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Platinum
You only think you want this life . . .
Alex Maxwell is planning her wedding to up-and coming music artist Birdie, ghostwriting video vixen Cleopatra Wright’s memoir, and she’s just been assigned the story of the year by her editor in chief at a major music industry magazine—an article about the glamorous lives of women married to platinum-selling hip-hop artists. 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.
Alex Maxwell is planning her wedding to up-and coming music artist Birdie, ghostwriting video vixen Cleopatra Wright’s memoir, and she’s just been assigned the story of the year by her editor in chief at a major music industry magazine—an article about the glamorous lives of women married to platinum-selling hip-hop artists. 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.
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2010
9 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
Aliya S. King
7 books43 followersAliya S. King is an award-winning journalist and the author of Platinum. She is the co-author of Original Gangster and the New York Times bestseller Keep the Faith. Her work has appeared in Vibe, Giant, Uptown, Essence, King, Ms., Us Weekly, and Teen People, among others. Please visit her at www.aliyasking.com
Her latest novel, Diamond Life, will be published by Simon and Schuster on February 7, 2012.
Her latest novel, Diamond Life, will be published by Simon and Schuster on February 7, 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 26, 2010
If you're old enough to have been reading in the early 80s, you'll remember all of the hubbub over Jackie Collins' Hollywood Wives. Just in case you're not familiar with it, it's the beginning of her steamy series about what goes on in the lives of some of the most rich and famous, but of course, names have been changed to protect the innocent. Part of the fun in reading her books was trying to figure out who was whom.
With Platinum, Aliya S. King has become the millennium's version of Jackie Collins. Think Hollywood Wives then replace it with the world of rap. Think west coast and then replace it with the east coast. Think scheming and conniving characters, then...think scheming and conniving characters.
Freelance writer Alex Maxwell is engaged to an up and coming rapper. She's covered some of the biggest names in the industry. An assignment from Vibe finds her interviewing the wives, fiances and girlfriends of some of the most famous men on the east coast.
Beth Saddlebrook, wife of aging rapper "Z", has been with her husband since she was 15 and he rescued her from her impoverished life in West Virginia. The mother of four, with another on the way, she's lived a pretty spectacular life. That's if you don't count the verbal and occasionally physical abuse, along with the cheating and drug use. As Z's career begins its descent, his behavior becomes more sporadic and Beth is sure he's using again.
Kipenzi Hill is Beth's best friend and a star in her own right. Working in the industry since she was 3, Kipenzi is more than ready to get out of the game and marry her long time boyfriend Jake.
The elegant Josephine Bennett is married to the hottest producer in the game. Josephine has everything she ever wanted in Ras. She's happy with her home and her design business. She'd be even happier if she was able to conceive.
And finally there's Cleo Wright. Cleo's not married or dating any high powered men. She merely sleeps with them for blackmail purposes. Every man that's ever used her is about to have his life disrupted. She's about to score a big payday with her tell all novel co-written with Alex Maxwell.
What did you like about this book?
This is the perfect beach read. Though there are some disturbing moments here and there, the story never gets weighed down by them.
What didn't you like about this book?
There's been a lot of speculation on the web about whom the characters in Platinum are based on. With few exceptions, I didn't like the characters enough to even try to figure it out.
What could the author do to improve this book?
Though I didn't particularly care for some of the characters, I can't help but to think that was the author's intention. I would still be interested in reading a sequel because King does a great job of leaving the reader in suspense.
With Platinum, Aliya S. King has become the millennium's version of Jackie Collins. Think Hollywood Wives then replace it with the world of rap. Think west coast and then replace it with the east coast. Think scheming and conniving characters, then...think scheming and conniving characters.
Freelance writer Alex Maxwell is engaged to an up and coming rapper. She's covered some of the biggest names in the industry. An assignment from Vibe finds her interviewing the wives, fiances and girlfriends of some of the most famous men on the east coast.
Beth Saddlebrook, wife of aging rapper "Z", has been with her husband since she was 15 and he rescued her from her impoverished life in West Virginia. The mother of four, with another on the way, she's lived a pretty spectacular life. That's if you don't count the verbal and occasionally physical abuse, along with the cheating and drug use. As Z's career begins its descent, his behavior becomes more sporadic and Beth is sure he's using again.
