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Hoodlum
He set out to be the good son, but the streets had a different plan.
Born to one of the city's most notorious crime families, Shai Clark has always managed to be a good kid. A college hoops star, Shai shunned the world that his father had created and focused on his dreams of going pro. Tommy, Shai's trigger-happy older brother, is next in line for the throne and rules under his father through brute force. But Poppa has bigger plans for Shai.
The situation soon turns ugly when Poppa is murdered and Tommy is removed from the equation. Suddenly Shai finds himself at the head of his father's empire and the streets are thrown into chaos. It is then that he must decide whether to pursue his own dreams or put his father's affairs in order. Unable to sit idly by while the Clarks' underworld empire is pillaged, Shai takes up his father's mantle and brings his game to the streets. He quickly learns that there are two sides to every coin, and the streets hold no mercy for the weak.
Hoodlum chronicles three generations of Trinidadian immigrants and their rise to power in the New York City heroin trade.
A K'wan classic.
Born to one of the city's most notorious crime families, Shai Clark has always managed to be a good kid. A college hoops star, Shai shunned the world that his father had created and focused on his dreams of going pro. Tommy, Shai's trigger-happy older brother, is next in line for the throne and rules under his father through brute force. But Poppa has bigger plans for Shai.
The situation soon turns ugly when Poppa is murdered and Tommy is removed from the equation. Suddenly Shai finds himself at the head of his father's empire and the streets are thrown into chaos. It is then that he must decide whether to pursue his own dreams or put his father's affairs in order. Unable to sit idly by while the Clarks' underworld empire is pillaged, Shai takes up his father's mantle and brings his game to the streets. He quickly learns that there are two sides to every coin, and the streets hold no mercy for the weak.
Hoodlum chronicles three generations of Trinidadian immigrants and their rise to power in the New York City heroin trade.
A K'wan classic.
326 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2005
81 people are currently reading
970 people want to read
About the author
K'wan
84 books1,522 followersIn 2002 K'wan hit the scene with his debut novel Gangsta, under Triple Crown Publications. It was the first novel released by the budding house and would eventually become the building block for what is now a multimillion dollar company. What started as a therapeutic release went on to become a part of urban-lit history and an Essence bestseller, as well as drawing rave reviews overseas.
After penning his second novel, Road Dawgz (2003), K'wan drew the attention of St. Martins press. The literary powerhouse quickly signed K'wan to a multi-book deal, the first of which being Street Dreams (2004). In 2008 he received the Black Author of the year award from Black Press Radio for the novella Blow.
Since his insertion into the publishing world K'wan has been featured in Vibe, Pages, King, Felon, Big News, The Library Journal, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Press, Clutch and most notably Time Magazine, to name a few. He was also interviewed by MTV News for a feature on Hip-Hop fiction, and a guest on Power 105s morning show as well as NPR (national public radio). In addition to being an accomplished author, K'wan is also a motivational speaker, mentor to at risk children and the C.E.O of Black Dawn, Inc.
K'wan currently resides in New Jersey where he is working on his next novel.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/kwan
After penning his second novel, Road Dawgz (2003), K'wan drew the attention of St. Martins press. The literary powerhouse quickly signed K'wan to a multi-book deal, the first of which being Street Dreams (2004). In 2008 he received the Black Author of the year award from Black Press Radio for the novella Blow.
Since his insertion into the publishing world K'wan has been featured in Vibe, Pages, King, Felon, Big News, The Library Journal, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Press, Clutch and most notably Time Magazine, to name a few. He was also interviewed by MTV News for a feature on Hip-Hop fiction, and a guest on Power 105s morning show as well as NPR (national public radio). In addition to being an accomplished author, K'wan is also a motivational speaker, mentor to at risk children and the C.E.O of Black Dawn, Inc.
K'wan currently resides in New Jersey where he is working on his next novel.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/kwan
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
April 10, 2017
I wasn't disappointed at all after reading this book; I finally learn how Shai father got killed and how he became to be the leader of his dad Throne and not his brother. He had no choice in taking matters into his own hands after his father got killed by the Mexicans and his brother Tommy getting shot up by police after taking out some of the Mexicans. I kind of felt sorry for Tommy but hell he had it coming so, it is what it is, plus Wetback, I mean Fat Mike and Nicky deserve them shots they got from Mr. G people's karma's a bitch isn't lol. Can't wait for part two to come out on July 18.
