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Spin It Like That

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Sixteen-year-old Jasmine Richardson has a love for music.When she gets on the turntables, her gift for spinning andrhyming earn her admiration and respect. She's also talentedacademically, but her parents disapprove of their daughter'shobby, hoping it's a phase she's going through. Still, Jasminefinds it hard to deny the joy and freedom she feels when she'splaying music that makes people smile and dance.

After a local contest, Jasmine attracts the interest of somemusic-industry honchos. Then the attitudes of the peoplearound her seem to change and she's forced to face sometough situations. Suddenly it becomes harder for her to tellwho's really happy for her and who's totally a fake. But whenthe music is in your heart, and your talent shines bright,sometimes all you can do is…spin it like that.

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2007

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Chandra Sparks Splond

40 books92 followers

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5 stars
140 (63%)
4 stars
38 (17%)
3 stars
30 (13%)
2 stars
7 (3%)
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4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Chandler  Connelly.
23 reviews
Read
June 6, 2009
i loved this book. it was a good and life teaching book bout listenibg and not going behind your parents back when they say no the first time
Profile Image for Tiffany Spencer.
1,977 reviews19 followers
August 26, 2018
Spin It Like That
Plot: Jazzmine Richardson (aka) DJ JAZZY J is a TRIPPLE THREAT! She can get a crowd TURNT UP on the turntables, but behind the microphone she’s Cardi B/Niki Minaj and Beyoncé. Teamed up with her brother Derrick, seriously the lady is NO JOKE! After this dynamic duo win a local competition, surprising no one they get approached by record company exec Suge, that is DC that offers them a contract. Derrick isn’t feeling it, and thinks the best thing to do is wait for the all state competition where she’ll get a deal with clean, cut, label IMAGE. However, Jazzmine’s head is turned by the large amount of dollar’s DC throws in her direction. Not even an incident at a club where she performs is enough of a red-light to sway her at this point. To make the deal even sweeter is the attention thrown at her by one of the label’s artist. And MAN does he DROWN her in it with attention, affection, and lavish gifts. Before you know they’re together. (But as we all know what comes quick can be taken away just as quickly). Everything comes to a head when an event occurs, that makes her realize it’s really not all about the money.

My Thoughts: So right off the bat I *know* this author. I don’t know her (know her). But I know her. We’re from the same city and incidentally before I even had a conversation with her I’d liked this book and the others she wrote for Kimani True. Only to find out my aunt taught her kids. I also think we had a conversation about writing. She actually autographed my copy and said “Thank you for your support! May God Bless You!” So this is another book that show’s that the dangerous influences money can have on .. well anybody. Particularly in the message industry. This book was written in 2009 (?) But think about the stories we’ve heard since then (of the biopics) of popular groups that sign contracts that the companies offer them large amounts and then it’s something else ENTIRELY. Fortunately, Jazzmine didn’t get roped into that kind of deal but as we find out it just isn’t worth it in the end. And even today I’m guessing *those* kind of stories are still out there where people sign on to record labels that have bad images and find out there’s a lot that comes with that world than just the music. And I have seen it change the artist’s whole image. So much so that sometimes it’s laughable and absurd. Like “REALLY?” Nothing about your style is gangster. It was sad that the person that didn’t want anything to do DC’s world (Derrick) was the one that suffered its consequences in the end. And you think about all the innocent lives and young adults out there that are taken day by day that street violence claims that weren’t connected with it or just caught up in because of what looked like easy money. It just leaves a heavy feeling. And I already knew that Loretta was scandalous and that T would INDEED fall for the big breasted trick trap. But what goes around comes around, and if I was Jazzmine I would have took a little bit of vindication satisfaction knowing that if this chick sleep with him to get a come up oh yeah she was gonna do it again. And the ironic thing about this is T probably fell for Loretta, cause isn’t that just the way it is? But when I read this right off the top I knew (even from personal experience) that if it seems too good to be true, and the I love you is quick, it usually is (and doesn’t last). So the message here ladies DON’T BE SWAYED if you’ve known them a hot minute. This is the BS they do! I wonder how much T was getting paid himself. What goes around comes around! But at the end I liked that this showed PROMISE. Jazzmine does indeed go to college and STILL persues her music. Now I’m not saying people aspiring to get into the music industry HAVE to go to college. That’s why I really wasn’t crazy about the mom in this. Not everyone’s path in life takes them to a formal education. Jazzmine very well *could* have gone on to record with Image (if she would have won). And I did like how it showed that you can’t just bank on one event happening as a guarantee and the need for a back up plan. But say Image would have signed her, the events would probably have gone down totally different. She possibly could have gotten her dream this way and still had her brother. So what I’m saying is that YES it is possible for you to be a success in the music industry without school. It doesn’t *have* to happen like it did in this book. Even realistically with a degree (let me tell you because I have one) that doesn’t assure that if you dot all your I’s and cross all your T’s you’ll get your dream handed to you. People can take different paths to reach the same destination it all depends. But getting an education is always good idea to fall back on in the long run, because you just never know. I also liked that this book emphasized doing things the RIGHT way. Such as T (even though he was an ass) he did tell Jazzmine to go about things the *legit* way to get her credits on the song. Because it might have been a case where they wouldn’t have given her *any* credits and down the line she would have gotten in her feelings and been hearing the song on the radio and thought hold up. Probably also though she should have had her Uncle go over the contract with her FIRST. And that I think about this how old do you have to be to have the rights to sign a record deal on your own. Jazzmine was of legal age (18). I’m thinking it would have stuck but then that’s just my head because I have no idea how old you have to be to get a record deal and be of consenting age. GREAT BOOK!

