From 50 Cent’s publishing house through to T.I.’s street novel Power And Beauty, there’s a rich history of rappers catching the literary bug.

As HipHopDX report, the latest MC to pick up a pen is MMG spitter Meek Mill. The rapper – or, the cynical will mutter, his ghostwriter – has penned his first novel. Tony Story is due on paperback and e-book in May 1. The story promises to be a gritty account of gang warfare on the streets of Meek’s native Philadelphia.

The blurb for the tale is below:

Tony and Ty had big dreams of getting rich. Although they grew up like brothers, once money and envy entered the equation, greed took over and loyalty went out the door.

After a deadly shooting, the streets of Philly were in an uproar and the lives of many people revolved around revenge. Gold digger Kee capitalized on the built-up tension; but before she could really enjoy the fruits of her labor, she was thrust into the middle of a street war with the cost being her life.

Trust was not an option and revenge was the only thing anyone had in common. Paulie wanted revenge for his cousin; LB wanted revenge for his brother. They both had blood in their eyes and murder in mind; names were called while gunners lurked in the shadows. It became bigger than the almighty dollar and no one was safe. Philly won’t be the same after you’re a witness to Tony Story.

Tony Story is due on May 1, five days before Mill’s Dreamchasers 3 mixtape. The tape follows last year’s debut studio LP,  Dreams And Nightmares.