Wahida Clark
Urban Book Source
February 2007

Jarold: Wahida, tell me about your upbringing? What was life like before the sentence?
Wahida Clark: What’s average? I came up in the hood and you know how that is. Survival of the fittest. Welfare, food stamps, government cheese, weed, boosting, partying. I had the average dysfunctional family, (smile). I always had a roof over my head and clothes on my back. Single parent home in the projects, Donnelly Homes, until I was about 9 or 10 then we moved to the West Side of Trenton with my Aunt Ann and Uncle John. May he rest in peace. That was all love. Before I was incarcerated, I was running my businesses and working a 9 to 5. Ironically, working the 9 to 5 is how I caught my case.

Jarold: So I take it that you went to trial?
Wahida Clark: I took my case to trial and loss. That’s right. This sista here lives by the code: Death before Dishonor. However, I lost two appeals so I don't hit the bricks until 07.

Jarold: Hmm, Death before Dishonor. So you don't have any love for those who snitch?
Wahida Clark: Not at all. When everything is going good, they eating, balling, and getting paid, taking care of their families, it's all gravy and they are happy to play their part. But as soon as the shit hits the fan their weakness and hypocrisy gets put on blast. The sad thing is without snitches the government 98% of the time doesn't have a case. Snitches tell the things that the government wasn't even aware of. If everyone on my case would have stood tall we all would have walked.

Jarold: So how has prison affected your views on life?
Wahida Clark: I appreciate being with and having a family that much more. I no longer take the simple things in life for granted. Freedom. My physical freedom is truly valued. If you have been locked down, or did time with a loved one you understand what I’m saying.

Jarold: How are you being treated by guards and inmates?
Wahida Clark: My fellow inmates show me lots of love and support. The guards, I stay out of their way and treat them with respect, so they can only do the same for me.

Jarold: Everyone is fascinated with the fact that you got to roll with Martha Stewart. Tell us what she was like?
Wahida Clark: I didn’t hang out with her. I met with her on several occasions. She put together a Business Seminar, with us allowing the guests to pick her brain. And I met with her to go over my business plan for my publishing company. She gave me some very valuable feedback. Martha is cool. She did her little five months like a trooper and was always willing to help you out if she could. Plus my agent used to date her niece and told her to look me up when she got here. Which she did. The first day she hit the compound she was asking who knows Wahida Clark. By that evening I had got the message and I went to meet her. I thought she was going to be standoffish. But she was the total opposite, to my surprise.

Jarold: So how did the inmates treat her?
Wahida Clark: Whenever I got with her it was always on a business tip. So I didnít always see how the rest of the population was treating her. You always gonna have your haters and I would hear different comments. But me? I'm not a hater. I’m a congratulator. I’m trying to get where she is. She is big time. Certified Gangster for real. Whenever you can do time and turn on the preview channel and see your TV show getting ready to air: That’s Big! Whenever you can do time and your magazines are coming out every month: That’s Big! Whenever you can do time and two major retail chains that carry your products merge and you make a billion: That’s Big! Whenever you can do time and your stock from your company is steadily rising: That’s Big! Whenever you can do time and when you set your foot out the gate and a TV show is waiting for you: Thatís Big! Whenever you can do time and bounce on your own private jet: That's Big! You get my point? I think she’s a brilliant businesswoman.

Jarold: Speaking of business, tell us about your upcoming projects and Thug Matrimony.
Wahida Clark: Well, I have an anthology coming out called, What is Really Hood? Vol. I. It is an Anthology of five blazing hood stories, by Victor Martin (A Hood Legend), Shawn “Jihad” Trump, Bonta, myself and introducing Mo Foxx. Everyone is on lock. Then in April '07, the highly anticipated, Thug Matrimony drops. Ninety-eight percent of my readers, hit me up and say, “Wahida, we love Payback is a Mutha, but…whats up with Snake? Angel's Wedding? Is Trae dead? Please don’t leave us hanging like that.” Well, all of the answers are in the highly anticipated Thug Matrimony.

Jarold: How do you keep your ear to the streets that is in literary business? How do you know what is going on with your books?
Wahida Clark: I read, I watch, I learn, I study. My team at home is whats really good: my husband, my sisters-in-law and my daughters, Hasana and Wahida.

Related features/articles:

Wahida Clark: Video Exclusive
Copyright Infringement: Keisha Ervin vs. Wahida Clark
Wahida Clark and Editor Depart

For more information on Wahida Clark, visit www.wahidaclarkpresents.com and/or myspace.com/wadhidaclark. Write to:P.O. Box 8250, Newark, NJ 071

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Tina C :

Posted 10 days ago

I love you so much you are a great author and writer and i love the thug series i just got done reading justify my thug when is the book after that coming out im dying im about togo insane I need that book as of yesterday PLEASE hurry and drop that book please!!!!! Im waiting patiently wahida girl..

