CAN'T KNOCK THE HUSTLE EXCERPT.

Luther Del Vega aka Lu takes you on a journey reliving his childhood and the events that lead up to his own fate as he sits dying from a gunshot wound. While the readers know the demise of the lead character from the inception of the book, it doesn't stop you from pulling for him at every turn. From a tumultuous childhood where he is abandoned by his drug addicted mother and forced to fend for himself and his siblings, to his reunion with his mother later in his childhood, to his induction into a life of crime and going in and out of prison. While in prison Lu is transformed from learning about his African heritage and culture even changing his name to become a man he truly wants and tries to be in the music business. On the streets Lu enrolls in college and takes up with a past flame, but his past life catches up with him pitting his love against him in a war they never saw coming. Can't Knock the Hustle is a story that is true to many living in the hoods across America. It is a story about real life and making choices and wrestling with change. It paints a vivid portrait of how a dysfunctional family affects a child's decision making and life view.

Excerpt from Can't Knock the Hustle:

"You little motherfucker you, so you want to play games with my life and try to get me fired from my job." The second shift C.O. that usually watched me circled around me and said.

Wasn't anything stupid about me I knew what time it was. Word must've gotten back to him about how my lawyer was acting and threatening people's employment. I know that one of those damn nurses ran their mouth to him before he even had a chance to be comfortable. That's just how they got down. Every day it was the same routine for me. Wasn't anything new and nothing ever changed no matter how hard I tried. I sort of grew accustomed to the ass-whippings that the C.O.'s were dishing out to me. If they did not occur every day than something definitely was wrong and out of order.

"I can't stand you fucking niggers," the C.O. backhand slapped me in my face. "You think that you all are better than us don't you? Yes! I know what the problem is. The problem is that you niggers have too many rights. Well I'm about to put an end to that for you right now.

God damn Democratic nigger lovers should've never help set y'all free. You about to feel the pain that Kunta Kinta felt when I'm done beating your ass. Yesss Sir!"

The C.O. took off his belt and started beating me across the chest and face while I was still strapped down to the chair. His leather belt tore open my flesh with each strike and hurted so bad that I couldn't stop the tears from falling from my eyes. Helplessly I sat and got my ass beat. Literally!

"Yippee, these Coons have emotions. This one here actually cries when I beat his nappy headed ass. Billy, Bob, and Jane quick you have to come see this," the C.O. yelled out to his colleagues. A few seconds later three more people rushed into my room-or whatever you want to call it - out of breath.

"Look here Billy watch this," the C.O. that was beating me said to one of his buddies. He held his belt up high and let it crash down against me. This time I didn't give him or his friends the satisfaction of seeing me cry again. Even though the lashes I received hurt like hell I sucked it up.

"Look at what? Ain't nothing special about you beating a nigger unless they're crying or begging you to stop," Billy said.

"But...but he was just crying a few minutes ago before y'all came in here. I swear it! Just watch you'll see. I'll make him cry again." He went to raise the belt in the air to swing on me again but Billy grabbed his arm before he could release his swing. You could see it in his eyes that Billy had just embarrassed him.

"Let me show you how it's done."

Billy started his tirade of beating me, but I still wouldn't cry. Everybody in the room took turns beating my ass trying to prove to one another who was right and who was wrong. It wasn't until a black Ray Lewis looking C.O. delivered my bag lunch, seen them beating my ass and didn't do anything to stop them that I started crying. It hurt me more than anything to actually see another one of my people turn their back on me when they were in a position to help. I now realized why my Grandma took all of those people into her house when she didn't have to. The rest of the day seemed like I was getting beat. The C.O.'s without a doubt did a good job of wounding my pride.

********************

I parked outside of the Lakeside building and rung the first doorbell that I seen hoping to be buzzed in by anybody. Security guards came to the door wearing uniforms with guns on their hips. They searched me for any weapons before they led me through an apartment that lay hidden behind steps that led to other apartments on the second and third floors.

There were naked women sitting at a table bagging up that Boy when we walked through the door. Straight ahead I could see other naked females that were wearing surgeon masks on their faces while they stood over a stove. The security guards directed me to the room on the left where Kee-Love was.

When I went into the room Kee-Love was sitting behind a wooden corporate style desk with ten bricks of dope on it stacked in two rows of five. Money laid scattered throughout the room taking up most of the space. There was a makeshift path created by the money stacks that led to the desk. I walked down the path and stopped inches in front of from where my sister sat. Kee-Love smoked on a Cuban cigar as her feet rested on top of the desk concealed in forest green gator pumps.

"I'm glad to see that you could make it here safely Lu. Would you like a cigar," Kee-Love offered me?

"Nah, I'm good sis I'm here for one reason and one reason only; I'm not going to sugar coat this or beat around the bush."

"Hold up," Kee-Love interrupted, "how is your day going sweetie?"

