Tahiry

by Antwan 'Ant' Bank$

In the City of Atlanta; the Gentlemen's Club Industry reign Supreme. Along-side the fledging music industry that contributes platinum hits every other month, together they both pull in Billions of dollars each year. You would actually have to live here or frequent the ATL to see the marriage these two have committed to each other. The biggest misconception is for someone to assume that it's all illegal. What many don't know, is that the city of Atlanta benefits off of every Stripper, Bouncer, Waitress, Dj and Bartender that works in the Gentlemen Club Industry. The truth of the matter is, for any girl wanting to Strip here in the ATL clubs, such as Onyx, Majic, Strokers, Pin Ups, Shooter, Follies, Blue Fame, Blaze, Oasis, Cheetah, Pleasers, Diamonds, Babes to name a few, and trust me there many more! You must first have a permit, from the County that club is in, before you can even think about dancing on any stage in this city. Yep that's right! These permits can only be obtained from the County Sheriff Department where they perform a thorough background check for Felonies and any open Warrants. If you have a conflicting felony you will not get a permit! If you have a warrant, you will not be leaving through the front door but going to the back in handcuffs instead. Permits range from $250-$475 per year depending on which club you are getting a permit for (That's every-year!). How do I know, you ask! Well, let's just say when I first got to the A, I took a Doorman position at one of the most notorious clubs in Atlanta where I met thousands of dancers whom led me to write this story. The club shall remain anonymous because they fired my butt for hustling too hard; Hell I was just trying to show them how to get paper. After all, I did just close a club back in South Khak that I ran for 12 years. Anyway that's another story. Regardless of what you may have seen or heard, the competition in these clubs are fierce and that makes for some slow nights when it come to the cash flow for some girls. So some of them, more times than none; take it to the next level and do what they like to call private parties. For you squares out there, that means Escorting, or Tricking if you want to keep it street. I found myself in an interesting position while working at this ATL Gentlemen's club. The dancers confided in me and asked me to be their driver to some of these so called private parties. The stories from those nights and from other private discussions we had while riding in my car, was unreal! My true passion and God given talent is a writer, so I had to ask these girls if I could tell some of their stories; while keeping them anonymous of course. I was happy as a Kid in a candy store when they agreed. So here it is; several accounts of the ATL night life through the eyes of many dancers that I rolled into one character, whom I named Tahiry. Laced with Cocaine, Molly, Weed, Lean and Z-Bars, this life is in no way, full of glitz and glamour, true crime rides along at every turn, from the streets of ATL this is our story, cold Hearted and Street Official. R.I.P to the dancers we lost to the Strip Hustle. We got love for you.

452 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2014

About the author

Genre's Fiction; Crime Thrillers, Drama, Erotica and Special Interest

Best Selling Author; ANTWAN BANK$ is a native of S.C where he attended College at Mid Lands Tech.; after college he joined the Army and did a four year tour. During his last year in the Army; Antwan got married then moved to Las Vegas (Sin City). It is from that point that his life took a turn in the opposite direction. Unemployed; he and his wife separated and after some searching; he took a job as a bartender and Dj at a Vegas strip club 4 days a week and worked part time at the USPS during the day. After a few months at the club he found himself addicted to the money, women and everything that came with that life. It was then that Mr. BANK$, fell in love with the adult industry and decided to leave the temp job at the USPS. After awhile in Vegas; he decided to move back down south to open his own Gentlemen's club in S.C. He ran his club successfully for 12 years, although causing much turmoil and headache for law enforcement in the Bible belt area; financially; it was a success and legal to boot. So needless to say; he and the cops would have several run ins through-out his 12 year stay. Threats were made, laws were broken, deals were done and life went on as normal as could be with his attorney by his side; as he counted every hard earned dollar. During that time; Antwan also expanded his business and started an Urban Mens Magazine with offices in Charlotte; N.C and Atlanta; where he worked with several video vixens, Urban models, Hip Hop and R&B Artist and Reality TV Stars. After a while he grew tired of fighting with the cops, the threats, dealing with the competition, etc. So in September of 2010 with earnings lower than prior years; he decided to close the club then moved to Atlanta to take on his first love of being a writer. ANTWAN states that; he use to always say; "Boy if these club walls could talk; Oh; the stories they would tell!"

Growing up down south for Antwan was a challenge; he states that he could remember telling his friends that as soon as he got of age he was leaving because there was nothing for him there. Being his Mother’s only son and with two younger sisters, he seen what his mom went through to raise them by herself and how important family was then. The lessons learned back then molded him into a good husband but the allure of Sin City for a naïve country boy would prove to hold precedent. Thus leading him on his life journey; after all, the biggest trick the devil ever pulled was fooling you into believing that he didn’t exist. At the core of all of Mr. BANK$ stories you will find a common thread of Good versus Evil, the war that goes on everyday in all of us.