B-Boy Blues: A Seriously Sexy, Fiercely Funny, Black-on-Black Love Story

by James Earl Hardy

1994. Years before "homo thug" and "down low" became infamous catchphrases, Omar Little put the "G" in Gangsta on HBO's The Wire , and Lil Nas X became a global pop star ... there was B-BOY BLUES . Revisit or experience for the first time the story that ushered in the Africentric gay fiction genre, and put Black-on-Black male love on both the map and the bestseller lists! Mitchell Crawford always wished, hoped, and dreamed for a RUFFNECK — a hip-hop-lovin', street-struttin', cool posin', crazy crotch-grabbin' brotha. And he finally finds one in Raheim Rivers, who is a vision of six feet tall and 215 pounds of mocha-chocolate muscle. Mitchell knows Raheim will take him for a walk on the wild side. But he doesn't count on getting behind Raheim's mask — and finding someone he can love. Praise for B-Boy Blues : "Hardy has successfully crafted the first gay hip hop love story. It sexily sizzles off the page." - E. Lynn Harris "Not since Terry McMillan's Disappearing Acts has it felt so good to be loved so bad. A-." - Entertainment Weekly "Hardy proves that Black love is just as dizzying and gratifying when boy meets boy." - Vibe "A masterpiece of both Black and gay literature." - Booklist Cover Alyxandria Fabrega @artbyalyx Cover Timothy Richardson & Thomas Mackie aka Mitchell & Raheim from @bboybluesthefilm (currently streaming on @betplus) Cover Tony Dobson @hallsongraphics

302 pages, Paperback

Published December 21, 2022

About the author

James Earl Hardy is the author B-Boy Blues, which has been praised as the first gay hip hop love story. The novel was a 1995 Lambda Literary Award (Lammy) finalist for Best LGBT/Small Press Title and was prominently featured in Spike Lee's Get on the Bus. The book is required reading in contemporary African American fiction courses and gay & lesbian studies programs at colleges and universities across the globe.

Hardy has also written a stage adaptation of B-Boy Blues, which sold out when it debuted Off-Broadway, as well as a one-man show Confessions of a Homo Thug Porn Star (which is based on the life of adult film actor Tiger Tyson).

An honors graduate of Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, Mr. Hardy is also an entertainment feature writer and cultural critic whose byline has been appeared in many national magazines and newspapers. His work has earned him numerous grants and awards.