"Fuck that did you put a God damn hit out on my wife to get back at her brother," I raised my voice enraged?

Kee-Love removed her feet from off of the desk and slouched down close over it. She took off her Gucci sunglasses that matched her pumps so that she could look into my eyes then carefully chose her words before she spoke.

"I'm sorry that you had to find out like this, but yes I did put the hit out on Mar Shauna. I didn't put the hit out to just get back at Big Time; I did it so that he'll suffer. Those bullets were meant to kill Mar Shauna so that Big Time would forever grieve over the loss of his sister.

But it just so happened that she lived and y'all baby died. Trust me though, if I didn't want you to know you wouldn't have known. It was like a relief when one of my soldiers seen T.B. giving you the scoop because I couldn't bring myself to tell you what happened." Kee-Love stood to her feet after she finished saying what she had to say. She made her way over to me with her head hung low and her arms open for a hug.

Fake tears formed in Kee-Love's eyes, but I had seen this act before. I looked over my right shoulder to see what position the security guards were in. They stood on each side of the closed door with their hands crossed in front of them. "Fuck it," I thought to myself.

With all of my might I balled up my fist and punched Kee-Love in her face. My hand connected with her jaw knocking her over the desk. I jumped over the desk and positioned myself over top of her with my hands around her throat.

"Bitch, I should," I punched Kee-Love in her face repeatedly; "kill your crazy ass. Are...you...retarded you stupid bitch?"

I wrapped both of my hands around Kee-Love's throat and banged her head against the floor continuously. I was so worried about hurting Kee-Love that I had forgot about her security guards until I felt the cold steel that they carried on their hips smack me upside my head. The force of the blow knocked me on my ass beside my sister. They both were standing over top of me with their ratchets by the time I realized what just happened to me.

"I'll stay down if I were you," one of the security guards said to me when I tried to get up

The other security guard that was standing closest to Kee-Love woke her up with light slaps to her face. She stood to her feet and rubbed her jaw as she watched me lay motionless on the ground with guns pointed in my direction. Extending her hand for me to grab Kee-Love helped me to my feet. Using her left hand she brushed off my clothes.

"You got a good left hook; I had to check my jaw to see if you broke it. Lu, you got your shit off, we're even now. Let's move on and let this shit go. You have my word that I'm not going to do anything else to try to get back at Big Time, but I promise you this, if you ever put your damn hands on me again," Kee-Love got closer to me and stared into my eyes, "I'll personally blow your brains out brother or not. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

I didn't even bother to answer her question; I turned my back on her and walked out the door. She just started a war between us and I think that she knew it. I couldn't let what she said or did slide. It wasn't as if she put a hit out on somebody that I associated with; she conspired to the death of my unborn seed. Somebody had to get it.

It was on, wherever I seen Kee-Love or Mizz Murder; that's where it was going to pop off at. I pushed past the addicts crowded in the hall ways in front of an apartment waiting to get their fix and made my way to my wheel. I drove erratically through the streets wanting to get home as soon as possible. The thought of my own family crossing me kept on eating at me. Soon as I got home I called T.B. without acknowledging Mar Shauna.

"What's the business nephew," T.B. answered the phone?

"I need some fire power Unc. Not any small shit either. I'm talking 'bout a couple ratchets that holds more than thirty rounds each clip, no handguns. Could you handle that?"

"No doubt come through right now and I got you."

"Give me a half hour and I'm there."

"Say no more!"

"One!"

"One!"

I changed into some old Dickie shorts, a white tee-shirt that had oil stains on it, and a pair of beat down Air Max '95 before I went to see T.B. I wanted to look like a normal working person just in case the cops wanted to pull me over when I had the fire power on me. The cops loved to pull over a young black brother when he looked like he was getting money. I wanted to avoid that situation at all cost. Mar Shauna was standing in front of the door when I came downstairs prepared to leave.

"Where the hell do you think you are going? You're not leaving me in this house by myself any more. I'm tired of that shit and I'm not living like that anymore Lu. Now, you either take me with you or I'm out. I love you with all of my heart, but I didn't marry you to sit around while you run the streets. That's not going to work," Mar Shauna expressed her feelings to me

How could I explain to her that I was going to pick up guns to avenge the death of our dead baby girl with? What would her reaction be if I told her my brother and sister were the ones that tried to kill her? In my heart I knew that it seemed like I was neglecting my wife, but I was trying to shield her from harm.

"You're right boo, I'm wrong for neglecting you these last few months and leaving you in the dark about some things. Come on, I'm going to explain everything to you in the car." I put my arm around Mar Shauna's neck and opened up the door for us.

We rode in my old Buick that was parked in our garage. I told Mar Shauna everything from Kee-Love putting the hit out on her and the reason why to Mizz Murder clapping at her on the way to T.B.'s house. To my surprise she didn't burst into tears. Her reaction was the same as mine except that she was ready to ride on her brother for jeopardizing her safety and the life of our child as well.