Kipenzi Hill is Beth's best friend and a star in her own right. Working in the industry since she was 3, Kipenzi is more than ready to get out of the game and marry her long time boyfriend Jake.
The elegant Josephine Bennett is married to the hottest producer in the game. Josephine has everything she ever wanted in Ras. She's happy with her home and her design business. She'd be even happier if she was able to conceive.
And finally there's Cleo Wright. Cleo's not married or dating any high powered men. She merely sleeps with them for blackmail purposes. Every man that's ever used her is about to have his life disrupted. She's about to score a big payday with her tell all novel co-written with Alex Maxwell.
What did you like about this book?
This is the perfect beach read. Though there are some disturbing moments here and there, the story never gets weighed down by them.
What didn't you like about this book?
There's been a lot of speculation on the web about whom the characters in Platinum are based on. With few exceptions, I didn't like the characters enough to even try to figure it out.
What could the author do to improve this book?
Though I didn't particularly care for some of the characters, I can't help but to think that was the author's intention. I would still be interested in reading a sequel because King does a great job of leaving the reader in suspense.
January 22, 2015
So every now and then its good to get my head back from the historical dramas and read something fresh, urban, page-turning and dramatic..this book was all of that and honestly more than I expected. I quite enjoyed my two days with this look into the industry life, hip hop in particular and the parallels to present day are shocking..The storyline involves all the things you hear about everyday: a writer dating a rapper and keeping it secret, a pop star ready for retirement and to leave the business and expose her relationship with another famous celebrity, a fashion designer dating a hip hop mogul with secret desires of her own, a mistreated wife of a washed up rapper thats into drugs and groupies despite a growing family, a rising young talent trying to get in the game all the wrong ways and of course the ultimate jumpoff supreme who is having sex with all of their men and and writing a tell all book about it. The lives of the women intersect and while it is sometimes confusing as each chapter deals with a different woman and their relationships with no warning, it gives you a multi dimensional view of the emotions each woman must be feeling...Passages stuck out in this book because they were real and they speak to every woman in a relationship period and I appreciated it for that--- I found some parts pretty unrealistic but overall this was a fast paced and interesting read I am glad I got to enjoy..
July 26, 2010
Sex. Scandal. Drugs. Groupies. You name it, and you’ll find it in Platinum, the latest novel by freelance journalist Aliya King. Inspired by an article written in 2006, King states in her book’s acknowledgments, “This novel was born out of a story written for VIBE (magazine) several years ago.” The article was entitled, The Secret Lives of Rappers’ Wives.
True to its inspiration, Platinum highlights the life of Alex Maxwell, a freelance journalist for some of the hottest publications around including VIBE and the New York Times. Alex loves her work and the fact that it brings in quite a nice salary for her. It is also how she met her fiancé Birdie. Alex hooked up with Birdie after interviewing him which is typically against her rules. But hindsight is 20/20, and now Alex is planning their wedding while playing stepmom to his daughter. To add to her already busy life, Alex has agreed to take on the role of ghostwrite for video ho’ Cleo Wright.
Not really knowing what she was getting herself into, Alex soon finds out that Cleo has the dirt on many well-known artists. Cleo is ruthless and out for blood, but smart. It seems that every move she makes is like playing chess, strategically thought out. In spite of having her doubts about the morality of this project, Alex did as agreed, and everything was fine until she received a piece to write about the inside lives of the girlfriends and wives of rappers from VIBE. It seems that all the women chosen as editor picks had men that are to be featured in Cleo’s tell-all book. Alex is left clueless as to how she will interview Beth, Kipenzi and Josephine with integrity while harboring nasty secrets about their partners.
So getting to the nitty gritty. Beth’s husband is Z. Z is a rapper that has surpassed his prime and can’t seem to stay away from that dope. Like most addicts, you can’t tell him he has a problem, but there’s no need for that since Beth is his captain save a … Her life revolves around having countless babies by Z in spite of him being on dope and her constant state of denial. The entire time I was reading about Beth and those babies, all I could think was, “You already have a baby that is sickly, and you still having babies by this druggie.” To add fuel to the fire, Beth’s oldest son Chris , I mean- Zander has become a You Tube sensation over night and has hooked up with Ri-Ri , I mean- Bunny, a hurricane looking for land. Beth is worried about her son because he is starting to let the five- minutes of fame go to his head and looks to be on the path for an unhealthy relationship.
