Every city has an underworld leader. In the Kingpins series, each author will take us to a different city and introduce us to a new Kingpin who rules the streets in their respective city. Then after every author has written about their select city, Carl will end with a compilation of all kingpins in one book.

    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.

    He witnessed death and destruction within his own family—poverty and desperation of his own people. Instead of being part of the problem, he became part of the solution and rose to the top of his game. In his mind…it was survival.After an encounter with a brilliant scientist, King began to plot something so huge, that no one would see it coming or be able to stop the cycle…not even the police.

    From the moment he saw Jasmine he wanted nothing more than to be with her in every way that he could, but will it be that easy to win her love? A Boss Chic takes you on a journey with Jasmine you’ll see why she’s first place with her mouthpiece and even quicker on her toes. Will love conquer all or will this be another fail attempt at hood love? Will Jared still remain the same understanding, loving, and caring man that Jasmine first met?

    It was lust at first sight, and Rhapsody isn't going to let young Malcolm leave her presence without a promise to fulfill her fantasy.Malcolm had no idea when he accepted Rhapsody's invitation to her bedroom that he was selling his soul to the devil. Malcolm thinks he can bed Rhapsody and simply walk away, but she is not one to settle for a one night stand. Rhapsody goes to desperate measures to keep her cub extremely close to her. Gifting Malcolm a very expensive SUV, filling his belly with home cooked meals and funding a trip to Cancun are just a few of the tactics that Rhapsody uses to ensure that Malcolm spends his nights in her bed and no one else's. However, when Rhapsody finds a mysterious package on her doorstep containing proof of Malcolm's betrayal and deception, she seeks revenge and seals her own fate.

    They're the talk of D.C. for their daring robberies and fly gear. And their latest caper is penned by Ashley Antoinette (of Ashley & JaQuavis) at her sultry, streetwise best.When the innocent, na�ve Gucci recognizes ringleader Sunny Raegan during a holdup, that's her in with the Bandits. Knowing she's got a lot more beauty than brains, Gucci sees the gang as her meal ticket. More likely, they'll be her ticket to the morgue!The Bandits may be lawless, but they play by a few simple rules: Get in and get out. . .shoot first and ask questions later. . .never leave without the money. . .and innocent people don't get hurt. But it's only a matter of time before all these rules get broken--and that's when Gucci gets caught!If there's one thing a girl needs, it's a little help from her friends. But her friends have skipped town without giving her a second thought. And Sunny is distracted by her new baby and her violent ex-lover. So Gucci's on her own. She's on trial for her life, and she must decide whether to snitch on the girls--or take the fall all by herself. Whichever she chooses, it may be her death sentence.

    But in the hood the Prince Charming are ballers and we dream of living happily ever Rich! Now imagine being swept off your feet and upgraded from a nobody into a ghetto superstar. Imagine a life of nothing but the best; clothes, jewels, whips and homes. Just picture your life as baller's bit*h! Ask yourself how much are you willing to sacrifice to be the hottest chick in the game? When Emerald found her ghetto Prince Charming Dollar he quickly upgraded her into a overnight ghetto superstar. Spoiling her with the hottest whips, the finest clothes, the fliest jewels and an unlimited cash allowance. Emerald represented a baller's chick to the fullest; she lived, breathe and swore by the hustlers anthem Balling! The night Dollar asked Emerald to marry him; she knew all her blood, sweat and spit had paid off. She'd be forever fly; Emerald knew the life of a baller's wife could only get more luxurious. But when a drop goes bad and Emerald back is pushed against the wall. How much will she be willing to sacrifice to stay at the top spot? Come ride along with Emerald while she discovers the truth about being a Baller's bit*h!

    It's 24/7 money to burn, it's fancy houses, designer clothes, and luxury cars. It's leaving no-pay jobs and crumbling projects to have everything mad cash flow. And best friends, Alize, Dom, Moet, and Cristal will do anything to get the glamorous life - and put the past in the rear-view mirrors of their brand new whips. A savvy and smart business major, Alize had her childhood shattered by the divorce of her parents and is determined to never fall in love and risk being hurt. Dom learned early to use her sizzling-hot body to make much bank - and find an eascape from her too dark looks and drug-addicted mother. Disillusioned by the faith and strict parents she grew up with, Moet figures hooking up with powerful men is now the real way to heaven. And streetwise Cristal has a master plan to get the security she never to knew as foster child. To make these dreams come true, these sistahs will go after the East Coast's biggest movers-and-shakers - superstar rappers, mega-successful moguls, and powerful thugs-for-life. But between the wild times and wilder men, one of them is going to gamble one time too many, one will play a player too far, one will take a dangerous chance, and one will face a hard real-deal choice. To survive, they'll have to depend on each other and remember who they truly are to learn that the good life doesn't cost a thing...

    She soon found out that the millionaire businessman that she thought she had, is nothing but an undercover addict with violent tendencies. When she falls for his best friend, she tries to hide the attraction. But Salem puts two and two together and it leads to Kaylen begging for her life. Will Zo be able to save her?Jazmyn is happily in love... with someone else's husband—A PREGNANT someone else at that. But she believes Kingston when he says he loves only her and will make her his main chick soon. When Jazmyn finds out that his promises are empty and his love is foul, she takes matters into her own hands and it leads to a brawl in the streets and a deadly situation.Alexis has it all. Riches, houses, cars and a sexy millionaire husband. But there is one thing standing between her and happiness...he likes to love her in a way that leads her battered and bruised. When Alexis' need for real affection leads her to hooking up with an old friend, she is betrayed in the worst way and it changes the course of her life forever.Will these women ever have the love, loyalty and affection that they deserve?