The conversation between me and T.B. was kept to a minimum when I went to retrieve what he had for me. Mar Shauna watched as T.B. put a Tommy gun, Uzi, and a S.K. in a black duffle bag for me. The S.K. had a night vision scope and silencer on it; each gun had an extra clip that matched it.

T.B. did not know what the fire power was for so he never asked me for any money nor did he try to talk me out of doing what I planned on doing. I slung the bag over my shoulder and me and Mar Shauna went on our way.

We stopped at Wal-Mart to get some black Dickie overalls, gloves, ski masks, and two pair of black generic construction boots. We changed our clothes in the car and then proceeded to stake out in front of the Lakeside trap house. I knew that it was only a matter of time before Kee-Love came out because she never stayed in any of her trap houses longer than a few hours.

Night time quickly fell upon us with no sign of Kee-Love coming out. Mar Shauna intently watched the traffic flowing in and out of Lakeside from the driver's seat as I paid close attention to Kee-Love's Beamer that was parked a block in front of us on the right side.

Sitting in the car for a long period of time was starting to test my patience. I was about to cancel our plans until I seen a white Chrysler 300 C with tint on it pull up beside Kee-Love's 760. One of her bodyguards got out of the front passenger seat and opened up the driver side door of her 760. Another bodyguard got out of the rear passenger side of the Chrysler and opened up the rear driver side door of the BMW.

He got in the car quickly followed by two other bodyguards and Kee-Love. They moved from car to car with the speed and preciseness of roaches in the projects when the light was turned on. Mar Shauna seen what was going down, and turned the car on without me telling her to do it. Instinctively Mar Shauna followed the car. The Chrysler was behind the BMW, but that didn't stop Mar Shauna from keeping pace with the 760.

Mar Shauna tailed the crew of carpoolers all the way to the highway. Kee-Love was going somewhere that I wasn't familiar with.

"Baby, go around this Chrysler and pull up next to the 760," I directed as I tossed the S.K. on the floor and got the Uzi from out of the duffle bag.

I rolled down the window and positioned myself outside of it. When Mar Shauna got close enough I wrapped my finger around the trigger refusing to let go until everything in the clip was empty. For a split second I and my sister locked eyes before I squeezed. She smiled at me through her rolled up windows which pissed me off more. I pointed the Uzi directly at her, but the bullets that galloped her way were returned my way just as fast as I let them fly. They were bouncing off of everything I shot at.

"Shit, baby peel out, that bitch got bullet proof windows on here wheel."

Mar Shauna sped out in front of Kee-Love's car, but her glance at what I was doing gave the Chrysler enough time to catch up with us. Our back window suddenly started shattering as bullets crashed through when the car behind us begun shooting at us.

I crouched down in the seat and tried to get a better look at who was shooting at us in the Chrysler and on what side were they shooting at us from. Both of the passengers on the right side of the Chrysler had their arms out the window throwing shots. The fire flashing from their hammers as bullets escaped blocked me from getting a good view at which one I was going to pick off first.

"Boo don't panic, I'm going to get us out of this," I calmly said to Mar Shauna trying to get her to remain cool.

"I got this baby just focus on the task at hand," she replied.

I crawled into the backseat to get the S.K. that I put back there. Making myself as small as I possibly could I focused the scope on the shooter in the front seat and tapped the trigger. Through the scope I saw the people in the car trying to figure out where the shot came from. I refocused the gun on the driver prepared to shoot again, but the BMW pulling up beside us distracted me. Out the corner of my eye I seen a gun aimed out the window of the 760, so I fired a shot in the direction of the Chrysler without looking then turned my attention back to Mar Shauna.

"Hit the brakes baby," I shouted out to Mar Shauna.

As she hit the brakes bullets flew past where we were at a second ago as the 760 kept going. I watched the bullets go over the hood in matrix awe only this was happening fast. Mar Shauna waited in the middle of the highway for my command. Behind us the Chrysler must've crashed because I could see the car flipped over through the rearview mirror.

I don't know if my bullet hit its mark or if it hit something else, but the bullet did hit something that caused a crash. On my command Mar Shauna drove to the next exit and turned off. My cell phone was ringing non-stop when we walked through the door of our home.

"What da business is," I answered the phone?

"Lu," I heard Mom Dukes crying hysterically on the other end, "They found...they found my baby dead in your Charger this morning. The police are looking for you. They want to ask you some questions because they think that you had something to do with the death of your baby brother. Please...tell me that you didn't have anything to do with your brother dying."

"Slow down Mom, the police want to do what for what reason? They found my baby brother where when? I'm going to call my lawyer and go down to the police station. I'll call you and let you know what's up when I get back."