Hopefully, Beth’s best friend, Kipenzi, is able to talk some sense into Zander. Kipenzi is like an aunt to Zander and just so happens to be a multiplatinum-selling R&B singer who is “unofficially” dating Jake, a rapper and record label president. They have this unspoken of relationship; everyone knows they're dating except for them. They try hard to make it seem as if they are not an item. Their hard work only makes them more suspect in the eyes of their fans.
I must admit, the content of this book is more than I expected. When I read the synopsis, all I could think was The Real Housewives of Atlanta are about to meet the NBA Wives; that can only lead to some hot ghetto mess. However, when I read this novel, I enjoyed it. It was at times funny, suspense-filled and at other times, it just made me angry. I like how Aliya developed the characters and was able to maintain my attention throughout the entire novel. I would recommend this novel but I could only give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. I wanted to give it 4.5 stars out of 5 but I’ll share with you why I couldn’t.
There were instances in this novel when I felt that Aliya was taking some low blows. It’s one thing to create fictitious characters to imitate people, which is fine, but to purposefully insult people. I’m not cool with that one. I will list the two examples that really made me blink twice.
“Why not go out fighting?” Jake asked.
“Like you and Puff and Jay? Forty years old and still rapping?
Putting out a farewell album every other year like it makes sense?”
&
"Kipenzi hesitated. Her mother had been her only stylist—in the beginning because she couldn’t afford anyone else. And now, in the end, because it has become her mother’s identity. Kipenzi had grinned and borne it with several of her over-the-top sequin-covered creations. “
These are just two examples that made me give this novel 3.5 stars out of 5. It is one thing to write about the lives of people but the insults, for me, is a real turn off even in fiction, when it gets too close to people real lives. When reading those comments, as fans, many of us already know who they are in reference to, but it was just poor judgment in my opinion. Others may not mind these references and may even find it funny, but I couldn’t. If this novel were without those insults, I would easily rate it a 4.5. As I read this book, I felt that this story had the ability to show that celebrities and their partners are people, too. I may be wrong, but that was just my interpretation.
In spite of the aforementioned mishap, I hope there is a sequel. It should be awesome if written with the same style and tone as this novel, of course, without the sly insults.
True to its inspiration, Platinum highlights the life of Alex Maxwell, a freelance journalist for some of the hottest publications around including VIBE and the New York Times. Alex loves her work and the fact that it brings in quite a nice salary for her. It is also how she met her fiancé Birdie. Alex hooked up with Birdie after interviewing him which is typically against her rules. But hindsight is 20/20, and now Alex is planning their wedding while playing stepmom to his daughter. To add to her already busy life, Alex has agreed to take on the role of ghostwrite for video ho’ Cleo Wright.
Not really knowing what she was getting herself into, Alex soon finds out that Cleo has the dirt on many well-known artists. Cleo is ruthless and out for blood, but smart. It seems that every move she makes is like playing chess, strategically thought out. In spite of having her doubts about the morality of this project, Alex did as agreed, and everything was fine until she received a piece to write about the inside lives of the girlfriends and wives of rappers from VIBE. It seems that all the women chosen as editor picks had men that are to be featured in Cleo’s tell-all book. Alex is left clueless as to how she will interview Beth, Kipenzi and Josephine with integrity while harboring nasty secrets about their partners.
So getting to the nitty gritty. Beth’s husband is Z. Z is a rapper that has surpassed his prime and can’t seem to stay away from that dope. Like most addicts, you can’t tell him he has a problem, but there’s no need for that since Beth is his captain save a … Her life revolves around having countless babies by Z in spite of him being on dope and her constant state of denial. The entire time I was reading about Beth and those babies, all I could think was, “You already have a baby that is sickly, and you still having babies by this druggie.” To add fuel to the fire, Beth’s oldest son Chris , I mean- Zander has become a You Tube sensation over night and has hooked up with Ri-Ri , I mean- Bunny, a hurricane looking for land. Beth is worried about her son because he is starting to let the five- minutes of fame go to his head and looks to be on the path for an unhealthy relationship.
