The novel addresses broader themes relating to crime and the status of the African-American community in DC, frequently drawing contrasts between elements of hip-hop and gangster culture today that are portrayed as destructive, and the positive, uplifting cultural expressions of the past, such as R&B and soul music of the 1960s and 1970s.
The novel delves into themes of crime and the African-American community in DC, contrasting modern hip-hop and gangster culture with its destructive aspects against the positive, uplifting cultural expressions of the past like R&B and soul music from the 1960s and 1970s.