Let Me Hear a Rhyme

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.