Hopefully, Beth’s best friend, Kipenzi, is able to talk some sense into Zander. Kipenzi is like an aunt to Zander and just so happens to be a multiplatinum-selling R&B singer who is “unofficially” dating Jake, a rapper and record label president. They have this unspoken of relationship; everyone knows they're dating except for them. They try hard to make it seem as if they are not an item. Their hard work only makes them more suspect in the eyes of their fans.
I must admit, the content of this book is more than I expected. When I read the synopsis, all I could think was The Real Housewives of Atlanta are about to meet the NBA Wives; that can only lead to some hot ghetto mess. However, when I read this novel, I enjoyed it. It was at times funny, suspense-filled and at other times, it just made me angry. I like how Aliya developed the characters and was able to maintain my attention throughout the entire novel. I would recommend this novel but I could only give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. I wanted to give it 4.5 stars out of 5 but I’ll share with you why I couldn’t.
There were instances in this novel when I felt that Aliya was taking some low blows. It’s one thing to create fictitious characters to imitate people, which is fine, but to purposefully insult people. I’m not cool with that one. I will list the two examples that really made me blink twice.
“Why not go out fighting?” Jake asked.
“Like you and Puff and Jay? Forty years old and still rapping?
Putting out a farewell album every other year like it makes sense?”
&
"Kipenzi hesitated. Her mother had been her only stylist—in the beginning because she couldn’t afford anyone else. And now, in the end, because it has become her mother’s identity. Kipenzi had grinned and borne it with several of her over-the-top sequin-covered creations. “
These are just two examples that made me give this novel 3.5 stars out of 5. It is one thing to write about the lives of people but the insults, for me, is a real turn off even in fiction, when it gets too close to people real lives. When reading those comments, as fans, many of us already know who they are in reference to, but it was just poor judgment in my opinion. Others may not mind these references and may even find it funny, but I couldn’t. If this novel were without those insults, I would easily rate it a 4.5. As I read this book, I felt that this story had the ability to show that celebrities and their partners are people, too. I may be wrong, but that was just my interpretation.
In spite of the aforementioned mishap, I hope there is a sequel. It should be awesome if written with the same style and tone as this novel, of course, without the sly insults.
February 5, 2011
Glamorous Life…Without Love It Ain’t Much
A freelance writer, Alex Maxwell’s writing is enabling her to see two sides of the same coin. For one assignment, she’s ghostwriting the memoirs of video vixen Cleo. It’s a tell-all, a blow by blow (pun intended) account of who she’s sexed in the music industry. It’s bound to rock some images and marriages. For another assignment, she’s writing an article for a magazine about the lives of women involved with hip-hop artists. As Alex researches and interviews for both projects she realizes how closely both stories are intertwined and may mirror her own life, as she is engaged to an up-and-coming rapper.
Unlike the majority I’m sure, I went into this book reading it for the content only. I wasn’t looking to try and figure out who’s who in real life, though it was very obvious who a certain character was. I just wanted a good story. And in PLATINUM I found that…almost. The lives of the characters were interesting. The build up was good. The ending was a let down. The majority of PLATINUM was very good but somewhere nearing the end just lost its momentum. A lot of things were left in the air, questions unanswered. But not in a there’s a sequel coming kind of way as much as the author left it up to you and that’s real life. And it is real life, but I wanted a complete story with the author providing answers and resolution to all questions and issues she raised.
Aliya King’s story of fame and its highs and lows is easy to follow and hooks readers from the beginning; I just wished I had stayed on the hook. PLATINUM was good but could have been so much better. Still, I could easily see myself reading another book by King.
*Rant* And let this book be a lesson to all those authors writing books about lifestyles in which their characters are laced in designer labels from head to toe. While the characters in this book obviously had the money and circumstances to wear the best and most expensive, this author DID NOT drown readers with label dropping. Labels were not needlessly tossed on each page as many unfortunately are doing today. When you have it, you don’t have to talk about it!
