Gutter

Gangsta #2

by K'wan

The explosive sequel to GANGSTA has finally arrived!

Blood answers for blood on the streets of Harlem. It's been months since Lou-loc was brutally murdered on his way to freedom and the pain is still fresh. Gutter, Lou-loc's best friend, finds himself on a path to self destruction, vowing to eradicate the entire Blood faction in New York City in the name of his fallen comrade. Sharell urges him to abandon the suicide mission, but his oath won't allow it. Not even for the child they are expecting. But as Gutter slips further into madness, a shocking revelation brings Satin out. In the middle of all this is a man named Major Blood. He has been flown in from Cali with two very simple instructions. Shut down Harlem Crip, and execute El Diablo's murderer. Walk back into the mouth of madness in the not-to-missed sequel to GANGSTA.

Genres: Urban, Audiobook, African American

416 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2008

About the author

In 2002 K'wan hit the scene with his debut novel Gangsta, under Triple Crown Publications. It was the first novel released by the budding house and would eventually become the building block for what is now a multimillion dollar company. What started as a therapeutic release went on to become a part of urban-lit history and an Essence bestseller, as well as drawing rave reviews overseas.
After penning his second novel, Road Dawgz (2003), K'wan drew the attention of St. Martins press. The literary powerhouse quickly signed K'wan to a multi-book deal, the first of which being Street Dreams (2004). In 2008 he received the Black Author of the year award from Black Press Radio for the novella Blow.
Since his insertion into the publishing world K'wan has been featured in Vibe, Pages, King, Felon, Big News, The Library Journal, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Press, Clutch and most notably Time Magazine, to name a few. He was also interviewed by MTV News for a feature on Hip-Hop fiction, and a guest on Power 105s morning show as well as NPR (national public radio). In addition to being an accomplished author, K'wan is also a motivational speaker, mentor to at risk children and the C.E.O of Black Dawn, Inc.
K'wan currently resides in New Jersey where he is working on his next novel.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/kwan

Reviews

[☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ ѕℓιм ☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A couple of spoilers!!!!

This book was so good I really wanted Gutter to live, but I already knew he was going to die. And I was sad when C-Style and Hollywood died. Smh at least they weren't traders like Pop-top punk self-was. He wasn't even a real G. tbh he was a pμμГ I knew he was up to no good. I was like something about him. Like how you went side with the enemy. I was so glad his ugly self-died. At least the others died for the set except Pop-top.


I was weak listening to this book on audible. Because when Lol Gun killed Major BLOOD ! he said this is for my daddy biotch lmao.


A good book I have this book both on audible and paperback. But since I'm in college I could barely read the book so glad I tried out audible and had it a try. I use to hate audio books.

[Byron Washington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

A good story marred by being too long. The editors should've cut about 100 pages from this book so that it could've been tighter and more focused. There were too many characters, too many chapters, too much meandering and waaay too much killing, and btw, I LOVE mayhem!!! It just seemed to overwhelm everything. Gratuitous violence ruins the story for me. Make it bloody and gory, BUT GIVE IT SUBSTANCE AND SOME RATIONALE!!! Gang violence is horrid, I get that, but I don't need 50 murders for that fact to be reinforced and accepted by me!!!😄😄😄

This was a sequel, so I was gonna read it no matter what. I always endeavor to finish everything that I start. That being said, I'm not really disappointed, but I also felt as if this book wasn't necessary. ALL of this story could've been, should've been, encompassed in one book, IMHO. Some may not agree, and I can respect that. That's the beauty of opinions.😁😁😁

With caveats, buy it, read it and enjoy!!👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this book. Once I got in it it had my attention. I went back and forth between a 3 and a 4 and settled on 3. So the book is about Gutter. He’s on a rampage killing Bloods in NY because of how Lou Loc was killed in Gangster. While that’s going on he finds out his uncle was killed in Cali by bloods. So while he’s in the middle of a war in NY, he flies to Cali and is in the war with the bloods over his uncles death. The person who was responsible is in NY wreaking havoc. Turns out Gutters Uncle was the Crip who killed Major Blood mom when he was 5. And after that he goes to NY because the bloods (the are really an organization) called him to the east coast to handle Gutter because he’s out of control. The war is causing a ridiculous amount of deaths on both sides, but it’s also drawing the attention of the police so it’s stopping peoples money. In the end Gutter is realizing he’s getting older and he’s going to be a dad and might want to enjoy the rest of his days with his family. Of course he gets killed the minute he chooses this and never meets his daughter.

