Let Me Hear a Rhyme

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2019

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-10

Chapters 11-20

Chapters 21-30

Chapters 31-41

Chapters 42-55

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Themes

The Complexity of Grief

Let Me Hear a Rhyme explores the murder of Steph, a 16-year-old aspiring rapper who believes in honesty and justice and is narrated by his sister and two best friends, illustrating the complexities of grief. As Jasmine, Jarrell, and Quadir mourn Steph’s murder and learn to grieve, they highlight the methods in which they cope. Quadir utilizes humor in a false headline, announcing, “Slain Teen Leaves Friends Mad Confused” (48). He also underscores the significance of losing someone so young, reflecting, “Folks die every day. But it’s not every day you lose your main man” (2). Jarrell is just as disturbed by Steph’s murder as Quadir, and he confronts his own biases about their neighborhood’s code of conduct in the process. Steph rallied against the intimidation and manipulation that kept many crimes from being solved as community members were afraid of snitching. These complexities present character growth opportunities for the boys, as they become quickly attuned to the injustices around them in Steph’s absence. Steph’s own murder feels unfair to them, and his funeral reception doesn’t provide an outlet for them to mourn, either. Jasmine embodies this struggle to grieve as she isolates herself in Steph’s bedroom while those in attendance gossip, eat, and monitor’s Steph’s family members for signs of distress.

Since traditional settings for mourning their brother and friend do not make them feel comfortable, Jasmine, Jarrell, and Quadir turn to Steph’s music as a release for their grief. Simultaneously painful and healing for them, they become inspired to share Steph’s music with others outside of their group. It’s difficult for them to listen to Steph’s voice knowing that he’s gone and can’t record any new songs. However, it’s also comforting for them to see others gleaming joy from Steph’s music and know that Steph has been immortalized through his music.

The complexities of grief are also emphasized as Steph’s friends and loved ones bond with one another over their grief in one moment, and cause conflict between themselves in the next. For example, Jasmine’s mom is initially furious when she finds out the kids have been selling Steph’s CDs and making money off Steph, because it seems like they’re abusing his memory. However, after explaining their intentions to keep Steph’s dream alive even though his life was cut short, Jasmine’s mom accepts this idea. In addition, Jasmine becomes closer to Quadir and Jarrell after Steph’s death, in part because they were close to Steph, helping each other grieve in his absence.

Grief has a compounding effect for characters who have lost multiple loved ones. When Biggie dies, Steph feels the pain of his father’s death anew: “He was familiar with the shape mourning leaves you in: bent, broken, shattered, grasping at anything that would make you feel whole again. Music healed Steph after his father died. Biggie healed Steph. Now, they’re both gone” (22). When Steph dies, Jasmine feels their father’s death anew as well. Each experience of grief draws upon previous experiences, and becomes entangled with them.

Jasmine, Jarrell, and Quadir work through their grief by also investigating Steph’s murder in an attempt to learn who murdered him. Without knowing why or how he died, or who killed him, it’s difficult for them to find closure or to move forward. They accept that Steph’s murder wasn’t their fault, and that Steph wasn’t keeping secrets from them. This doesn’t mean they’re no longer sad about his death, but they can at least begin to heal while not blaming themselves for his death or worrying that he wasn’t who they thought he was.

The Power of Music

Let Me Hear a Rhyme explores the power of music, which can transcend even death. In order to emphasize this theme, the author repeatedly references Biggie and Tupac, two famous rappers who were murdered before Steph was, but whose music remains incredibly meaningful and healing for communities. Their music lives on, giving people hope, joy, and intellectual stimulation. Likewise, Steph’s sister and friends endeavor to keep Steph’s ideas and dream alive beyond his death. Steph foreshadows his passing, wishing through his rap, “I’ll disappear into thin air / Maybe then I’ll be a legend / When you hear me everywhere!” (376). Although Steph is no longer alive, his music still holds power.