3.5 stars
2K11 Challenge Review
A freelance writer, Alex Maxwell’s writing is enabling her to see two sides of the same coin. For one assignment, she’s ghostwriting the memoirs of video vixen Cleo. It’s a tell-all, a blow by blow (pun intended) account of who she’s sexed in the music industry. It’s bound to rock some images and marriages. For another assignment, she’s writing an article for a magazine about the lives of women involved with hip-hop artists. As Alex researches and interviews for both projects she realizes how closely both stories are intertwined and may mirror her own life, as she is engaged to an up-and-coming rapper.
Unlike the majority I’m sure, I went into this book reading it for the content only. I wasn’t looking to try and figure out who’s who in real life, though it was very obvious who a certain character was. I just wanted a good story. And in PLATINUM I found that…almost. The lives of the characters were interesting. The build up was good. The ending was a let down. The majority of PLATINUM was very good but somewhere nearing the end just lost its momentum. A lot of things were left in the air, questions unanswered. But not in a there’s a sequel coming kind of way as much as the author left it up to you and that’s real life. And it is real life, but I wanted a complete story with the author providing answers and resolution to all questions and issues she raised.
Aliya King’s story of fame and its highs and lows is easy to follow and hooks readers from the beginning; I just wished I had stayed on the hook. PLATINUM was good but could have been so much better. Still, I could easily see myself reading another book by King.
*Rant* And let this book be a lesson to all those authors writing books about lifestyles in which their characters are laced in designer labels from head to toe. While the characters in this book obviously had the money and circumstances to wear the best and most expensive, this author DID NOT drown readers with label dropping. Labels were not needlessly tossed on each page as many unfortunately are doing today. When you have it, you don’t have to talk about it!
3.5 stars
2K11 Challenge Review
July 15, 2010
This work of fiction into the entertainment world of hip-hop rappers, wives, girlfriends, groupies, and 100 bars of DRAMA was fun to read. I was already a fan of Aliya S. King after what she did with singer Faith Evans' memoir. This book is written well and a true page turner. The characters are likable and you discover very early which ones you are rooting for and which ones you are certainly NOT. I like the pace of the book. My cons of this book would be the fact that you have to pay attention a little harder in terms of the 'status and situations' of each rapper & wife. It gets a little tough to remember who's into what. The characters Kipenzi and Cleo definitely add a little extra drama that is fun and indulging. One of my favorite characters would have to be Josephine though. Tough as nails she is! One other thing that keeps this from getting a higher rating is the fact that its too easy to envision these characters to real life rappers...some may see that as a plus lol. It's a flaw to me because I like to be taken into a NEW and different world altogether when reading these kinds of books. Also some of the story lines are things that have always been present in the entertainment industry (via blogs, gossip sites, etc). Some more FRESH scenarios would have been nice! Overall this is a good read. I am proud of Aliya (and I don't even know her lol). I recommend this to anybody that feels the entertainment world is a guilty pleasure for them. Decent ending also. IF there's a sequel, I'm there Aliya! Owwww!
July 11, 2010
Too Hot to Handle
Aliya S. King’s “Platinum” is nothing short of brilliant. It centers around Alex Maxwell. Alex is a writer and master at her craft. She's given the assignment to pen an article about hip-hop wives. As Alex delves deeper into the wives’ lives, she listens to their heartfelt stories and she begins to feel a kinship with them. Alex herself is engaged to an up-and-coming rapper and begins to wonder how close the women’s lives mirror her own.
Meanwhile, Cleo, the ultimate groupie, prides herself in the fact that she has slept with the majority of entertainers in the hip-hop world. Cleo decides to write a tell-all book and Alex is hired to be the ghostwriter. Cleo names each one of the artists she's slept with and this bombshell threatens to bring the hip-hop world to its knees. Cleo has rappers running for cover.
As Cleo's book continues to create havoc and aware of the repercussions once the book is released, Alex begins to wonder if working on the book was such a great idea after all. She also can’t help but wonder whether her fiancé’s name will be among the men Cleo has slept with.
King skillfully shows the downside of show business. With non-stop drama and realistic characters, she showcases her considerable talents in this electrifying book. “Platinum” is a must read.