Rating: 8
Profile Image for Ayanna First of BourbonStreetBookers.
490 reviews21 followers
September 12, 2021
All money ain't good money

What a lesson Jas learned. This was my 1st read by this author & I truly enjoyed it! So many lessons and gems poured from the pages of this story. There was loss and gain, hurt and healing, but love prevailed each time. I look forward to reading more by this author.
2 reviews1 follower
December 17, 2016
Dreams do come true

I really enjoy this book thank you for writing such a great story thumbs up☺!!!!!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!!
17 reviews
October 24, 2008
If you girls out there love your music then you love this book.
this book is about a high school name jasmine and she is 16 years old in the high school.

she loves her music and her favorite thing to do is dj and she would never give up dj for anything.

but until then she met this guy that was not her age and was about 20 years old and helped her with her music company making jasmine famous.

but eveything goes down chaos and dj life is messing up her family support her all the way but she doesn't relieze it thought.
9 reviews
March 24, 2010
THIS BOOK WAS SO TOUCHING IT WAS SO HEARTWARMEING WITH HER AND HER BROTHER THEY WERE SO CLOSE THAN HE DIED AND THATS THE TAYPE OF RELATIONSHIPE I WANT WITH MY BROTHER TO HAVE A CLOSE BOND WTIH HIM U NEVER NO HE MIGHT BE CONE BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THIS CHARTER AND THIS BOOK WAN HER BROTHER DIED I MEAN I WAS SO CRYING CUS I FELT LIKE HER WAN HER BROTHER PAST I FELT LIKE THAT HAVE COULD BE ME
Profile Image for Donna Scoggins.
555 reviews
December 3, 2016
Follow Your Dreams

Even though the main character is 16 and trying to get through life, her story is for anyone who has a goal. There will be those who will support you and others who will try to tear you down. How do you know the difference?
3 reviews3 followers
March 31, 2009
This book was great! This was the first book by Chandra Sparks Taylor and it was well worth the read. I am anticipating the release of her next book.
Profile Image for Sky.
6 reviews1 follower
Read
November 21, 2009
i heared that it was real good so i wont to read it.
Profile Image for Shi'Asia.
173 reviews46 followers
March 26, 2011
This book is one of the better from the Kimani Tru Series. I loved it from start to end and even cried at the end. Very well written and a good read.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 17 reviews

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