That’s not a review, it’s a summary. I had thoughts and can’t recall them now 🤦🏽‍♀️. I’ll come back when I remember what I wanted to say.

[Rise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gutter

Great story. I've read several books by this author and I love his writing style. With a few minor error this book was still good.

[Dione Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much death...So much loss .these stories rarely have a happy ending..Just a repetitive cycle..

[Sistar Tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The OG is back better beware!!!

Kwan has done the damn thing!!!!!. I read Gangsta right before I read Gutter as so much time had passed since the release of Gangsta. Kwan has come with the gritty and I truly know more about “gang banging” then I EVER wanted to know.

It’s the year 2021 and we’re taking a walk thru memory lane with the OG’s seeds Kenyatta aka Dollar and Louis aka Baby Loc. Dollar goes on her own fishing expedition into her and her best friend’s father past. What she learns will shock all of us. Dollar takes us back into Harlem where the beast in Gutter was unleashed after the death of Lou Loc. Everyone on the wrong color barrier will pay for taking his best friend away. Kwan brings back some of the characters from Gangsta back. Satin, Snake Eyes, Sharell, Pop Top even Jesus makes a guest appearance. Kwan brings us up to speed on what has been popping with them. Kwan introduces us to a host of new characters. This story is so entertaining I did not want to put it down. Kwan has a way with words like no other. This excellent author has a way of drawing the reader into the story. Just like its predecessor this sure to be a hood classic.

This is my fifth book of Kwan’s that I have read and he just keeps getting better and better. I am a fan for life. I eagerly await his next novel and if you read Gutter you also know what it is. Mums the word on my account you gotta cop this book to find that answer out.


SiStar Tea
ARC Book Club Inc.
5 star rating

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

[Demetrius · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Give him my love.” Satin kissed Gutter’s hand, which was getting cold. Lou-Loc was slumped low in the driver’s seat, wearing a white Los Angeles Dodgers cap. He peered out from behind his sunglasses and smiled at Gutter. No words were needed to convey the message. The madness had finally ended and no one else could hurt him. He was free.”

Gutter went out like a real one! I would love to know what happened to Lil Gunn and Danny- Boy.

Also, shoutout to Snake Eyes for being a true homie to the end!

Also, shoutout to Sharell for holding down Gutter till the end !

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Carol Hornsby-mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Power means nothing, when all you've caught for is lost in the end. I was hoping for a happy ending, but you get it like you live it. Sorry but, that's life. So much bloodshed, young and old. One wrong deed leads to another then another. The question is when, and does it ever end? Read the book to find out all the little juicy pieces.

[Briana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dang Gutter. I had so much hope but we lost another soldier. I respect Gutter but the streets had too strong of a hold on him. Did he even make it to 25? K’wan has a way of making me fall in love with almost every character he writes about. I also love that I always learn something new. I want to learn more about Cross and his back story.

[Nikole Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I knew Gutter was gonna die it was so disappointing when it actually happened. Just like Lou Loc he made it up until the very, end! It was also sad that C-style, Rob, Hi Side, China and Hollywood died. But I was so glad Pop Tarts snake ass got his in the end as well.

[Carrie Campbell-jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Heart is Full…. This was such a great, edge of your seat story. I couldn’t help but break into tears 😭 at the end. Beautiful story but I’m a little fearful for the safety of the kids and their families when/if the story gets out. Great story K’wan! The emotions are all raw and real!

