King of the Dancehall

by Nick Cannon

From Nick Cannon comes an exhilarating coming of age and tumultuous love story of Tarzan Brixton that spans from the projects of Brooklyn to the shores of Jamaica.

After being released from a 5 year prison sentence for an armed robbery gone sideways, he makes a vow to his dying mother to change his ways. With his mother’s medical bills piling up, the temptation of the criminal life becomes too real once again. His solution is to escape the rough streets of New York for the equally ruthless beaches of Kingston, Jamaica. He soon creates a drug running empire while falling in love with a beautiful Jamaican woman named Maya. It’s through Maya that Tarzan becomes captivated by the music, dance, and lifestyle of Jamaican Dancehall culture, which ultimately lifts him towards the path of righteousness.

Genres: Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

Published July 17, 2018

About the author

Nick Cannon is a successful, multi-faceted entertainer: comedian, TV executive producer and host, film star/director, entrepreneur, philanthropist and children’s book author. He was cited by People Magazine as one of the “Top 10 Most Successful Young People in Hollywood.” He was the host of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” from 2009 through 2016. Through his highly successful multi-media company NCredible Entertainment, Cannon produces TV and film projects, including Nickelodeon’s Make It Pop (which recently got re-newed for a 2nd season), HALO Awards, and TeenNick Top 10, React To That. On the film side, Cannon made his first appearance on the big screen alongside Will Smith in Men in Black II. Other television credits include the classic feature film Drumline. He also starred as one of the lead character roles in Spike Lee’s controversial movie Chi’Raq. Noted by the New York Times as “one of the most recognizable personalities in teen media,” Cannon also actively serves as the CEO of the teen magazine Celebrity High, as well as Chairman of TeenNick, Nickelodeon’s television network aimed at the teen audience.

Nick Cannon

Reviews

[WillowRaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded up to 3.5 stars.

Overall, a decent storyline. This wasn't an "Oh my God, this was super fantastic!" however it wasn't "Oh my God, what a waste to read it" either, which, considering I was on-the-fence about even finishing the book when I was about 50 pages in, I will say that I am glad I stuck with it. The premise of the book is/was actually enjoyable, and to follow the main character's life as he faces different challenges and obstacles was interesting. My only real negative towards the book was the bouncing back and forth between the "thug" talk and the Jamaican "dialects" when characters spoke versus the .... "regular"? .... talk of the narrative part of the book. The very distinct contrast between the two were a bit jarring at times, moreso at some areas of the book than others. I understood *what* the author was trying to convey by writing it as such - just that it was a bit distracting. When I look beyond that, this short novel (209 pages) was likable and entertaining.

In closing, I'd like to say that I received this book as part of a GoodReads giveaway and while a review is requested, it is not required and I give mine voluntarily. I wish to thank both the publisher and the author for the chance to read this wonderful, inspiring book!

[Bridgett Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
I liked the story, This was my first book by the author. It's not normally a book I would read. I liked the journey Tarzan went through. I believe this would be a good movie and I look forward to seeing it. This book is for any Hip-Hop lover as you can relate to the stuff inside. And the ending will totally get you.

[Stephen Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

The greatest scene is the ending I've been waiting for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Stephen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this at all. Strong language does not make up for, and distracts from, what little story there is. The characters are cardboard cutouts.
An ARC giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

[Mehtap exotiquetv · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dieses Buch hatte ich von Nick Canon bei der Wendy Williams Show in NYC geschenkt bekommen.
Es lag schon sehr lange ungelesen im Schrank weil mir ehrlich gesagt schon das Cover nicht zusagte. Das Buch handelt von einem New Yorker namens Tarzan, der frisch aus dem Knast den ersten Ärger am Hals hat. Er flieht zu seiner Familie nach Jamaica und dort macht er kriminelle Sachen, wird festgenommen. Entdeckt nebenbei Dancehall und verliebt sich in Bishops Tochter. Sehr klischee-behaftet. Kein Tiefgang und sehr vulgäre Sprache, die aber zum Setting passt und es glaubwürdiger macht. Es ist wie ein High School Musical mit viel oberflächigem Storytelling.

Das Buch ist leider nichts für mich.

[Lyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wasn't a fan of this.
From what I know of Nick Cannon, he seems to be a pretty intelligent, clean person. I could tell that in this book... But he was also trying not to be. The mix of the slang-type words, and the attempts to convey dialects in the dialogue just didn't work well with the rest of the writing in the book, which had no problems... So I couldn't get through it. I think this would be better as a movie.
Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit disappointed, expected better in written form. The movie was good, but the raw language just doesn't translate well on the written page. Dynamic story would have read better with smoother language.

[Vnunez-Ms_luv2read · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok. It just didn't do anything for me. Maybe I expected more from Mr. Cannon. This book fell flat. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book and I'm glad. It's fast paced, based on redemption of an individual. It's an interesting perspective of a black man moving from criminal behavior to spirituality. I highly recommend it.

[Madlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dance hall story was gripping and kept my attention in every chapter of each scene, as it had depth in a plot, meaningful, practical and most of all exciting. I stayed on edge anxious to see what was going to happen next. I enjoyed this book.

[Elizabeth Lapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too shabby. I got "Friday" and "Step Up" vibes while reading.

[daeshaaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Soo, I had to read this for school and then write an essay so this is gonna be long so I can remember my points.

The story is centered around Tarzan, a newly released convict after getting caught trying to rob a store. After he served the 5 years and was released, he went back to his hometown Brooklyn, New York, where he expected to restart his life there by getting his girl and his child back. His girl moved on with his friend, Charles, turns put the daughter was the friend's too. Tarzan was pissed so he beat him up and stole his money. Charles is a big deal in the hood, so Tarzan had to run.

Tarzan claims the reason he started stealing was because his mother is sickly and needed the money to pay for her medical bills, but also to flex a little bit. His mom is of Jamaican descent and moved to New York for a change. Because of the family Tarzan has in Jamaica, he figured he'd hide there. Now this man is a felon so how he got out of the country?? His brother's passport and ID stuff.

Anyway, his cousin, Toasta, helps him out when he gets there. Toasta's life is not so great, living in the very urban parts of Kingston and he wishes to change that, get quick cash and get his music thing to pay off. We meet Peta-Gaye, Toasta's wife, and her sister, Maya. Tarzan immediately likes this girl, but she's the Bishop's daughter.

Toasta is an aspiring deejay, and he wants to show Taran the dancehall culture, so he brings him to a dance in the Jungle (witty 😒). Tarzan is captivated by the eroticism and athleticism of dancehall. It's a culture shock as men AND women dance here without worrying about being made fun of, vs in Brooklyn where the women did the work and men just stood there. Tarzan watches the whole scene, watching the dance battles and DHQ's go head-to-head. So, a different crew captivated him and guess who? Nuh Maya. BAD, BAD DHQ, mash up the place. Now Tarzan more in love, but he could not handle all dat.

Anyway, remember Toasta and Tarzan needed to make money? We're in Jamaica so obviously the answer here is DRUGS- weed to be specific. They try to link the big bad drug lord in the VIP section of that same party, Don Dadda- upper-class white man with a rich Daddy but became a drug lord because he lacked his mother's love? IDK, but he didn't want to do business with them. Tarzan and Toasta went to the roots instead by going directly to a farmer to get straight profits and not having to cut too much. Well now they had the drugs but no one to distribute it. We'll fix that soon though.

Remember Maya? Yeah, Tarzan convinces her to teach him how to handle all of that. IN CHURCH (because of the mirror but still). That's quite weird but she justifies it by saying in church or out of church, God is gonna see it anyway- fair enough, and it's JUST DANCING so it's not that deep. Tarzan learns he's not that bad at all, but he could use more practice. Maya then brings him to a famous dance crew, All Star Blazers. They take him under their wing. It went so well that they were cool with helping to distribute the drugs.

It pops off, Tarzan and Toasta at the top meant they got the highest profits and it's raking in funds; they start flipping their lifestyles slowly. Whole time Tarzan still pursuing Maya. Maya likes him too honestly; she brings him to meet her dad and he hates him because he is a Yankee, dancehall loving loser (after watching his daughter, a DHQ, coming in from a party skimpily dressed? Yeah ok). Daddy Bishop hates him, so Maya distances herself.