Shekeria Chamberlin :

Posted 350 days ago

I can NOT get enough of Wahida...she is the absolute best when it comes to capturing the "realness" of the streets...I read mostly while at work, so all of my coworkers has dealt with there share of involuntary outburst from me when I get caught up in the moments, and they definetely know not to bother me while Im getting my mental stimulation on. I just became a fan about two years ago, and since then I have had to go out and purchase all of her books that I hadn't read up until that point. Justify My Thug...smh...I cursed, yelled, and laughed, but I enjoyed EVERY minute of it...Wahida Clark...thats whats up

Angela Moore :

Posted 370 days ago

IM A BIG FAN OF MS. WAHIDA CLARK, I LOVE HER BOOKS . I HAVE ALL OF HER BOOKS. I READ DEM OVER AND OVER I CAN'T GET ENOUGH SHE'S DA BEST. I HAVE OTHER AUTHORS, I LOVE WAHIDA IS #1 N MY WORLD. HER BOOKS ARE SO GOOD U JUST FALL IN LOVE WITH THE CHARACTHERS AND SHE SPEAK THE REAL. IM FINISH WITH JUSTIFY MY THUG HAVE READ IT 5 TIMES..LOL. IM READY FOR BOOK 6 MS. WAHIDA PLEASE HURRY I CAN'T WAIT..LOL. I LOVE U KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

Alisha Irvin :

Posted 387 days ago

IM A SUPER BIG FAN OF THE THUG SERIES. I HAVE BEEN WAITING MONTHS FOR JUSTIFY MY THUG AND IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT. I HEAD IT IN TWO HRS ON MY KINDLE. WHEN DO WE GET BOOK SIX IM DYING TO SEE WHAT CHARLI LI HAS PLANNED FOR THE TACKLING AND TO SEE WHAT TAKES PLACE AFTER TRAE DOES THAT TO KYRON MAN I CAN'T WAIT

Reneshia Cain :

Posted 435 days ago

I just want to say I love all of your books, and i'm dieing to read the second part of Thug Lovin. When do you think that will be out? I'm checking web sites and bookstars and everything dieing to read more. I'm with LaTrice, I'm dieing to find out who's the father of Tasha's baby, who is she gonna end up with, Is the thing with Tasha and Karon gonna ruin Trae and Kaylin's friendship? Are the gonna get little Aisha away from Marvin, are the gonna do something to Marvin, or is Kyra gonna be in a hospital somewhere? I was wondering about Trae and Tasha that's my favorite couple of them all. As you can see my mind is working and i'm very curious. So please don't make us wait much longer.

maya :

Posted 562 days ago

Is there going to be a Thug Matrimony, Volume 2??? As it says on the second to last page of Thug Matrimony (1)

LaTrice Rocker :

Posted 606 days ago

I just wanted to say i love all ur books and i cant wait until the second part of Thug Lovin to come out (if thats what your naming it) im waitin to find out who father Tasha's baby and most importantly if anybody finds out hat happened to Kyra........Please dont make me way so long

Nikki :

Posted 771 days ago

Ok so I've read Thug Lovin last night (Yes in one night) been dying to see what happend after Thug Matrimony...I fell in love with Trae and Tasha in Every Thug Needs a Lady and fell in love with the girls in Thugs and the Women who love them...( read that severl times)..ok back to Thug Lovin..I was devistated that Trae betrayed Tasha chasing that paper...taking her for granted and then was disappointed that Tasha stooped to sleeping with Kaylins brother that's like sleeping with family and to get pregnat was just a mess....I'm a hopeless romantic and really hoping it's Trae's baby...can't wait for part 5. Ms. Clark please give me a happy ending ....a girl has to believe that it happiness works out for somebody!!!!!!!!

latisha :

Posted 808 days ago

are you coming out with a part five im dyeing to know what happens to trae and tasha and kyra her daugter etc

regina :

Posted 822 days ago

need to have new book on thugs loving are what ever you are going to call this oneplease dont make us what long please

Amanda :

Posted 901 days ago

the book your thinking of is thug lovin...thats the last book she came out with. For that series it goes thugs and the woman who love them, every thug needs a lady, thug matrimony, then thug lovin...with the payback series it goes...payback is a mutha then payback with ya life..then final payback which hasnt came out yet

marian :

Posted 902 days ago

hello wahida i really love all your books,but im kind of confussed,i dont know which one goes first and second and third,i read all of them but not in order,i was reading this one called thugs and the women who loved them and it finish where trea came to trinas house tasha was staying with her and she took a pregnancy test cause kyron maybe got her pregnant and trae saw him and got mad,it finish there and i need to find the nezt book after that im curious?im addicted to them books,or if anybody knows please let me know ill appreciate it,i love all your books wahida,you are very talented on my opion,and i know i speak for more people out there too,well much love to you wahida,and i hope you have good luck doing a movie,i would never leave my house if there was lol,i love to believe im in it,it seems so real,well good luck and let me know.

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