Death Before Dishonor

by 50 Cent, Nikki Turner

From hip hop kingpin and #1 New York Times bestselling author 50 Cent comes a novel that dares to tell the truth about the Life—the lovers, the haters, the guns, the money, the highs, the lows—The Street, for real .

ONE REASON TO LIVE. THREE WAYS TO DIE.

Trill Johnson has five years of jail time under his belt, two women trying to get inside his pants, and one Get the suckers who sold him out. And get ’em good.

Sunni James will do anything for Trill. Lie, cheat, steal. Even risk losing her successful beauty salon to save him from the mean streets of Richmond.

Precious Pay will do anything for Trill, too. She cribbed his kid while he did his time; now she wants Trill to pay for the leg she lost in a robbery gone wrong.

But when love is a lie, who do you trust? When the deals turn dirty, who do you betray? And when the guns start blazing, who’s going down?

Genres: Fiction, African American, Urban

194 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Also known as Curtis Jackson.

Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), known professionally as "50 Cent," is an American rapper, songwriter, television producer, actor, and entrepreneur. Known for his impact in the hip hop industry, he has been described as a "master of the nuanced art of lyrical brevity".

Born in the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, Jackson began selling drugs at age 12 during the 1980s crack epidemic. He later began pursuing a musical career and in 2000 he produced Power of the Dollar for Columbia Records, but days before the planned release he was shot and the album was never released. In 2002, after Jackson released the compilation album Guess Who's Back?, he was discovered by Eminem and signed to Shady Records, under the aegis of Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.

With the aid of Eminem and Dr. Dre (who produced his first major-label album Get Rich or Die Tryin'), Jackson became one of the world's best selling rappers and rose to prominence with East Coast hip hop grou

Reviews

[Diane (IF U'RE PRIVATE, PLEASE SKIP ME!!!) Wallace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok read! interesting storyline and characters..this is unfinish business..to be continue (paperback!)

[Lisa Litberg]

Worst. Book. Ever.

Not that I expected much. I bought it for 3.99 at Barnes and Noble, thinking it might interest my students. After reading the first line, which is too obscene to quote here, I realized that was out of the question. I don't even know why I bothered to read it, except that it was so bad it was kind of captivating. The characters are horribly stereotypical (straight out of a ghetto-rap song), the plot is ridiculous, the author contradicts herself constantly, as if she forgot what she had written about a character a page before. Misogyny and violence abound, of course. The writing is terrible--choppy, and peppered with the occasional sentence fragment. The dialogue is forced. And the similes! Again, most of them are too obscene to quote, but here's a sample of a tamer one: "She looked as big and meaty as the chicken wings." Or how about a metaphor? "...no one could figure out why she would waste $55 on a cute hairdo when she would still just be a gorilla with a cute hairdo." But the best is a little tidbit of "gangsta mathematics" written in a love note:
"(L+T) x Lty2 = DBD", which translated means (of course): "Love plus Trust, multiplied by Loyalty (to the second power) Equals...Death Before Dishonor." I don't get it, myself, but I never took gangsta mathematics in school.

You may have to read this book in order to believe how bad it really is. But you may not be able to stomach it. My advice is to not bother.

[Kristian · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow this book is something its about a man who has a crazy life in hustling and he lives the good life off of a bad job. people get suspsious that he is doing bad things to earn this money. he needs to this because he did not go to school but not all of this payed off he was at a club one day and his "girlfriend". at the club he happened to run into his girlfriend which was not a good thing because right behind her wee the cops and he knew he was gonna get messed up or arrested so he headed to the back door and got into his bense and speed away he was wasted at the time. he got pulled over and then next thing you know hes in jail he thinks about what he has done and how his job was not a good one . when he was out of jail he started a new job and became a sort of good man and his job was rapping and guess who this guy was 50 cent. he was out one day and got shot the man that shot him also took his car and ran for it the man was caught days after and arrested and charges were fined against him so he had to pay. so all this time that he was living the bad crock life he learned a little about him self.
i can connect to this book because i know that there are people in this world that are crocks and thief`s and they steal so they can earn a living and get something about there life`s then after some time they learn that they can change and maybe some people wont change maybe some people will be the same but most of them change.
i give this book a 5,because it taught me something that you need to live your life the right way and not the bad way sometimes you take a bumpy path ad other times you you do not but your life is full of ups and downs and you just need to stay calm be your self and do not do something you do not want to do. i recommend this book to people who want to read a good book and just thing a little about themselfs

[Lesa Divine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that not to many people gave this book great review but, I have to say for this to be a short book it got to the point but, left me dumbfound at the same time but, I am thinking and wondering will there be a part 2 to this book.

Ok Trill is a sticky up kid working with his crew taking from well known drug dealers that is bring in the money daily. He also has a girl by the name of Precious that has been by his side though thick and thin even after she was shot and had to get a fake leg due to her losing her leg. Precious kept his Trill son raised him as her own while Trill was doing time in jail.

Trill runs into Sunni she saved him from get locked up when the polices had a manhunt going on him. Sunni and him started developing feelings for each other after that one night they got together.

Want I like about this book is that you never would have guessed a lot of back stabbing was going on in this book.

Good read and I liked it. Nikki and 50 did a great job here. It was a quick book and it got to the point but, I am waiting for more like a part 2 to this.

[Richelle Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in the book! It was an easy read nothing special. The way they hyped the book I was expecting some grimey, gritty, nasty sh*t. The book doesnt cover the loose ends at all.I felt they should have gone a different way! There are so many unanswered questions. As soon as the book got good it was over!

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another masterpiece by Nikki Turner! I'd have given the book 5 stars but I do have a few minor problems. The first being that the beginning could have been a lot stronger and it was typical of Turners other books in that sense. The second, and only other thing that took away from the book for me is that the ending was so abrupt. This happens way more than it should with so many books, in all genres. It seems like the author just one day decides THE STORY MUST END! AT ALL COSTS! I'm not sure what that's about but hey, I'm not an author so what do I know?
Other than that- any lover of drama will read this in a few hours to a day. It has pretty much anything you could ask for and Turner is one of the best at delivering drama.
The books three main characters are Trill, a drug boss, Sunni, someone who has spent a few years locked up and is now legit, and Precious, who is Trills back stabbing main chick. Trill and Sunni meet (of course!) and a relationship obviously ensues which Precious eventually finds out about.
There were a few different parts that I wasn't expecting, that shocked me, which is always a good thing with a book like this.
I think some of the people who gave the book a low rating were going at it for the wrong reasons. This isn't, I would think quite obviously, a book for teachers to share with their students. This isn't going to be a classic one day. This is a book pretty much specifically for people who like reading DRAMA. Maybe even purely "ghetto drama" but either way- that's what it's for. I'm sure Ms. Turner and 50 himself would agree. That's the target audience and that's the audience who can appreciate it.
If you're looking for something that you can take into a classroom- pass this by everyone.
If you're looking for a good old fashioned ghetto drama by one of the best urban fiction authors out there- read this everyone.
It's as simple as that.
I'm looking forward to a sequel, if there isn't one already, I haven't looked.

[Sheena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this book credit for one thing, great editing. I feel cheated though. This book is labeled as a novella, which I've read a few of before, and it worked. This book however, didn't work. The characters have no depth to them and neither did the story. It just ended, unexpectedly. No explanation as to what happened to anyone. (How irritating when you think there's another 20 pages left only to find out it's previews to other books ugh.) I wish there would've been more to this book, maybe another 100 pages. I wanted to see karma catch Precious and give her what she deserved with her conniving self. I would rate this 2.5 stars but, since I can't, I will give it 3 in hopes there might be a sequel someday.

http://sheenathebookgeek.blogspot.com...

[Junisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very inteeresting from the start. First of, it portrayed the characters as doing well in life and making good money. unfrotunately for me, the ending was not what I thought it would be. I thought the protagonist and his girlfriend Sunni were gong to live a happy life. To me, the endng was not clear. I was not sure who was trying to hurt Prcious because the author did not make it clear if Trill, the protagonist really died on the garage floor or if it was Sunni indeed who was trying to hurt Precious as pay pack for all she has done. I hope there is or wioll ba a continuance to this story primarily beause I believe the story is incomplete. I guess Nikki Turner did this to leave up to th

[Bobby SwaggRockin' · Rating 2 out of 5]

By looking at the cover and reading the summary on the back, I knew what I was going to expect in this book. And I was right. Everything I expected that was going to happen in this book, it happened. Drugs, money, women, guns, violence; all of the things I expected from it, showed up in this very book. Throughout reading it, I wasn't surprised one bit. I wouldn't say it's a very bad book, but I just wouldn't recommend it to anyone at all.

[Lukia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very great book. I couldn't put it down once i started reading it. It started off with people that was leading different lives & then it turned into everyone getting involved with everyone in one way or another. The book was great though. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about sex, money & drugs because it definitely involves all 3 of those.

[Jasmine Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. I knew I would love this book as soon as I read the title. The title is something I live by, because loyalty is everything to me. This book defined it to the T. Its a right place, wrong time love story, it deals with shiesty people, two-timers, and the loyalty of your true love. I would recommend this book to any and everybody.!

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok .. i'm a 52 year old 50cent groupie .. the reason i read the book .. this book starts out with enough to keep your interest .. however .. sadly fizzles out in the end ..however, 50cent being 50, was probly bored one afternoon and said "hey, i'm going to write a murder mystery this afternoon" ahh to be a star ..

[Winter Sophia Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drama, Suspense & Funny!

[Nikkia Chante’ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was pretty good however I felt like it was rushed. The book didn’t really give you a lot of background on the main characters. They didn’t really explain how Precious conned Trill baby momma out of her son, they didn’t elaborate on whether Mont and Trill were cool before Mont set him up, or if they were cool why? I absolutely HATE the end. There for sure should be part 2. Is Trill alive, did Noc Noc kill Mont or did Sunni do it? There are too many unanswered questions for me.

[Jessica Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book just was a bit hard to read with all the cussing but definitely a great book once I passed that challenge.

[Molly]

Wowzers.

[Elvi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me. Writing felt cheesy, some interesting plot points. Quick read.

[Phoebe Pitchford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Turner, delivers again #1, book. The style, ambition, Its like you're drawer into the book, can't put it, A For Sure Pager Turner!!!. 5stars

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it want to read more

[Michele Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

So my rating is really more like three and half stars but since that's not a choice I went with three. I enjoyed the book I just didn't "really" enjoy the book. I'm not sure it's for everyone but if your looking for something different in the contemporary urban African American fiction genre then give it a shot. I'm interested in reading more from Nikki Turner, she is the main author on this book and was asked by 50 Cent to write a story for his literary group G Unit. (I would have put a link but there doesn't seem to be one to his page, the one that came up didn't go to his author page.) Death Before Dishonor was the first of the G Unit series. These books were to be realistic dramas that according to 50 Cent are, "...the kinds of dramas me and my crew have been dealing with our whole lives: death, deceit, double-cross, ultimate loyalty, and total betrayal." If these are the goals then Death Before Dishonor delivers it all. Some of the slang and lingo might throw you, (depending on where your from) but if you watch enough TV and/or movies you have probably heard it. I could see this being made into a made for TV movie for the BET Channel with Tyrese Gibson as Trill Johnson and maybe Gabrielle Union as Sunni James, I'm not sure who the other main characters Precious, Trill's gang, Cher - Sunni's best friend or Trill's son would be exactly but it would still be a fast paced and interesting movie. I say BET because aside from Netflix, (though Netflix would be fine too),the other options would be channels like HBO and Showtime and then I wouldn't be able to see it right away. If you have a problem with hardcore cursing then this is probably not a book for you there are 52 f-bombs, not to mention that the N word is used 77 times. For me that was more uncomfortable I felt wrong just reading the word. There are also descriptive sex scenes throughout the book, not to mention violence. This isn't labeled as a romance but there are elements of a romance in the writing.

Trill Johnson runs a "major money organization" as it's described in the book. He has spent five years in jail before the story starts. It seems he mostly sells drugs but he is involved with other things. When we meet him he's making a drop to a valued customer. He's having to do this because Mont, who is a childhood friend, didn't show to do it himself. Other members of his crew are Noc-Noc his cousin from Detroit, Jon-Jon who had been his cellmate for three of the five years he was in jail, and Seven. Precious is his live in girlfriend that lost part of her leg in a shoot out and Lil' Stanley or aka Lil' Trill is Trill's son from another woman that Precious has been raising since Trill was in jail.

Sunni James owns a 24 hour beauty salon called "Sunny Delight." She got her beauticians license after doing time in jail due to an ex boyfriend named Scoop. Her grandmother was very important and influential person in her life. Her best friend is Cher, they like to pick up men and then bounce them back and forth between each other until bored of them. She doesn't need or want a man in her life due to the fact the last one left her high and dry. Another close and trusted friend and employee is Ta-Ta who doesn't put up with anyone's crap. When we meet her she is sitting in her office counting her money before heading to the bank.

This book is full of high's and low's not to mention a major twist that left me with my jaw hanging wide open. Love, trust and betrayal they all describe this story. This book is defiantly not for everyone. If you are sensitive to violence, explicit sex scenes, and language this is not a book for you. If you can look past these things then go ahead and give it a shot it's a short quick and easy read.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't remember anything about this book, and I read it last week. Theres a guy who is on the run, and then a gal takes him in, gives him a deep throater, etc. He finds out his wife is stealing from him, side plot, beauty shop drama. My first Niki Turner I believe. I liked her better than the few other urban street lit writers I have read. Weird abrupt ending.

[Tanzania Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

in this book you must obey the rules of the streets and dont try to snitch either cause you will die no questions asked and its not a good thing but thats what happens whne u join a gang and try to be sneeky about the things you do

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a very long book at all. More of a short story. It was a page turner. Wonder if there is going to be a sequel. Then ending was up in the air. Stinks that Precious survived instead of Trill. Love the title.

[Louise Payne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just an okay read to me. Don't get me wrong it was a page turner, but it wasn't nothing that I hadn't read before. I still love Nikki's books and will keep reading her novels but I won't rush to by any books by 50 Cent.

[Wanica Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was ok - beginning was kinda odd, ending was abrupt and there was lots of "gangsta/hood ish" throughout but if a sequel was written, I would read it just to see how the whole thing plays out...

[Leslie]

I read this because my copy lists 50 Cent as an author and i wanted to know what 50 Cent would write a book about.

It was like reading a novelization of a Grand Theft Auto game and I mean that in a good way.

[Mali · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doesn't tie up the loose ends well. But over all was ok

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book out of curisorty and i loved it the ending was all wrong it was a clif hanger...im into my urban novelss every now and then this year.

[LaKenya Gross · Rating 2 out of 5]

he should stick to rappin

[Mrs.tiffany Blue · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book started good....The only problem I had was the short chapters and the terrible ending. I don't recommend this at all.