Kwan (Gangsta) You are clearly not the same person I met last year. Somebody has gotten in ya ear. And they probably ain’t in da industry. I thought you would be the Robin ta my Batman. But it wuzn’t ta be. Clearly you had other plans, ulterior motives. You have taught me to “B-more careful” of whom I let in my circle. I coulda pulled ya coat ta so many things, but …. Nevermind. … You got da game all figured out!

Much love to Travis Hunter (Heart of Men), Brenda Thomas (Threesome), Oscar (at Our Black Heritage on 135th Street), Lacey (Love, Life & Loneliness), Hue-Man books (125th Street), Ms. Villarosa and Mrs. Ewing. To Monique Patterson (St. Martin’s Press), Zane (Nice meeting you. You got the blueprint I’m tryin’ ta follow. You go gurl!).

Much love to Carol and Brenda (C&B Distribution). Ya’ll my peeps! I will always keep it real. To Bronx Book Palace, Hermena, my street team Hawkins “Hawky” Books & CD’s (125th Street)—a lot of love for ya’ll. Mr. Reid (Seller Books in Jamaica Queens), we gonna do big things. Much love to Diana (Books Plus in Brooklyn), Nicky (the bartender at Harry’s Triangle), Goody, Unique (a.k.a Rhonda) and Destiny (good looking). Shout-out to Harry’s Triangle staff.

I wrote in my last book, “If I forgot ya name, charge it to my head, not my heart.” But obviously y’all didn’t hear me. Some of y’all really hurt me to my heart wit ya pettiness. Can y’all just be happy fa me? Somebody finally made it off the block, legally. Those who were there know! This may be the last time I ever do this.

Thanks to da Block: Jfish Avenue and Boston Road. Thanks to Junie (a.k.a. Black Caesar), Franklin “Junior” Greenway, Ronald “Oriental” Bryant (Sit tight my n*****—I’m ’bout ta do us!). Mark Sandy; Curly “Mo-Dollar” Bennet (come home soon); Dave Cook (I kept my word!); Richie Tee (How could I forget you?); Soldier; Clarkie; Tank; Universal; Jerry “Sha” Brisbane and Trevor “Skatts” Sing; Lamont “Cheese” Harris; Michael “Knott” Palmer; Rich-Mo; Lil Danny; Floyd Murray; Half Pint a.k.a. Jules Jackson, Jr.; Jerome Miller (aka Basic); Georgie “G” Edenwald; Pretty Boy Floyd; Simon; Jip; Juice; DJ Stan Strong. My homegirls Roslyn “Poopie” Bryant, Alicia “Butter” Mayes, Monique and Tracy Adams, Vicky Vail a.k.a. Maria, Debbie, Talisa, LeLe, Nahleen Smalls, Lauren Stevens, Ms. Linda Johnson (Canarsie, Brooklyn), Sharisse (get well soon!), Shanora Sherri Middleton. Thanks to 220th St. Lorenzo “THE L” Ellis (Dat’s my Boy!), Eric White, the Jackson Family (thank you for embracing me from day one!). To Diana (Smith Cairns Ford), thanks for the sweetheart deal. Kevin Jackson (my trusty assistant), Shamika Jackson (will you???? … figure out da rest). B-more Homies: Thomas Long, Robert Wise (Balitmore’s finest), Rich, Shamus and Chris Robertson, Chet Parjardo (Pajardo Wear), Boosty, Sweets, Gail and Rasheed.