"I want to go down there to support you; could you please come get me," Mom Dukes begged?

"Give me a minute and I'll be there."

I called my lawyer Bill and asked him to meet me at the police station before I went to go pick up Mom Dukes with Mar Shauna by my side. We rode to the police station where I sat in an interrogation room for an hour with Bill answering questions on my whereabouts during the time of the triple homicide. Thanks to Mar Shauna I had an airtight alibi that verified that I was at home in the morning. The detectives let me go when they were done questioning me.

Bill and I parted ways after the interrogation. He never once said anything to me when were finished like he usually did. I wondered if he knew about the situation between me and Kee-Love because she had him in her pocket. He was her right hand man if any legal troubles ever arose. At first I never paid any attention to Bill's actions, but how he stepped off on me was out of the ordinary.

Fuck it, if this was the way that things had to be between us because of shit that didn't involve him then so be it. I wanted to cut all ties with Kee-Love and Mizz Murder anyway.

Mom Dukes stayed at my home for the next few days grieving over the loss of her youngest child. Ms. White sat with Mom Dukes most of the time to be her shoulder to lean on while I was out making funeral arrangements with Mar Shauna. Mom Dukes was taking the loss very hard. She had two nervous breakdowns within the three days that my little brother has been dead.

Mom Dukes probably would've accepted the death of one of her three oldest children better because each of us did things in our past that could come back to haunt us, but Chaney was pure. He was the only innocent person in our family that consistently strove to better him and make Mom Dukes proud; therefore he didn't deserve to die a violent death.

The media somehow found out that my brother had died and made it headline news. They tried to make it seem like his death was over some type of drug deal gone bad. It's sad that the media only wanted to put me on the front page of the newspapers and on prime time news when things dealing with violence or drugs were involved. They never highlighted the positive achievements or struggles that I overcame to get where I was at. Only thing that they cared about was controversy.

I wanted Chaney to be buried with Lisa, but her family had her body flown back to Atlanta. They didn't want Lisa to be associated with Chaney anymore than she already was because of the way she died and because of the way the media speculated that their deaths were associated with drugs. Lisa's mom constantly called the number to the house blaming my brother and me for the death of her daughter.

On the day of the funeral myself, Mizz Murder, and Kee-Love rode in the limo together with Mom Dukes. Never did we exchange pleasantries inside of the wheel nor show any signs of discomfort; we each just took our turns comforting the woman that gave life to us.

Following behind the limo was the Khalfani Productions family and an army of Kee-Love's troops. The media surrounded the tabernacle when our transportation arrived in front of the building. We were escorted inside of the crowded church by a host of family members that showed up to lend a helping hand and say their last goodbye's to Chaney.

After a long drawn out sermon by the pastor, Mizz Murder and I helped the other pallbearers carry Chaney's coffin to the chariot that was going to take him to his final resting spot. City streets were packed with well wishers as we rode to the place of burial. Mom Dukes cried uncontrollably when Chaney's casket was lowered into the ground. We had to pull her away from the sight and carry her into the car when it was time to go.

My mind was focused on ways to kill Kee-Love and Mizz Murder at the same time after the funeral services were over. Sitting next to them in the limo only added fuel to the fire. It took everything I had to restrain myself from jumping on one of them. Seeing Mom Dukes grieve so heavy over the loss of Chaney helped influence my decision to be the bigger man and keep my cool.

I sat in the XKR that I bought for my brother on the day of his death thinking of the times we shared together. His scent was still in the brand new leather seats which made it hard for me to believe that he was gone. Mar Shauna sat in the passenger seat speechless. She allowed me the space, inside of the sports car, to take a trip down memory lane. The urge to go to the studio and do something special for my bother got the best of me, so I followed my heart and did just that.

My wife watched as I put together a soulful, melodramatic sound in ten minutes. The beat brought out the feelings that I was feeling. You could hear the pain in each horn that I added to create the beat.

Soon as I got finished putting the final touches on the track I called Rock Out to lay something down on it. In less than fifteen minutes he was listening to the beat trying to figure out what he was going to say in his head. When he composed the song in his head he went into the booth and laid down three verses.

I loved the song automatically and wanted to put it on our compilation album, but he suggested that I let Summer sing the hook to give the song more of a soulful sound and put it on his album as a bonus track. Taking his advice I called up Summer and she came over and tore the hook that Rock Out wrote apart. The song became "Dead and gone."

Loose Change, GMC and Tasha met us at the studio the next day. Tasha was headlining her first official tour with our artist as her opening acts. I brought Mar Shauna along with us because we were going to be on tour for the whole month of June.

Our schedule was full all the way until July 2 which was the day that Rock Out's album was coming out. His single burned up the charts for the whole month of May and we were hoping that the momentum from that track would carry on for the month of June because we didn't know what his next single was going to be yet.