[Caletha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very exciting look into a lifestyle I never known. It is so sad that there are people that really live This life. K'wan did a great job pulling me in and caring about some characters. I can't wait to continue through the streets.

[S. Reid]

GUTTER & LOU-LOC TOGETHER AGAIN IN THE AFTERLIFE. HOW I SAW THEM ALL ALONG AFTER LISTENING TO BOOKS 1 & 2 ON AUDIBLE.
WASN'T A FAN OF EITHER CHARACTER IN EITHER STORY. JUST GAVE IT A CHANCE BECAUSE OF K'WAN AUTHORING THEM.

[Iambrown Skinned · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personally I liked gangsta better

[Jennah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. Loved the ending.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it

[Andrial Durant · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know. It was very confusing to read and distinguish between the gangs. The first book was about Louloc , Gutter and this time I’m not sure what was happening.

[H. Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Gangsta sequel. I really loved the prologue and epilogue. Bravo Brotha K'wan for hitting us with this one.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gutter

This book was so good I did not want to put it down!!! Life was something else for Gutter, I want to know what will happen next.

[Debb Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gutter stole my whole heart and that’s on Harlem 💙💙💙

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg best book k'wan has written yet! The ending actually made me cry! I'm still confused on what cross is if anyone can clear that up? But yeah these two books were great!!!

[Joy McGuire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uncle K'wan Never Seems To Amaze Me, When You Think You Have It Already Figured Out, Then He Goes And Turns The Script All The Way Around On Us.....Great Read💯🚫💯

[Ericka Packer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Such a great listen

[Joelette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable sequel to Gangsta.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this book is really a 3.5 but had to deduct for a couple of reasons on readability and cohesion--So yea what up yo tee hee, was just wrapped up in a killer thug life and cant stop bucking my chest out and talking hard like them as for it was exciting and fastpaced I am just a wannabe though definitely not about this life LOL okay so just finished K’Wan’s sequel to his first novel Gangsta and had to pause, thank the Lord for my life and staying out the streets and put down what I thought,but whoa there was so much going on-whew. Okay so as far as a sequel goes this one was way better than the first novel but cant be read as a standalone because of all the characters and storylines that pop back up in this book. The first hood classic Gangsta was written in 2000 and then this one in 2008 and the writer’s growth is evident and refreshing though the book is still shamefully plagued with grammatical and spelling errors (I cringed at the use of homeys instead of homies, poppy instead of papi and other little things) and seriously wish these urban literature books had a stronger editorial voice as the story gets convoluted and confusing at times with all the new names and backstories, the gunplay action scenes, the oh-wait-I-forgot-to –tell-you about moments when old beefs and war stories are brought up in the middle of the scenes and the sense of being told about things rather then shown, for instance every character they introduced was crazier and more killer than the last, there was just too much macho gangsta street cred in each person and description that it got to be like; ahem pardon the pun and if you read the book you will understand my meaning but seriously a lot of this book was overkill. Yea about that death count-ei yi yi if you thought Game of Thrones was bloody this book begs to differ, ---everybody dies, people you just meet die, people you hear about die, people you like and rode through two books with die and while there are some surprises I can’t divulge it is just heart tugging to read about all the bodies in the street and though its fiction, is it really? Are there really these crazy blood thirsty maniacal vacant killing machines running the street taking orders and taking lives without thought or care—ooh shudder lets hope its far away from me and mines. However I do love reading about it, reliving it through the safe pages of a book in my secure home and this book did not disappoint though I rarely say this but I kinda thought the book should have been broken up into parts and released separately, for four hundred pages you go through it with these guys and girls and it just becomes excessive and unrealistic to remember all the names and places-I had to double backwards a couple times as names and stories escaped my mind and if the editing and presentation were more concise I wouldn’t have had to do that and waste my precious reading time LOL, this story wavers from New York to Cali from character to character in a cool movie-visual kind of way but as a reader these choppy cuts got in the way and made especially the last two hundred pages very jumpy and messy..despite all I trashtalk though I did enjoy this read, I did appreciate the realness or the well crafted fakeness of the gang life portrayed here and would read more by this author, recommended friends but only after you read the first one preferably right after the other as K’Wan will remind you of obscure moments that have big deadly consequences all through the book as Karma catches up to everyone and what goes around you gangstas..always comes back around. It was cool to watch generations come up and your characters evolve so I do hope he does another one and takes my advice on a good editor this time because this author has a hell of a story to tell and presented right it will make you think and reflect ..ah young Black America lets wake up..:)

