Gangsta Rap Coloring Book

Eazy E, the Notorious B.I.G., and a box of crayons make an unusual afternoon activity. Microcosm Publishing’s Gangsta Rap Coloring Book puts gangsta rap icons into 48 bold-line illustrations, borrowing the simple visual language of a childhood coloring book. The humor is in that choice of format: artists associated with outlaw imagery become the subjects of a quiet session at the kitchen table. You supply the colors, including any questionable wardrobe decisions. The musicians don’t need to be the punch line for the pairing to be funny.

As an adult coloring gift, it makes sense for a ’90s hip-hop fan who would enjoy spending time with the pages after the initial laugh. It also has a clear place in a white elephant exchange among friends who know these artists. In a crowd with little interest in rap, the title will have to do most of the work. The bold outlines keep the concept straightforward, so buy it for the portraits and the incongruity, not for elaborate decorative patterns. Add crayons, and the recipient can get straight to coloring.