Associated Press Entertainment Editor Jesse Washington is preparing to release his debut literary novel titled Black Will Shoot.

Washington is a seasoned journalist who has held positions as Managing Editor at Vibe magazine and Editor in Chief of Blaze magazine.

Black Will Shoot centers around an ambitious writer named Marq Wise, who lands a job at his favorite Hip-Hop magazine, where he learns about the evils of the rap world.

"I wrote the book to entertain people, first and foremost, that's what Hip-Hop is all about," Washington told AllHipHop.com. "Readers can expect crazy rap industry characters and a story that sucks you in."

Washington himself was central in a Hip-Hop scandal in 1998, when Wyclef Jean allegedly pulled a gun on him in the recording studio, because of a negative review of an unfinished Canibus album.

Jean denied the allegations and no charges were ever pressed.

While Black Will Shoot is fictitious, Washington’s experiences in the Hip-Hop industry helped him inject a dose of reality into the 384-page novel.

"It also sheds some light on what can happen to your life and your spirit, your soul really, if you choose to get involved in the rap game. Everybody wants to be down but nobody thinks about the price you have to pay."

Black Will Shoot is due in stores February 5 via Simon and Schuster’s Simon Spotlight Entertainment.