you’re looking for rap wisdom then I’m yo
boy
Gimme a pen and paper and I’ll make ya think
Open your mind up more than any drug or drink
Oh, yeahhh
My ambitions are simple n
Easy to understand
To make the world better
Is my master plan
How do I plan to do this
You be askin’,
Let’s start by not puttin’ each other in a
casket
This is intellirap, somethin’ you never
heard
It’s a new, dope mix between a G and a nerd
Since when was being dumb somethin’ cool,
I’d rather be actin’ right than playin’ a fool
The biggest lie you’ll hear is that it’s good
not to know,
But that’s how they keep you from gettin’ the
dough
(end)
“A Rapper’s Prayer” Lyrics
(The main
character of the book ("Got the Flow: The Hip-Hop Diary of a Young
Rapper") 16-year-old Troy Jones is in the hospital as his mom just
survived a heart attack from overworking and stress. He is determined to become
a successful rapper to give his mom a better life. Inspired by the pain of the
his mom's hospitalization and the fear of his upcoming 3rd rap battle (he lost
his first two) he pens this rap to God. The book is due out Fall 2017. THIS
SONG IS FREE FOR DOWNLOAD on soundcloud AND FEEL FREE TO SHARE THE MP3. :)
Free excerpt and updates at www.carlossalinaswriting.com! Thanks for listening!)
Lyrics:
CHORUS
I pray to God to let my tongue keep
up with my mind
And stay true to my heart ‘n not fall
behind
I got my mom in there, lyin’ inches
from death,
If you must take somethin’, let it be
my breath
I just ask you, God, if you up there
listenin’
Help me get to that next level, grant
me discipline
I know one thing for sho Heaven’s
gotta have a ghetto
Cuz where else in death do I get to
go?
So this is it time to give it all I
got,
I gotta do it now, whether I’m afraid
or not,
Every man’s gotta face his dyin’ day
I just hope my ain’t tomorrow, so
this I pray
I'm just a street soldier livin’ with
a code of honor
Tryin’ to help my mom with stress she
feel on her
Cuz even a gangsta rapper can find
redemption
For the sins committed before
revelation
So I Thank you, God, I was saved by
your grace,
for givin’ me this gift to get my mom
out this place
So I ask watch over me as they drop
the beats
Guide my mic as I try to get up outta
these streets
It ain’t only for me but more for my
mom
Cuz I’m burnin’ inside but I gotta
stay calm
Some men are born to be good some
born to be bad
As for me I only came with just a pen
‘n’ a pad
So before I go, ‘n’ before I die,
Best believe I’m gonna bleed this pen
dry
CHORUS
I pray to God to let my tongue keep
up with my mind
And stay true to my heart ‘n not fall
behind
I got my mom in there, lyin’ inches
from death,
If you must take somethin’, let it be
my breath
In this dark world hip hop’s a ray of
light
‘n’ I’m a magnifying glass harnessin’
its might,
I know one day we all gon’ end up in
a hearse
The only thing I ask for is for one
last verse
Violence all around me walking
alongside killing
There's gotta be a way to end this n’
start the healin’
I don’t fear death, when it comes to
toll the bell,
One life’s more than enough if it’s
lived well,
So don't take her yet cuz it ain't
her time
She's gotta be ‘round to sing my baby
nursery rhymes
As the clock ticks, I grab the mic
even tighter
Who really needs sleep? I’m pullin’
an all-nighter
I got the fire inside and it burns
for hip-hop
Won’t stop til I die or I make it to
the top
So gimme a chance, gimme one more try
And I promise to change this world
before I die
CHORUS
I pray to God to let my tongue keep
up with my mind
And stay true to my heart ‘n not fall
behind
I got my mom in there, lyin’ inches
from death,
If you must take somethin’, let it be
my breath