Reviewed by: Anna
Aliya S. King’s “Platinum” is nothing short of brilliant. It centers around Alex Maxwell. Alex is a writer and master at her craft. She's given the assignment to pen an article about hip-hop wives. As Alex delves deeper into the wives’ lives, she listens to their heartfelt stories and she begins to feel a kinship with them. Alex herself is engaged to an up-and-coming rapper and begins to wonder how close the women’s lives mirror her own.
Meanwhile, Cleo, the ultimate groupie, prides herself in the fact that she has slept with the majority of entertainers in the hip-hop world. Cleo decides to write a tell-all book and Alex is hired to be the ghostwriter. Cleo names each one of the artists she's slept with and this bombshell threatens to bring the hip-hop world to its knees. Cleo has rappers running for cover.
As Cleo's book continues to create havoc and aware of the repercussions once the book is released, Alex begins to wonder if working on the book was such a great idea after all. She also can’t help but wonder whether her fiancé’s name will be among the men Cleo has slept with.
King skillfully shows the downside of show business. With non-stop drama and realistic characters, she showcases her considerable talents in this electrifying book. “Platinum” is a must read.
Reviewed by: Anna
September 11, 2010
makes you play a guessing game figuring which pseudonyms are for which real-life persons. brilliant.
June 21, 2017
The plot was pretty thin, there was a saturation of characters (Beth & Z's children confused me every time AND I did find it pretty annoying that every character was literally just an actual celebrity that you could easily recognize. After all of that...I still found myself interested.
April 21, 2011
A book based on an article written in Vibe a few years ago about Hip Hop Wives caught my eye immediately. I read Bling which is similar a few years ago and loved it so I gave this one a try.
It surrounds the lives of 5 women: A writer (Alex) engaged to a up and coming rapper (Birdie) is giving an assignment to interview three hip hop wives/girlfriends for an article for Vibe magazine. Since she is engaged to a rapper and is keeping it a secret, this hits a little too close to home for her as she is also ghostwriting the book of Cleo, the video "vixen" that's slept with every rapper in the game....or has she?
Josephine Bennett is married to producer/rapper Ras Bennett who is blatantly having an affair with Cleo struggles with her husband's infidelity as well as the fact that she cannot have any children. Now she has to deal with the release of Cleo's book, exposing their affair.
Kipenzi Hill has been in the game since she was 3 and wants out at age 30. She has dated Jake, rapper and record label owner, since she was 18 but they have never publicly admitted to this. Now that she's retiring, she's ready for things to change and to be come a faceless person living in NY.
Beth is married to Z, a former crackhead and rapper/labelmate to Jake. Kipenzi is Beth's BFF. Typical white girl married to an abusive black man that's also a doper, popping out kids even when he openly cheats on her and brings her diseases. She chases him all over the world, dragging her 4.5 kids around after him, trying to "save" him. Everybody is very unsurprised that Z would be making an appearance in Cleo's book. She was the most disliked of all the characters besides Z. She couldn't handle the 4 boys she had but was bringing another child into the world, because it was a girl this time.
Cleo is the video vixen that's basically Karrinne Superhead Steffans without the moniker. She wrote the Vixen Diaries and is a total evil, vindictive bitch, pretty much Superhead in print.
I enjoyed the book although I was not fond of the outcomes. I knew a character would probably die but I hoped it would be Z. It was hard to feel sorry for Beth and Josephine but Josephine at least got more respect from me. Kipenzi was my favorite character and I was upset she died but I really didn't like how it mimicked Aaliyah's passing in 2001, right down to the black and white Vibe cover of Kipenzi and her birth and death dates. It was sad and disturbingly familiar to me.
Other than the ending, I'd have given it another half a star. I didn't match the characters to actual people until after I read the article in Vibe.
I've been talking to Aliya via Twitter and there is a sequel in the works. I can't wait to read it.
It surrounds the lives of 5 women: A writer (Alex) engaged to a up and coming rapper (Birdie) is giving an assignment to interview three hip hop wives/girlfriends for an article for Vibe magazine. Since she is engaged to a rapper and is keeping it a secret, this hits a little too close to home for her as she is also ghostwriting the book of Cleo, the video "vixen" that's slept with every rapper in the game....or has she?