May 7, 2020
I heard about the legendary Poppa Clark and the Clark Family through K’wans other books but I have been officially introduced to the Clark’s in this book. The Clark to keep your eye on is Shai. Detectives Alvarez and Brown didn’t learn that until it was too late lol. Those two should tone it down. Talk about a pair who take their job seriously? 🙄 everybody wants to reign supreme in the streets. Hoodlum shows you what happens when you come for the King...
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May 10, 2024I already knew how this story would end because I read the Animal Series first. If you are interested in K’wan books, you should read Hoodlum first. HoodRat Series next, then the Animal Series. It will make more sense.
February 3, 2021
THIS MUTHA FUCKA WAS SO GOOD! *insert claps between each word.
This is the 4th book I've read by K'wan and it's my favorite so far.
When I got into urban fiction back in the day, the ghetto shit, the drug shit, the raunchy shit was cool and gave me something to gasp at, but the intricacy of the plots is what really gets me. A good hood novel reads like crime fiction. You have politics, you have scheming, you have backdoor deals and damaged business relationships, you have war, you have all the shit that makes a gripping story. This shit was just good.
The plot was complicated as hell. There were a lot of characters that were all important in some capacity, even if it was just a matter of knowing which side of the war line they stood on. But even with the complexity of the plot, because of the role the main characters played and their importance with regard to each chain of events, it wasn't hard to keep up with.
The war and the Clarks downfall seems to be being blamed on Tommy and the fact that he's hotheaded and rash, but I don't think so. Yea, he could have used a little more diplomacy when he was dealing with problems because of the potential blowback, especially with him being put in position to take over Poppa's empire, which involved much more than just being a fucking goon. But, I don't blame Tommy for handling Freddy the way he did. Freddy coming in Tommy's establishment making veiled threats under the guise of loyalty and friendship with the Italians was an insult to the Clark family, to their intelligence - because they knew the Italians were not only using them as enforcers, but were supplying stepped on product to the point where they couldn't cut it at all and make any money off of it - but not only that, the muthafuckas were racist, and just like all white people who give black people the dog shit short end of the stick, they literally felt like the Clarks were supposed to be grateful. Fuck them. And when Freddy came in there talking that bullshit to Tommy, like he wasn't a fucking boss, he deserved that ass whipping! Now, Tommy should have gotten someone else to do it, but Freddy got what he deserved nonetheless.
Even prior to the incident in Tommy's office was what brought Freddy down there in the first place. The Italians were selling the Clarks some bullshit. Not even the Italians. One Underboss of one of the Italian families was selling heroin on the side on the low, which is against mob rules, they were using the niggas to dump it, and then had the nerve to be selling them some trash. And the fat Italian nigga Mike who was doing all this was surprised to realize the Clarks knew they were being cheated the whole time. So he decided to go with another supplier, and the mob was gonna have a big ass problem on their hands. Had they been doing good business, there would never have been a problem in the first place. But they were racist snake ass pieces of shit. To me that was the move that started the war. Yeah, there were nasty words and ego involved, of course, but Mike should have kept his sneaky dealings with the Clarks on the up and up. They literally were feeling nervous about the power and fear Poppa and the Clark family had in the streets. Yall know how white supremacy works. Having niggas on their level is the scariest thing to happen.
I don't think Tommy would have been a good leader. I liked him and I understood why he handled shit the way he did. I think that part was also necessary. I think he could have been a better leader with Shai advising him. He could have kept Shai out of the streets, where he didn't wanna be anyway, and listened to him because he had good judgements and analyzed multiple angles of a situation before he decided what should be done.
I'm mad Legs had to sacrifice himself like he did, but he chose that. At least he knows his girl and his child will be taken care of. Shai will keep his word.
As far as Honey, I don't care that she had a change of heart. I don't care that she ended up developing feelings for Shai. And I don't care that she proved her loyalty by setting up Bone. She was a fucking skank, she barely had her kid, and fuck that hoe.
This is the 4th book I've read by K'wan and it's my favorite so far.
When I got into urban fiction back in the day, the ghetto shit, the drug shit, the raunchy shit was cool and gave me something to gasp at, but the intricacy of the plots is what really gets me. A good hood novel reads like crime fiction. You have politics, you have scheming, you have backdoor deals and damaged business relationships, you have war, you have all the shit that makes a gripping story. This shit was just good.
The plot was complicated as hell. There were a lot of characters that were all important in some capacity, even if it was just a matter of knowing which side of the war line they stood on. But even with the complexity of the plot, because of the role the main characters played and their importance with regard to each chain of events, it wasn't hard to keep up with.