Tarzan and Toasta still frequents parties and stuff, Toasta now building a good rep as well as his mixtapes are selling more and more. This particular party though Tarzan caught the attention of a light skinned girl, Kaydeen. They have mad chemistry; their dance troupes ate up the routines together and shit. Maya happened to be there though, and she did not see it as just a dance, mind you this girl has been avoiding him for weeks. Kaydeen and Maya battle it out on the dancefloor, Maya lost, she ran off. Kaydeen brought Tarzan to VIP section; we find out she's Don Dadda's sister. Tarzan and Don Dadda face off again, with Kaydeen being all weird and cryptic. Tarzan leaves the 'dancehall', tries to see Maya, she nuh waa see him. So, him go home, but police ransack him and lock him up, not even read him Miranda rights. Don Dadda links just taller.

Tarzan locked up for God knows how long, it was a long time for him, police and inmates beat him every day. They tell him stories and who is his crew got branded, beaten up, who in the family going through it etc. Eventually though he got bailed out by the Bishop and Maya. Bishop only did it for Maya and tries to encourage him to change because he might have gotten away easy this time. They argued, Tarzan walked the rest of the way to Toasta's house. Maya is not far behind, and they go back to Tarzan's house together. They clean up the house together and smoke what wasn't taken by the police. Maya explains she is a virgin and is waiting for her king, and thinks the felon is her king. They do the thing, Tarzan finally ending his celibacy. They keep going at it weeks after the first time, then she tells him she wants to have his kids in a confession of love, he agrees. They did SMUT, I couldn't believe it.

Tarzan is now looking forward to his life with Maya and no longer wants to be in the drug business, so he leans on his dance crew. If they win, they will get $10M JMD. It could be the start of his family here, and also taking care of his mom's bills in NY. Kaydeen finds Tarzan practicing at the church and tries to make her move, but he tells her he loves Maya. Fuming, she spills that Maya is Don Dadda's ex. He didn't know that. He's so mad that instead of talking to this woman he claims he loves, he falls into Kaydeen and kisses her. He avoids Maya's calls like a bitch, out until 4am. Maya, Kaydeen and Tarzan clash at a party that same night when it done. Don Dadda shows up and so does the police, everybody scatter and instead of leaving with his gf, he leaves with his enemy's sister. She brings him to an old plantation in Portland (????? wtf how him never see warning signs???) and shows him around and stuff. She gives him head, it's the best thing that's ever happened to him (LOSER). Kaydeen convinces him to meet her weird ass Daddy. They pull up at a different plantation (????) this one with an all-dark-skinned staff with old maid costumes and bonnets and shit. (Remember this is a Caucasian man) An older lady, gives him the get out stare, but he ignores it. They eat the deadest, bloody, unseasoned meat and the thickest wine that has him feeling woozy while the Daddy tells the creepiest Anansi story. Eventually they leave and go back to first plantation. They begin the notions of sex again, but Tarzan still lOvEs MaYa (dpmo). He rejects Kaydeen and she was not having it. She said the man wanted to rape her and him tek weh himself.

He had to hide out his whole way back to Kingston, no one likes rapists. He sees Bishop first, he tells him about Joseph and how he evaded adversity when the King's wife lied about rape then as well. He accepts the message and says he's gonna change. Today just happened to be the night of the clash that could win him $10M JMD and his crew COULD NOT do it without him. He rides on his bike back to the Jungle for his last battle, where he felt complete peace, and everything was going to go exactly as it should go. He makes a dramatic entrance to the stage. They beat Don Dadda's posse and win the whole thing. Maya the clown, celebrates with him, understands that he would never rape anybody. Tries to leave the party with him, but he is determined not to run anymore and doesn't want her in his shit anymore.

He leaves the party, Don Dadda is right behind him. He entices him to turn around but Tarzan of the the Jungle refuses! He got shot in the back multiple times and died.

We finally get to the end where Tarzan is watching from outside the world. Maya had his child, Tarzan Jr. Toasta took off when his song in remembrance of Tarzan sold millions. He was able to move himself and family into a better area. And his brother back in NY graduated, got a good job and him and his mom are doing really well. And Tarzan was written in the dancehall history as the king of the Jungle.

A load of shit, any book that has a death at the end usually makes me cry, but he can kma. FEAR MEN. Scary ass fuckers. Overall though, I didn't hate it. Will I be rereading? No. But it's not the worst book of the year.

[BMR, LCSW · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this uncorrected proof in a Goodreads giveaway.

Corny Nick Cannon wrote a novel. It read like a Tyler Perry movie, but with more vulgar language and very explicit sex scenes. Not Zane level explicit but, nasty enough.