Josephine Bennett is married to producer/rapper Ras Bennett who is blatantly having an affair with Cleo struggles with her husband's infidelity as well as the fact that she cannot have any children. Now she has to deal with the release of Cleo's book, exposing their affair.
Kipenzi Hill has been in the game since she was 3 and wants out at age 30. She has dated Jake, rapper and record label owner, since she was 18 but they have never publicly admitted to this. Now that she's retiring, she's ready for things to change and to be come a faceless person living in NY.
Beth is married to Z, a former crackhead and rapper/labelmate to Jake. Kipenzi is Beth's BFF. Typical white girl married to an abusive black man that's also a doper, popping out kids even when he openly cheats on her and brings her diseases. She chases him all over the world, dragging her 4.5 kids around after him, trying to "save" him. Everybody is very unsurprised that Z would be making an appearance in Cleo's book. She was the most disliked of all the characters besides Z. She couldn't handle the 4 boys she had but was bringing another child into the world, because it was a girl this time.
Cleo is the video vixen that's basically Karrinne Superhead Steffans without the moniker. She wrote the Vixen Diaries and is a total evil, vindictive bitch, pretty much Superhead in print.
I enjoyed the book although I was not fond of the outcomes. I knew a character would probably die but I hoped it would be Z. It was hard to feel sorry for Beth and Josephine but Josephine at least got more respect from me. Kipenzi was my favorite character and I was upset she died but I really didn't like how it mimicked Aaliyah's passing in 2001, right down to the black and white Vibe cover of Kipenzi and her birth and death dates. It was sad and disturbingly familiar to me.
Other than the ending, I'd have given it another half a star. I didn't match the characters to actual people until after I read the article in Vibe.
I've been talking to Aliya via Twitter and there is a sequel in the works. I can't wait to read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2010
Aliya S. King knows what she's talking about. For years she has written for such magazines as Vibe, Essence, and US Weekly. She co-wrote Faith Evans' memoir Keep the Faith and the upcoming Frank Lucas book Original Gangster. She has been around hip-hop and celebrities and she probably knows some secrets.
Platinum is her first novel and she has drawn upon all her experience to bring us a juicy debut all about the world of hip-hop. Alex Maxwell is a freelance journalist who is ghostwriting a memoir by video vixen Cleopatra Wright. Cleopatra's book promises to tell all about her exploits with some of the biggest names in hip-hop and she's naming those names. At the same time, a magazine that Alex freelance's for assigns her a story to cover a day in the life of the wives of successful hip-hop artists. Meanwhile, she is planning her wedding to an up and coming rapper - a relationship that no one knows about. How does she make sure that all these worlds don't collide?
When you hear the term "beach read", seldom are books by African-American authors mentioned. But I can tell you that this is the perfect book to take with you to the beach or pool or your own backyard this summer. You will also try to guess if these characters are based on real people and who are they! An awesome, page-turner that takes you inside the lives behind the celebrity.
Platinum is her first novel and she has drawn upon all her experience to bring us a juicy debut all about the world of hip-hop. Alex Maxwell is a freelance journalist who is ghostwriting a memoir by video vixen Cleopatra Wright. Cleopatra's book promises to tell all about her exploits with some of the biggest names in hip-hop and she's naming those names. At the same time, a magazine that Alex freelance's for assigns her a story to cover a day in the life of the wives of successful hip-hop artists. Meanwhile, she is planning her wedding to an up and coming rapper - a relationship that no one knows about. How does she make sure that all these worlds don't collide?
When you hear the term "beach read", seldom are books by African-American authors mentioned. But I can tell you that this is the perfect book to take with you to the beach or pool or your own backyard this summer. You will also try to guess if these characters are based on real people and who are they! An awesome, page-turner that takes you inside the lives behind the celebrity.
Read
July 29, 2010Platinum is an entertaining, fast-paced read that not only leaves you on the edge of your seat, but provides a full serving of drama, plot-twists, and realism. King shows all that glitters is not gold and brings the human condition into the world of celebrity seamlessly. Relationships, chemical dependency, and child rearing are a few of the subjects touched upon and will have readers questioning what they would do under similar circumstances. What I most appreciate about this novel, is that it did not highlight the fancy cars, trips around the world, and groupies in a distracting manner. However, it makes those things less titillating. I recommend Platinum to readers who want a different perspective of the life of the lavish and who enjoy well-crafted fiction pieces involving hip-hop and celebrity culture.