The war and the Clarks downfall seems to be being blamed on Tommy and the fact that he's hotheaded and rash, but I don't think so. Yea, he could have used a little more diplomacy when he was dealing with problems because of the potential blowback, especially with him being put in position to take over Poppa's empire, which involved much more than just being a fucking goon. But, I don't blame Tommy for handling Freddy the way he did. Freddy coming in Tommy's establishment making veiled threats under the guise of loyalty and friendship with the Italians was an insult to the Clark family, to their intelligence - because they knew the Italians were not only using them as enforcers, but were supplying stepped on product to the point where they couldn't cut it at all and make any money off of it - but not only that, the muthafuckas were racist, and just like all white people who give black people the dog shit short end of the stick, they literally felt like the Clarks were supposed to be grateful. Fuck them. And when Freddy came in there talking that bullshit to Tommy, like he wasn't a fucking boss, he deserved that ass whipping! Now, Tommy should have gotten someone else to do it, but Freddy got what he deserved nonetheless.
Even prior to the incident in Tommy's office was what brought Freddy down there in the first place. The Italians were selling the Clarks some bullshit. Not even the Italians. One Underboss of one of the Italian families was selling heroin on the side on the low, which is against mob rules, they were using the niggas to dump it, and then had the nerve to be selling them some trash. And the fat Italian nigga Mike who was doing all this was surprised to realize the Clarks knew they were being cheated the whole time. So he decided to go with another supplier, and the mob was gonna have a big ass problem on their hands. Had they been doing good business, there would never have been a problem in the first place. But they were racist snake ass pieces of shit. To me that was the move that started the war. Yeah, there were nasty words and ego involved, of course, but Mike should have kept his sneaky dealings with the Clarks on the up and up. They literally were feeling nervous about the power and fear Poppa and the Clark family had in the streets. Yall know how white supremacy works. Having niggas on their level is the scariest thing to happen.
I don't think Tommy would have been a good leader. I liked him and I understood why he handled shit the way he did. I think that part was also necessary. I think he could have been a better leader with Shai advising him. He could have kept Shai out of the streets, where he didn't wanna be anyway, and listened to him because he had good judgements and analyzed multiple angles of a situation before he decided what should be done.
I'm mad Legs had to sacrifice himself like he did, but he chose that. At least he knows his girl and his child will be taken care of. Shai will keep his word.
As far as Honey, I don't care that she had a change of heart. I don't care that she ended up developing feelings for Shai. And I don't care that she proved her loyalty by setting up Bone. She was a fucking skank, she barely had her kid, and fuck that hoe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2017
I always heard about Shai through the Animal series as a notorious enemy of King James and Animal(Read Eviction Notice and Animal and you'll know what I'm talking about). So I was always intrigued by Shai's background so that's why I gave this book a chance. I loved Shai's demeanor throughout the whole book, especially the ending of him sitting at his father's chair symbolizing the young prince has arrived. Things wouldn't have been so bad for Tommy if he had some diplomacy and sense, but at least he isn't dead. I felt bad that Poppa Clark passed, but I knew it. I loooved Shai's and Honey's connection in the story❤, I felt like they needed each other in this point of their lives. Also, I think as much Poppa Clark hated to give in to Shai running the family he did the right thing because he knew Tommy was bound to mess things up. I also loved side characters such as Legs, Detective Alvarez and Brown, Swan, Angelo, basically the whole squad. Gator's crazy self always made me laugh. He was always down to ride and went out like G. Overall this is another K'Wan classic and can't wait to read Hoodlum 2
November 9, 2007
I never thought I would hear about a black family drug empire but "Hoodlum" proved me wrong because it wasn't a mob family or a italian family it was trinidadians, the Clark family. "Hoodlum" is a great book for it showed a father, "Poppa Calrk" trying to step down from his thrown and give his organization to his older son, Tommy, unaware that it would actual be in the hands of his younger, son Shai. I like the book because it shows more and not just drugs and money but a drug empire that is much more, and the effect the empire has on the family and streets. The book takes you into the roots of the drug life. I fond this book more meaningful than other books that just consist of drugs and money. it shows how "the game" can destroy potential.
November 30, 2010
I was truly afraid to read anything else of his because I feared that None would be as great as this one.