[OOSA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legacies

GUTTER is the long awaited sequel to K'wan's very first novel. To say that it's colossal would be like saying water is wet. Captivated by the excessive hunger, readers are instantly caught up in a vicious war. And while you may know that it's wrong, you feel yourself shift as you've instantly chosen a side. Your heart is beating in your ears as the first bullet is chambered. Afflicted with guilt, terrorized and terrified, but at the first sight of blood, you're unable to turn away. Like a leech, you read on, thirsting and needing more.

GUTTER begins with best friends Kenyatta, aka Dollar, and Louis, aka Baby Loc, talking about what Dollar has done to ruffle feathers. Dollar decides that the only way to make sense about what is going on is to start from the beginning...

Lou-Loc is dead and as a result of it, Gutter is laying everything red down! Sharell is pregnant and fearful that her man won't survive, and poor Satin is grieving while being held prisoner by her own mind. Remarkably enough, while obviously so much time has elapsed, you're still able to recall each scene like it was just yesterday.

K'wan is truly an exceptional author. Admittedly, I felt guilty each time I turned the page. But like a soldier caught in the mist, I welcomed each challenge. I can earnestly say that GUTTER has awakened my thirst for the grittiness and heartache associated with the hood. While this dosage was enough to hold me off, I am looking forward to another hit and soon. GUTTER is truly an engaging urban tragedy that shines light on what it is to truly be a product of one's environment.

Reviewed by: Crystal

[Blow Pop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content warnings: Lots of violence, murder, blood and gore, attempted rape, drug use, alcohol use

One thing that always amuses me is when K'wan name drops his own books in his books. It's not a bad thing by far. Just highly amusing to me. Probably because I can't think of any other author who does that and it's a unique thing.

This was a nice follow up to >Gangsta. I like that in the end justice was served. And I still want to know what the hell is Cross? Other than an assassin.

Satin winding up in a mental institution was pretty expected by me but her coming out of being in her own mind was definitely surprising to me. Especially her being pregnant. I mean I had a feeling it would happen when I read Gangsta but no one noticing or doing a pregnancy test was slightly surprising but mostly unsurprising especially given the treatment that a lot of people get in mental institutions.

My heart definitely goes out to the pain of being a single mother and not having someone else to help raise your offspring even though I've never personally been in that position. I've seen others go through it. Multiple friends. Helped a lot of them through it too. Hard on the kids and the adults involved. And the foster care system is even worse. I've known people who've gone through it and I have nothing but sympathy for a lot of them.

Overall, a good book. Definitely read after Gangsta and not before.

[Ms.Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keepin' It Gutter

With his physical wounds healed but still recuperating from his emotional wounds, the loss of his friend Lou-Loc, Gutter must continue to lead the Harlem Crips. But when a family emergency calls him back to California, all hell breaks loose.

It's been more than a minute since I'd read anything by Kwan. I'm glad I decided to give GUTTER a chance. Kwan's writing style is gritty, volatile and gripping as Gutter struggles with his inner beast. Defined by death, blood and violence, GUTTER will pin you to your seat.

[LaTonya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought that this book was just okay. For some reason I just didn't enjoy reading it as much I have other books by K'wan. It took me a while to finish reading it because I just never was really able to get into it. At one point I was just reading it to get finished with it because once I start a book I can't stand not to finish it. I felt that there were just so many characters to try to keep up with and it just seemed really long and drawn out. I still love K'wan, but this book just didn't do anything for me like some of his other books have.