August 2, 2016
I didn't think this book would be any good but it surprised me how much I liked it. Felt bad for Beth but hey she tolerated it !!! she & her boys deserved better....Kipenzi was a free spirited fire cracker ; I wish she & Beth would've got together & beat Z's ass if you read the book you'll know why. . . Cleo oh wow that girl a straight revengeful no heart Superhead 2.0 ! if you read Superhead Video Vixen book you'll know what I'm talking about. Me personally I couldn't relate to these characters but they were a good read
September 27, 2010
Fun, quick read that certainly tarnishes the celebrity lifestyle. The character development is excellent, almost too good, in that I found it hard to like any of them. Alex, or hero, is the most likable, though she is more of narrator than a character. The rest of the bunch I found that I loved to hate them all. Platinum was described by Aliya S. King as the perfect beach book, and I agree completely. The best part of this book is trying to figure out who each character is in real life.
March 16, 2011
This may be compared to a modern-day Jackie Collins' novel; trash at its best! Really, if not for the winter doldrums I probably wouldn't have read it, but having gotten it at my library for $1 I just couldn't resist, and it was a fun read for sure. A little hip-hop, a little nuts, a little grotesque for a feminist to digest, but overall entertaining, and I couldn't help but giggle at the Saddle River, NJ references. Who wants it?!
June 29, 2011
The ending was rushed. Too rushed. And.. everyone just lives happily ever after? Yeah right. I liked this book for it's catty-ness but hated it for it's simplistic writing. This book could be so much better. If it was a little longer and the characters were better expunged... it would have been a really good story. It sometimes felt like the story was ripped right out of a gossip magazine. I do appreciate that it was a lot lighter of a read than the thrillers I usually read.
May 30, 2011
it was alright, but it was kind of dry. things just didn't flow. it felt like more a telling of facts than a creative story. the beginning read so much like character synopses. it didn't feel imaginative. honestly, the characters seemed to stick entirely too close to the real lives of entertainers we all imagine we know from all the gossip and stories created by a 24/7 news cycle.
July 7, 2014
This book was good. I enjoyed it SOOOO much. The only thing I didn't like about it was the fact that there were so many characters. Once I got to know the characters better and was able to understand who was who, I began to enjoy the book so much more. I can't wait to see if this author has written anything else. I really liked it.
July 18, 2010
What a perfectly fun summer book. Juicy and gossip and filled with behind the scenes music industry business. Easy to guess who the main characters were based upon but they remained their own characters regardless. Fun.
January 24, 2011
I LOVED THIS NOVEL! Fabulous characters, intricate plot & I'm left wanting more. A must-read! Aliya S. King does a great job telling such a salacious tale without the raunchiness you find in most urban fiction novels.
April 3, 2011
I thought that this book could have been so much better. It was 2 steps up from hood lit. I thought that the writing was good but the plot was thin and unoriginal, as it was based on real life events. I didn't like it.
October 13, 2011
Not bad. It kept my interest. Plot wise it was a little weak but with that being said it was well written. You came to care what happened to the people in the story which is pretty good considering the characters are not real. It was missing some steamy sex scenes.
March 12, 2012
I liked the book. But is it me or where some parts of the book loosely based on real celebrity stories. I will have to read another one of her books to really determine if I am a fan or not. I mean it was a page turner but I really wasn't getting inside the heads of these characters.
July 16, 2010
Good, juicy, fast read about hip hop wives. I have a full review here.
August 3, 2010
Loved it! Can't wait for the sequel!
November 27, 2010
not what I expected
August 4, 2011
My review is on my blog -> http://mahoganie.wordpress.com/2010/0...
September 15, 2011
loved it
December 27, 2011
I really enjoyed this book! Would like to read more from her.
March 18, 2012
Okay, I tried to read this but I didnt really like it. It was kind of boring for me, I ended up reading Section 8 by Kwan and never returned to this one.
February 24, 2012
Really enjoyed this book.
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