June 4, 2018
This read is cool, I guess.....lmao. If I wanted to read The Godfather I would, for Mi this had too many similarities, The Good Son, The Hothead Son, the Mother being alienated, and even some of the names. I only like one character and even that character reminds Mi of the story, but OK. Now with that being said, it’s not bad it’s just not all that original. And just to much repetitive word play.
January 27, 2010
This isn't my favorite K'wan book so far although it's deserving of a five star rating nonetheless. There were a few too many characters IMO - Alervez and Brown didn't do too much for me and I felt the book would have been fine without them. I loved Priest and the Clark family members. I loved how believable K'wan made Shai's transition from college student taking a break to top man in the Clark family empire.
I loved Sol and most of the other characters too.
There were a few minor editing mistakes but nothing so big as to really take away from the story. The only reason I even mention this is because I don't remember anything similiar in Section 8 or Street Dreams, both of which I've read in the last month. Too many mistakes can definitely take away from a story for me so luckily there weren't enough for that to happen here.
All in all Hoodlum is a great story and I'm looking forward to getting Hood Rat and Still Hood this week and pulling Eve out from wherever I've been keeping it....
I loved Sol and most of the other characters too.
There were a few minor editing mistakes but nothing so big as to really take away from the story. The only reason I even mention this is because I don't remember anything similiar in Section 8 or Street Dreams, both of which I've read in the last month. Too many mistakes can definitely take away from a story for me so luckily there weren't enough for that to happen here.
All in all Hoodlum is a great story and I'm looking forward to getting Hood Rat and Still Hood this week and pulling Eve out from wherever I've been keeping it....
February 20, 2011
YA Lit class - This was a decent story but was way too long.
March 29, 2011
Really tough read. Super violent and everyone dies...and it's not even written well.
September 1, 2013
This was the first book I read by K'Wan a few years ago. I've been hooked ever since.
June 20, 2017
I have a new found love and respect for Shai Clark now .
October 22, 2018
In this realistic fiction novel, Hoodlum, written by K´WAN, Shai Clark is a boy born to one of the city's most notorious crime families, but when things get ugly he must decide if he will take back the city or chase his own dreams.
The setting takes place in Harlem, New York, where Shai, a handsome athletic seventeen year old with black olive skin comes back after having trouble at his old school.
Now in Harlem Shai is caught in the crossfire of the Clark family´s new boss, his trigger happy brother, Tommy. When the old king, poppa, Shai´s dad, is killed and tommy is left paralyzed, Shai must lead his soldiers against poppas killers and take back Harlem.
I truly love this book it really describes a young adult's perspective and since there are also other characters it also puts their perspectives into view. It is definitely a great book for kids maybe 15 and up because it does contain some explicit content but it is part of the story
The setting takes place in Harlem, New York, where Shai, a handsome athletic seventeen year old with black olive skin comes back after having trouble at his old school.
Now in Harlem Shai is caught in the crossfire of the Clark family´s new boss, his trigger happy brother, Tommy. When the old king, poppa, Shai´s dad, is killed and tommy is left paralyzed, Shai must lead his soldiers against poppas killers and take back Harlem.
I truly love this book it really describes a young adult's perspective and since there are also other characters it also puts their perspectives into view. It is definitely a great book for kids maybe 15 and up because it does contain some explicit content but it is part of the story
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November 6, 2023I LIKED READING ABOUT THE CLARK FAM & FOUND SHAI CLARK TO BE THE MOST INTRIGUING.
I'VE LISTENED TO THE AUDIBLE AND HAD READ THE BOOK & I FOUND MYSELF INTRIGUED BY BOTH EVEN THOUGH THE AUDIBLE WENT A HECKOF A LOT FASTER THAN THE PHYSICAL COPY HAD. WITH THE BOOK I HAD DONE A WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLE LOT OF SKIPPING CHAPTERS BASED ON SCENES I FOUND LESS ENTHUSED ABOUT.
PAPA CLARK HAD ANNOYED ME SINCE I HAD READ MY FAVORITE K'WAN BOOK: GHETTO BASTARD/THE BEGINNING, WHERE HE WAS VERBALLY DISRESPECTFUL TO JUSTICE & TAYSHAWN'S MAMA DURING A VISIT TO THE CHURCH WHERE PRIEST WAS.
I DIDN'T LIKE TOMMY CLARK FOR OTHER REASONS.
THE BOOK WAS GOOD THOUGH.
