Supreme Clientele

Every Hustler's reign ends in one of two ways. . .prison or death. Refusing to let the prediction become a reality, Julius "Jules" Carter creates new rules to an old game. Strategically, he forms one of the most notorious drug operations Harlem has ever seen. Jules thought the game was his biggest challenge that is until he meets Tish. Young and Ambitious she is determined to escape from Harlem's allure, but her love for Jules has her rooted. She gets tangled in his web of lies and deceit. When she finds out about his past demons and connects them with her own, she soon finds out that there's a thin line between love and hate. You can't turn a bad girl good, but once a good girl turns bad she's gone forever. Julius finds out the hard way that everything done in the dark eventually comes to light. Ashley and JaQuavis narrate a fast paced, suspenseful tale of one of Harlem's biggest drug lords, his rise to power, and the woman behind him.

On countless occasions, Malekh Salters has witnessed the tragedy of how a life of crime can crush the participant either through incarceration, physical scarring, assassination attempts, constant running or hiding, and losing their identity. Nearly all of the time, living a life of crime has a negative outcome. In a step-by-step tutorial, Malekh Salters relies on real-life experiences, research, and proven methods to offer insight into how the correct tools and strategies can help criminals not only function but also thrive in a life of crime, ultimately minimizing the negative effects that accompany a criminal lifestyle, protecting the integrity of the business, and preserving the criminal participant. Additionally, Salters includes valuable information on how to avoid entering the life, or if already involved, how to recognize when it is time to quit and then properly exit a world of crime. The Unconstitutional and Unwritten Laws of Crime shares insight and time-tested advice that guides criminals to find the right way to do the wrong thing and deters wannabe criminals from participating in the lifestyle.

This insightful biography looks at the turbulent lives, groundbreaking music and lyrics, and powerful brand of hip hop's infamous Wu-Tang Clan. The Wu-Tang Clan and RZA: A Trip through Hip Hop's 36 Chambers chronicles the rise of the Wu-Tang Clan from an underground supergroup to a globally recognized musical conglomerate. Enhanced by the author's one-on-one interviews with group members, the book covers the entire Wu-Tang Clan catalog of studio albums, as well as albums that were produced or heavily influenced by producer/rapper RZA. Wu-Tang Clan's albums are analyzed and discussed in terms of their artistry as well as in terms of their critical, cultural, and commercial impact. By delving into the motivation behind the creation of pivotal songs and albums and mining their dense metaphor and wordplay, the book provides an understanding of what made a team of nine friends and relatives from Staten Island with a love of Kung Fu movies into not just a music group, but a powerful cultural movement.

Musicians, teachers and those who love music will find in this volume some answers to the question of how gender affects its practice, performance and reception. What was performing like for female rock singers in the 20th century? How did Bowie change our concept of performer identity? Just how sexist are the lyrics in glam metal songs? Is rap as homophobic as has been thought? Can female metal singers growl as well as men? Are LGBTQ+ issues reflected in 21st century music? Did Canadian New Wave groups tackle major social issues? How do Shakespeare and Joyce use musical puns and allusions? From Indian thumri, through French opera, Irish folk songs, and pop, all the way to metal and rap, the 17 contributions gathered here will challenge and inform, while confirming that our music shapes our habits, language, ideas and gendered selves.

Many times in my adult life, I have had what I would call an "awake out-of-body experience." During these times, I was peeking in at my life in a dream state; thinking this cannot be my life. I found myself asking the questions of what happened to the child who outsmarted the world and what happened to the teen who had all the answers and confidence to boot, and the young adult who never settled for can't. Well, somewhere along the way, the only thing left of who I was once was, were just shreds of an almost non-existent life. Now, don't get me wrong, there were some good times along the way, but it certainly was not always smooth sailing. But what came later in life was no comparison to the early years. Not that long ago, my life was filled with disappointment, brokenness, worry, anxiety, and fear. I survived breakups and breakdowns, sadness and pain, grief and loss beyond description, all of which led to a one-way ticket to Depression Central. Getting off the road to depression was very difficult for me, but there is no job too hard for God. If you can relate to the paralyzing despair that I went through, then please know that I fellowship with you and understand the grip depression and anxiety can have on your life. However, I want you to know that your destination does not have to be a one-way ticket to the land of despair, instead, your journey can bring you to a place of joy and peace if you simply trust and believe in God.