    Alex has been interviewing celebrities and hangers-on long enough to know all that glitters isn’t gold, so she’s determined to get the real scoop. Still, it’s not going to be easy to get past the wives’ gilded cages... Beth Saddlebrook, wife of aging rapper Z. They have three beautiful boys and a seemingly endless supply of cash. But Beth spends her days trying to keep Z off drugs and fielding calls from women hollering she’s just a “small-town white bitch” and claiming to be carrying Z’s baby. Only one person understands what she’s going through... Kipenzi Hill, multiplatinum-selling R&B artist and Beth’s best friend. Her relationship with rap star and record label president Jake is an open secret in the industry. She knows Jake loves her, but he’d rather break up than publicly acknowledge it. Now she has learned that the newest (and much younger) R&B sensation Bunny has been signed to Jake’s label. Josephine Bennett, wife to Jamaican singer and Überproducer Ras Bennett. Josephine doesn’t just want to spend her husband’s money, she wants to contribute. Her fashion company is finally starting to get media attention when her husband admits to something she’s suspected all along — he’s fallen in love with another woman. Cleopatra Wright, every man’s dream girl, a video vixen with a story to tell and scores to settle. Cleo’s got that thing no one can put a finger on and no man (or woman) can resist. Some would call her evil or misguided or both, but Cleo always moves with a purpose and she’ll stop at nothing to get what she wants...Alex realizes she may have more in common with these women than she’d like. What if this is a glimpse of how her life will be if Birdie finally gets signed to a major label? Stuck between her loyalty to this newfound sisterhood and her obligation to write the truth, Alex is forced to rethink everything she knows about work, friendship, and love.

    After years of being a victim of domestic violence, Skye is caught between their extravagant lifestyle and his controlling behavior, but knows she has to get out. In a desperate attempt, Skye flees the abusive marriage with her three children in tow, and vows never to go back. She even begins a new life with a new identity, but lives in fear, knowing that Sandino won t rest until he finds them. Brace yourself as a shattered woman is determined to rebuild her life and protect her family at all cost, even if it means death. Besides, who wouldn t fight against their most treacherous enemy; even if it is your own husband?

    Sometimes referred to as the Murder Capital for the huge murder rate that never ceases to surprise us, The Murder Mitten, or The Dirty Glove for the state’s shape on the U.S. map. Detroit is home to many; scholars, rappers, athletes, parents, and concerned citizens, but the streets belong to those in the underworld; addicts, dealers, and the women who help run the show from behind the scenes…The Real Hoodwives of Detroit! No! You won’t see these ladies on any television show, but you will see them make appearances in court for their mans’ hearing, or at the county jail on visiting day. You might even catch them riding shotgun, with a nine tucked in their Fendi bag…waiting to pop off and protect their men at any cost. And of course, they make appearances in the hood, twenty-four seven…three hundred and sixty-five days of the year! Follow Nikki, Tonya, Chloe, Mina, and Gucci as they ride you through Detroit, one city-block at a time. Watch as the tales of the black and dangerous unfold right before your eyes. In Detroit, only the raw and real survive - living to see another day. These streets are known for breaking the weak and leaving them helpless, they aren’t made for everybody! Scared? You should be….WELCOME TO DETROIT!

    However, her husband Darius is too pigheaded to work on it, since—in his mind—he is not the problem. Tired of being kept under lock and key—and completely controlled by Darius, Safa makes a trip back to her old neighborhood to see her grandmother against Darius’s wishes, and everything changes. Safa meets Kordell, a sexy, street boxer who gives her what she's been missing out on. They begin an affair that pulls Safa even further away from her marriage. After some major flare ups, Safa finds herself questioning everything. Was her marriage a mistake? Is Kordell the one? Could she really give up everything for him? And what will happen if Darius finds out? So many things are shaken up when a woman gets fed up.

    Then is patience still a virtue? Avion is married to who he believes will absolutely without a doubt be there forever. He's friends with who he knows for sure will ride for him whenever. When he crosses paths with his high school crush, he had so much he could tell her- but she had been hurt so many times that she was overly careful. In matters of the heart, physical attraction only serves as a daily introduction. Once introduced to the person, you must then deal with them, their spirits, their personalities, them as a person. Oftentimes, the person hates the person they're dealing with. Avion learns the true value of the word "love," and just why it can't be tossed around lightly. Sharo learns that even though she had been hurt in the past and felt like she would never need another man, that it was ok, and always going to be ok. No matter how angry or upset, or how much of an independent woman she was, no matter how thick of a shell she had wrapped around her heart, she still had to realize that in a world full of hatred... Thick Girls Need Love.

    There is only one man bold enough to deliver multiple orgasms yet never tell a soul his real name. He has overpowering strength, a top-notch reputation, power like no other, and a bite that will hurt more than a dog. Who is this man? The streets of Chicago know him as the One and Only. . . ."