"A true story of Love & Hip Hop." - Keandra Clay
"Such a thought-provoking story." - Jerrod Williams
"... displays a vivid image into the mind of a child, growing up without a father figure. With no proper guidance throughout his life, he resorted to the one thing that gave him comfort: Hip Hop--In following the culture, he was able to find great insight, a sense of direction, and love for self--A must-read for anyone, Hip Hop fan or not." - Shawn B, Hip Hop Journalist
"Couldn't put this one down... phenomenal read." - Ashley Thompson
"It takes a man with heart, to be able to share the highs and lows of your life, without fear of judgment. Tyler's will to do just that, may in turn prevent others from going down that same dark road. This is a book of knowledge and something that can give people hope." - Mahlik Rodgers, Poet and Life Coach
"A memoir that's sure to make you laugh, cry, and anything else in between." - Destini Banks
Live and Die for Hip Hop is the compelling story of how a teen's traumatic experiences went on to lead him down the darkest of roads, up until he was able to find salvation.
In the early days of his childhood, Tyler had it all: the newest games, toys, clothes, shoes, and just about anything else a boy could ask for. When it came to school, he was so far ahead of his peers, that at a young age, he was recommended for college programs. But for a kid--growing up in an environment such as his--those days didn't last forever.
It seemed as if the more children his mom had, life got tougher, and they slowly began to fall down the food chain. He went from always having the latest and greatest, to a storage tote, full of hand-me-downs. Combine that with the abuse, constant relocating, and neglect, and his life became everything that a boy wouldn't ask for.
The state of affairs was made no better when he was bullied at school, and judged based on what he had. That built up this inner aggression, which pushed him down the route of violence, and drug dealings, amongst other bad habits--A once happy-go-lucky kid, had turned to the dark side, due to the circumstances that life brought upon him.
Throughout this coming-of-age tale--filled with toxic relationships, betrayal, love lost, drug addictions, and much more--Tyler is eventually able to overcome it all, and find peace, all thanks to one particular outlet: Hip Hop.
