This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Published in the United States by St. Martin’s Griffin, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group

HOOD RAT. Copyright © 2006 by K’wan Foye. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. For information, address St. Martin’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.

www.stmartins.com

The Library of Congress has cataloged the first St. Martin’s Griffin edition as follows:

Foye, K’wan

Hood rat / K’wan Foye.—1st ed.

p. cm.

ISBN-13: 978-0-312-36008-5

ISBN-10: 0-312-36008-8

1. Street life—New York—New York (State)—Fiction. 2. Gangs—New York (State)—New York—Fiction. 3. Hip-hop—Fiction. 4. African Americans—New York—New York (State)—Fiction. 5. Harlem (New York, N.Y.)—Fiction. I. Title.

PS3606.O96H67 2006

813′.6—dc22

2006045570

ISBN 978-1-250-75009-9 (trade paperback)

ISBN 978-1-4299-9361-6 (ebook)

Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact your local bookseller or the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.

Second St. Martin’s Griffin Edition: May 2020

eISBN 9781429993616