Trying to survive the 'hood, friends Angel, Jaz, and Kyra find themselves unable to leave the lying, cheating, vicious, drug-dealing men that they love, becoming trapped in a world of jealousy, turf wars, revenge, sex, and violence.

Having escaped from the hard streets, sexy, beautiful Roz - friend of Angel, Jaz and Kyra, who've all loved thugs of their own - is on her way to a professional career in physical therapy. She doesn't need to make a U-turn back to the ghetto. Then she meets Trae, who's still after the bling bling and fast money of drugs. He's hard, hot, irresistible, and trouble. Soon Roz is wild for a brother whose world is filled with dark schemes and deadly desires. But blinded by her passion, she can't see the heartbreak ahead where the 'hood has a law of its own.

“A story of surviving and thriving with passion, compassion, wit, and style.”—Maya Angelou “In America, we have a tradition of black writers whose autobiographies and memoirs come to define an era. . . . Buck may be this generation’s story.”—NPR A coming-of-age story about navigating the wilds of urban America and the shrapnel of a self-destructing family, Buck shares the story of a generation through one original and riveting voice. MK Asante was born in Zimbabwe to American parents: his mother a dancer, his father a revered professor. But as a teenager, MK was alone on the streets of North Philadelphia, swept up in a world of drugs, sex, and violence. MK’s memoir is an unforgettable tale of how one precocious, confused kid educated himself through gangs, rap, mystic cults, ghetto philosophy, and, eventually, books. It is an inspiring tribute to the power of literature to heal and redeem us.

An uninvited guest throws a ghetto wedding into chaos in this raw urban romance by the New York Times and Essence bestselling author. Angel, Jaz, Tasha, and Kyra are living proof that hope is more than a word. The four girlfriends are pulling themselves out of the ghetto—and trying to bring their hearts up to higher ground with them. But sometimes the past ain't in no mood to let go. . . Angel has met the brother of her dreams—after living through a nightmare with Snake. Believing that pimp is dead, Angel has moved on. She's starting her own law practice and a new life with Kaylin, a drug dealer who's stepped outta the game to run a recycling business and a hot new record label. But the past is never far from Kaylin, and when an unwanted guest crashes their wedding, all the rage and bloodlust from the hood comes bustin' out—and Angel's gonna need every prayer in heaven to make it to the altar.

In the first book of a fierce new series, meet Memphis's hardest ride-or-die chicks as they fight along with their infamous men to lock down the Dirty South. Memphis is the crime capital of America, and no one knows that better than the women born and raised on its mean streets. It's put sisters Ta'Shara and LeShelle on opposite sides of the street game, where blood means nothing and loyalty doesn't last long. It's also got Yolanda, an ambitious drug mule, and Melanie, a police detective, caught up with the same man--the notorious hustler Python. These four women think they've got the game figured out, but the one man they have in common will have them living double lives and wondering who will come out on top. Forget what you heard about East Coast/West Coast, 'cause real vendettas are born in the Dirty South. "Diamond's ear for street talk comes across loud and clear. . .a violent and profane tale, which launches a gritty new series. The divas here are realistic characters, and the pacing zooms. . .one of the best constructed street lit stories of 2010." --Library Journal "A nonstop, hard-hitting page-turner." --Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker

This hot, gritty first installment in Wahida Clark’s iconic New York Times and USA Today bestselling Payback series tells the story of a woman who thinks she has everything, but who really has everything to lose—starting with her best friend, and ending with her life… Brianna and Shan couldn’t be more different. From her $1200 weave to her closet full of Gucci, Prada, and Chanel, Brianna believes that men were born to bankroll her lifestyle. Meanwhile, Shan likes to make her own money by working for a living at a men’s prison—and prefers Sean John, Baby Phat, and Fubu to Jimmy Choo. Still, despite appearances, Shan and B are sisters where it counts—or so they think… For B, lying is part of the hustle, and the hustle is what gets her sex, clothes, cars—pretty much whatever she wants. She couldn’t care less who gets hurt along the way, as long as it isn’t her. But it’s one thing to hustle tricks, and quite another to betray the one person who really cares. When one of B’s schemes goes too far, blood is spilled—and Shan is caught in the crossfire. Now, with friendship and lives on the line, Brianna’s got one last chance to change her ways—or suffer the consequences…

In the sequel to Payback is a Mutha, old scores are settled and before long, new tensions arise. Still recovering from the suicide of her best friend, Shan now pregnant by a married man is forced to make major decisions in her life. Ready to leave the fast life behind, Shan believes a move to Detroit will help her become a stronger woman-but someone wants revenge against Shan's brother and is willing to destroy Shan in the process. Torn over his love for his sister and his desire to get back on top of the drug game, Shan's brother, Peanut knows the danger of the streets. Old beefs become new scores and before long, a turf war is raging. With the stakes as high as they've ever been, only a few people will be left standing-and Shan is determined to be one of them.

Life in the streets take on a whole new meaning in this urban anthology of "hood" tales compiled by New York Times bestselling author Wahida Clark. WHAT'S REALLY HOOD! Black Is Blue by Victor L. Martin delves into the life of a corporate woman who falls in love with a thug and finds out just how easy it is to stray from the straight and narrow. Eighteen and hungry Wiz's only addiction to drugs is the money it made. But Crystal changed all of that and shows him just how powerful a woman can be in The P is Free by LaShonda Teague. In The LastLaugh by Bonta, Bobo, a member of the infamous Eight-Trey street gang, learns that gang life isn't all it's cracked up to be as "street wars" take on a whole new meaning. Shawn "Jihad" Trump tells the story of loyalty, love and honor, when The Point Blank Mob is brought to its knees leaving the crew fighting for their lives and freedom in All for Nothing. And New York Times bestselling author, Wahida Clark, introduces Nina, a woman tired of being disrespected by men who takes revenge to the ultimate level in Makin' Endz Meet.

Semaj Richardson was raised by the streets, and her ambition was to own them. Changing foreign whips as she hustles one major drug dealer after another is just a day in the life with her treacherous father as her #1 partner in crime. The devious duo's schemes lead to murder plots and countless setups. Unbeknownst to Semaj the same street life she relentlessly chased can be what may become her downfall. When she meets drug kingpin Quasim, who virtually changes her sheisty mindset overnight, her dreams become a reality. But soon her dark past resurfaces, bringing all the havoc she caused to the forefront. Will Semaj ever be able to escape her previous life or will the revelation of her family history pull her into a world that can ultimately destroy her?