New York: Doubleday, (2001) dj. SIGNED hardcover first edition - In ancient West Africa, the drum was more than a musical instrument, it was a vehicle of communication-it conveyed information, told stories, and passed on the wisdom of generations. A novel which is a reminder of the importance of honoring the past as a means of moving safely and firmly into the future, one which will stir up controversy about the impact, good and bad, of rap culture. Boldly INSCRIBED on the title page. 210 pp. ISBN: 0-385498454.