Throughout the text, the narrators often note which songs are playing in which locations, and how these songs influence individual and collective moods, demonstrating how music can be powerful in myriad ways. For example, while listening to Lauryn Hill, Quadir and Jasmine first realize their romantic feelings for each other because the song opens both of them up emotionally. At E. Rocque’s party, the DJ plays Steph’s songs, which have the power to transform the atmosphere. After a Brooklyn crowd watches Biggie’s funeral procession, they feel collectively sad, until someone plays Biggie’s music, transforming the event into a celebration of Biggie’s life rather than a mourning circle. These examples illustrate how music can impact people’s moods and grant them deeper access to their own emotions.

Steph’s music immortalizes him, but it also spreads important messages and makes listeners rethink their preconceived notions about morality. For example, Steph speaks out against the “snitches get stitches” (301) rule, pointing out that withholding the truth can lead to further danger and isolation. This idea catches on with listeners; as a kid at school says, “That line about snitching…I can’t even front, son has a point. ‘If you keep being quiet, you only a chain on the neck of violence with your silence.’ Yo, he talking about being an accessory to murder, son” (295). Steph chose to use his music not just to make people want to dance, but also to name murderers and to call out the immoral behavior of those who keep quiet about murders. This is not lost on his audience, but actually catches on: Several characters change their minds about keeping quiet, thanks in large part to Steph’s ideas and how he fashions them into catchy verses.

The Limits of Legal and Extralegal Justice

The limits of the criminal justice system are clear in Let Me Hear a Rhyme. Although law enforcement is allegedly meant to serve and protect civilians, they’re repeatedly shown assaulting innocent people. Even when the police come looking for Steph so he can identify Rashad’s killer, Bumpy, they assault Jarrell, Quadir, and Dante instead of just asking them if they’ve seen Steph. They also pepper spray the crowds after Biggie’s funeral procession just because they’re dancing. Furthermore, they fail to investigate or solve Steph’s murder on their own—they don’t even know he’s dead until Jarrell, Quadir, and Dante tell them in person. The failures of the criminal justice system are no surprise to the novel’s characters; most of them have been taught not to trust police. However, the criminal justice system proves to be more useful when it works together with the community rather than operating as an entity that is separate from those it’s meant to protect.

In part because the novel’s characters understand the criminal justice system’s flaws so deeply, there is a strict no snitching rule practiced by nearly everyone in their community, which is meant to be part of extralegal justice, justice that is sought outside of the law enforcement system. It’s commonly said that “snitches get stitches” (301), implying that if anyone becomes a police informant, they’ll be murdered. Steph’s father was murdered, presumably for this reason, and Steph is as well. Most characters are reluctant to speak to police because, as Kaven says, “Some codes you just don’t break” (352). However, Steph’s music calls into question whether this is really a productive policy. Although the criminal justice system is far from perfect, this doesn’t make it right to pretend not to know anything about murders. This policy prevents families and friends of lost loved ones from obtaining closure, and it allows crime to continue. Sergeant Vasquez argues that snitching is really “being a responsible citizen” (357) because sharing information about past murders can help mourners heal and prevent future murders. Likewise, Steph argues, “If you keep being quiet, you only a chain on the neck of violence with your silence” (295). Not only does withholding information prevent murders from being solved, but it also supports the murderer rather than the victim or their loved ones.

Ultimately, neither the criminal justice system nor Steph’s community can solve his murder on their own. Only with their powers combined can they achieve this goal. This shows that, although both systems have their limits, they also both have their strengths, and by working together, they become even stronger and more capable. This sheds new light on police informants like Steph and his father, who are not part of just one system, but both. They both died due to other peoples’ reluctance to cooperate with the other system, mirroring the conflict between east coast and west coast rappers discussed in the book. Under the guise of loyalty toward one community, the other community loses members to senseless violence. The novel illustrates how perceived enemies can help others through teamwork and communication.