The protagonist Tarzan gets out of prison after a 5 yr stint and returns to his hood in NYC. He runs afoul of his ex-girlfriend's current boyfriend and has to flee to his mother's native Jamaica. There, he runs afoul of the head gangster in the area, falls in love with a local girl, gets caught up with the head gangster's sister, and has some really bad days.

This book is not clever or poignant. If you want fast and trashy fiction to read in a few hours, this is for you.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

I have NEVER believed in throwing books away. If a copy of a book is in even remotely decent repair, I will find a place to donate it or give it to a friend, even if I didn't like it myself. Having said that, I read exactly fifteen pages of this steaming pile of crap and threw it in the trash where it belongs. In that small handful of pages, I had had more than my fill of woman-hating, abusive, racist dialogue and the main character's excuses for being a scumbag. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised considering my long-standing opinion of Nick Cannon, but I wanted to give this the benefit of the doubt. I shouldn't have bothered.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through a GoodRead giveaway. This book is not a typical read for me so I was excited to read something different than my typical reads. That being said, I found the book to be an interesting read. I thought that it gave a good insight into the culture surrounding the hiphop music culture. There was a lot of information and anecdotes that were interesting but overall this was not a book for me. It is a well written book that fans of hip hop and music will enjoy.

[Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winning a free copy of Nick Cannon’s King of The Dancehall from a Goodreads contest presented a “Step Up” style of book that was exhilarating and full of culture. Though at parts, the dialect of some of the characters was a little hard to understand and a couple of parts that seemed to read in reverse order, King of the Dancehall presented an emotional ending which made the book hard to put down.

[Shannan Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was sent a copy, I wasn't sure i was going to like the story, because it's in a genre that I really don't read. It took me a little longer than normal, but the storyline was pretty good, and I also enjoyed the transformation and growth of the main character Tarzan. The ending was a total shocker. I was really not expecting it to end the way it did. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC

[Tyesha Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a Jamaican, I am pleased that Nick Cannon wanted to write about the dancehall culture and in some way, he reflected elements of the deep soul that is dancehall in Kingston. However, the voice of the main character felt immature and forced in places. Undeniably, a quick and easy read but lacks some belly.

[Sheryl Boyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Love JAMAICA!!! Nick Cannon told a great story and kept my interest throughout the whole book! I even flipped to the back half way through the book cause I couldn't wait to know how it ends!!! It's a great book and I'm really enjoying it if I do that! LOL I tried to find the movie on YouTube and Netflix cause I would really like to see it. Great job Nick!

[Mike He · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read King of the Dancehall because 1) I want to learn more about dancehall and 2) it's authored by Nick Cannon. It's a very interesting read, setting in a foreign country that I am not familiar with, and with a surprising ending.

[Christi M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was very fast-paced and entertaining. I really liked the growth of the main character as well. Even though I finished this several days ago, I still am living in Tarzan's world and keep feeling like I'm supposed to be reading the book. <3

[Hyacinth]

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

this did not work for me as a book, but I can see it would have a good following as a movie.

[Susan Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read but the gangster type stuff left me cold.

[Lynn Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very intense, action packed, and seductive book! It is a very fast read. It was also a great movie!

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

An all too common story leads to a beautiful reformation of a human. I enjoyed it and it was a quick read.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I found the ending sad and unexpected, but the story was very good.

[Nicolette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook and after the first chapter I should've stopped listening. As a Jamaican, the whole thing felt like cultural appropriation. It would've been a lot better if they had gotten actual Jamaicans to read the patios (creole) dialogue, because Nick really did not do a good job.

The story is predictable, exaggerated and just...there 🤷🏾‍♀️. I started reading / listening because I needed a light read but this might have been a little too light 🤔.

Your bookshelf can do without this one

[Kelli Santistevan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My TBR Jar chose this book for me to read this month. I won this ARC in a Goodreads Giveaway 1 year ago. This story was entertaining and full of suspense. I didn’t expect the ending at all. I liked that this book mentions Jamaica and the culture of Dancehall music and I liked watching the main character change throughout the book. I liked the cultural aspect of the story but I won’t be reading this book again.

[Key · Rating 4 out of 5]

shocking enough it was a great read.
far fetch in reference to the dancing but great storyline, plot
great ending, not a happy ending but a realistic ending
i completed quickly because it brought me in