Lyrical Assassins: 50 of the Greatest Prophet Emcees is an illustration of my personal tribute to the gifted men and women whose extraordinary oratory skills have garnered my attention to listen, learn, admire, and respect. Hip-hop music has been through quite a few transformations during its existence. Despite the ups and downs, hip-hop has lived a very fruitful life. Rap artists have invented some of the most dynamic creations of music while entertaining a mass audience of fans nationwide and abroad. This book represents my personal favorites from number 1 to 50, with a list of honorable mentions and top fifty rap groups.

The story of the celebrated rapper and the iconic Wu-Tang Clan, told by one of its founding members Dennis Coles—aka Ghostface Killah—is a co-founder of the Wu-Tang Clan, a legendary hip hop group who established themselves by breaking all the rules, taking their music to the streets during hip hop’s golden era on a decade-long wave of releasing anthem after classic anthem, and serving as the foundation of modern hip hop. An all-star cast who formed like Voltron to establish the pillars that serve as the foundation of modern hip hop and released seminal albums that have stood the test of time. Rise of a Killah is Ghost’s autobiography, focusing on the people, places and events that mean the most to him as he enters his fourth decade writing and performing. It’s a beautiful and intense book, going back to the creative ferment that led to Ghost’s first handwritten rhymes. Dive into Ghost’s defining personal moments, his battles with his personal demons, his journey to Africa, his religious viewpoints, his childhood in Staten Island, and his commitment to his family (including his two brothers with muscular dystrophy), from the Clan’s early successes to the pinnacle of Ghost’s career touring and spreading his wings as a solo artist, fashion icon, and trendsetter. Exclusive photos and memorabilia, as well as graphic art commissioned for this book, make Rise of a Killah both a memoir and a unique visual record, a “real feel” narrative of Ghost’s life as he sees it, a one of a kind holy grail for Wu-Tang and Ghost fans alike.

This definitive biography of rap supergroup, Wu-Tang Clan, features decades of unpublished interviews and unparalleled access to members of the group and their associates. This is the definitive biography of rap supergroup and cultural icons, Wu-Tang Clan (WTC). Heralded as one of the most influential groups in modern music—hip hop or otherwise—WTC created a rap dynasty on the strength of seven gold and platinum albums that launched the careers of such famous rappers as RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and more. During the ‘90s, they ushered in a hip-hop renaissance, rescuing rap from the corporate suites and bringing it back to the gritty streets where it started. In the process they changed the way business was conducted in an industry known for exploiting artists. Creatively, Wu-Tang pushed the boundaries of the artform dedicating themselves to lyrical mastery and sonic innovation, and one would be hard pressed to find a group who's had a bigger impact on the evolution of hip hop. S.H. Fernando Jr., a veteran music journalist who spent a significant amount of time with The Clan during their heyday of the ‘90s, has written extensively about the group for such publications as Rolling Stone, Vibe, and The Source. Over the years he has built up a formidable Wu-Tang archive that includes pages of unpublished interviews, videos of the group in action in the studio, and several notepads of accumulated memories and observations. Using such exclusive access as well as the wealth of open-source material, Fernando reconstructs the genesis and evolution of the group, delving into their unique ideology and range of influences, and detailing exactly how they changed the game and established a legacy that continues to this day. The book provides a startling portrait of overcoming adversity through self-empowerment and brotherhood, giving us unparalleled insights into what makes these nine young men from the ghetto tick. While celebrating the myriad accomplishments of The Clan, the book doesn't shy away from controversy—we're also privy to stories from their childhoods in the crack-infested hallways of Staten Island housing projects, stints in Rikers for gun possession, and million-dollar contracts that led to recklessness and drug overdoses (including Ol' Dirty Bastard's untimely death). More than simply a history of a single group, this book tells the story of a musical and cultural shift that started on the streets of Shaolin (Staten Island) and quickly spread around the world. Biographies on such an influential outfit are surprisingly few, mostly focused on a single member of the group's story. This book weaves together interviews from all the Clan members, as well as their friends, family and collaborators to create a compelling narrative and the most three-dimensional portrait of Wu-Tang to date. It also puts The Clan within a social, cultural, and historical perspective to fully appreciate their impact and understand how they have become the cultural icons they are today. Unique in its breadth, scope, and access, From The Streets of Shaolin is a must-have for fans of WTC and music bios in general.