I'VE LISTENED TO THE AUDIBLE AND HAD READ THE BOOK & I FOUND MYSELF INTRIGUED BY BOTH EVEN THOUGH THE AUDIBLE WENT A HECKOF A LOT FASTER THAN THE PHYSICAL COPY HAD. WITH THE BOOK I HAD DONE A WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLE LOT OF SKIPPING CHAPTERS BASED ON SCENES I FOUND LESS ENTHUSED ABOUT.
PAPA CLARK HAD ANNOYED ME SINCE I HAD READ MY FAVORITE K'WAN BOOK: GHETTO BASTARD/THE BEGINNING, WHERE HE WAS VERBALLY DISRESPECTFUL TO JUSTICE & TAYSHAWN'S MAMA DURING A VISIT TO THE CHURCH WHERE PRIEST WAS.
I DIDN'T LIKE TOMMY CLARK FOR OTHER REASONS.
THE BOOK WAS GOOD THOUGH.
February 14, 2018
Flawed but very entertaining. This book had a lot of misspelling and errors. Yet I couldn't put this book down, I was having a fun ride. The story and the pacing were solid. I was surprised how Kwan was able to pull it off along with the juggling the massive amount of characters. Their were some side stories I didn't care for but the main plot between the main character and his family was fascinating. Overall it was a fun read.
October 2, 2021
When reading please acknowledge my grammar is not the best as I am dyslexic.
This wasn’t my favourite Kwan book, and some reason I really struggled keeping up with the vast amount of characters which Kwan always does but some reason this time it really stressed me out. Also there was a lot of grammatical errors.
It was also a slow burner but eventually I did get into the story, and enjoyed it, it’s a classic Kwan novel, and an enjoyable read, giving Godfather Vibez
This wasn’t my favourite Kwan book, and some reason I really struggled keeping up with the vast amount of characters which Kwan always does but some reason this time it really stressed me out. Also there was a lot of grammatical errors.
It was also a slow burner but eventually I did get into the story, and enjoyed it, it’s a classic Kwan novel, and an enjoyable read, giving Godfather Vibez
December 23, 2020
He's only 19
It's a really good story I could see happening . Tommys hot head is an issue for me. There's a shine when being king compassion stredegy and logic has to be there. Poppa Clark is the picture that the Clark's have. Beautiful family and each of the 3 children are different yet the same. Very action packed read. We all need friends like swan and gator .
It's a really good story I could see happening . Tommys hot head is an issue for me. There's a shine when being king compassion stredegy and logic has to be there. Poppa Clark is the picture that the Clark's have. Beautiful family and each of the 3 children are different yet the same. Very action packed read. We all need friends like swan and gator .
January 31, 2021
This was a good opportunity to get a backstory on characters that were introduced to me via other series the author wrote. It took me a bit to get into it, but it was an enjoyable listen overall. I think it was structured well with good character development and while book one didn't pull me in completely, book two did Carey Hite's narration is always on point for me.
October 13, 2024
This book is nothing but the perpetuating the stereotype of Black people. And to top it all off, a 19-year-old thug wanta be, who didn't participate in his fathers illegal activity all of the sudden is capable of pulling off a tremendous mob killing? a one single generational family corruption against a multi generational mob family. Just glorifying being a thug. Do better
January 4, 2018
Turn of events put Shai in a position he never thought he would be in. Poppa gone Tommy paralyze he had no choice. Shai is a man you don't want to cross. Things between Honey and Shai don't look good on to part 2 to see what happened.
July 22, 2019
Never judge a book by its cover
No matter how many times I have read this book, it will always be my favorite. Almost everyone counted baby boy out and he showed them why it was a big mistake.
No matter how many times I have read this book, it will always be my favorite. Almost everyone counted baby boy out and he showed them why it was a big mistake.
September 21, 2017
Loved it!
August 28, 2018
Love this book, can't wait for part 2. I hate that Poppa Clark, was set up like he was. Wondering if Honey and Shai gonna last?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2019
I truly enjoyed this book! So much action like watching a movie 🎥.
Now on to pt 2
Now on to pt 2
December 29, 2019
Big fan of this author. Great read.
May 13, 2020
Great book. Full of a lot of action and suspense. Really good street/crime book to read. Its never boring reading this book.
October 23, 2020
This was a classic hood drug story but I still loved it. The typos were frequent but it didn't take away from the story. I enjoyed the book...now on to the sequel!
November 5, 2020
I didn’t love the storyline. I felt like the main characters didn’t get their light.
January 14, 2021
Secret Gem
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews