{"product_id":"9781904380993","title":"Street Crhymes by Justin Rollins","description":"Justin Rollins has a remarkable ability. His poems emerge not from agonising over a blank sheet of paper, but in rap-like fashion, in full-flow and in their complete form. This collection takes the reader on a journey on which those familiar with his autobiographical The Lost Boyz will recognise the landmarks. But this is fresh and captivating work. It deals with the everyday effects of disadvantage, the tensions of wealth and poverty, freedom and incarceration with glimpses of a sometimes dark past, motivational now and uncertain though optimistic future. What registers is Rollins' eye for detail, the telling remark, the eccentric, the absurd, clandestine places and parallel realities. Much of this is driven by his years living on the streets chasing excitement to compensate for the lack of a conventional upbringing. The result is a raw journey captured in snapshots of street crimes, survival, pain and the author's travels on the Northern Line.   Extracts  From 'Street Wise' - Some boys played with toy cars  We played with metal bars  And set fires  On the way to becoming the lads  All the traits of a psychopath  They visited museums and studied from books  We bunked history and became hooked  Snotty-nosed kids slowly becoming crooks. From 'Cameron's Kids' - See we wasn't born with riches  Luxury food on tap ...I was born guilty  Brought up in those flats  So when you drive on by  Just give us a bib  Cameron what would you do  If this was your kid?\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Paperback \/ softback","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56308725186933,"sku":"9781904380993","price":12.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781904380993.jpg?v=1762808859","url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/products\/9781904380993","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}