Platinum

by Aliya S. King

Book Overview

Commissioned by the hip-hop magazine she works for, journalist Lola Maxwell sets out to write an article about the 'glamorous' lives of women who married multi-platinum-selling hip-hop artists. She starts by interviewing Beth Saddlebrook, wife of aging rapper Z and soon realizes that Beth's perfect world is not so perfect. As Lola slowly breaks her way into the guarded personal lives of these women, she fears she may have more in common with them...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1439160252
• ISBN13: 9781439160251
• Release Date: July 2010
• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Amazing read!!!

The buzz has been building around award-winning journalist Aliya S. King's new novel Platinum, about the "glamorous" lives of hip-hop WAGs (wives and girlfriends) for some time now. Having just turned the last page, I can confirm that it's addictive. As in, that's all I did all weekend. At restaurants, coffee shops, in my bedroom, on the balcony, I couldn't put the thing down. It made me cry, it made me laugh, it made me nostalgic, it made me want more (thankfully, the way it's set up makes you think there will be a sequel). The story revolves around Alex Sampson Maxwell, a fearless hip-hop journalist who stays busy writing for places like the New York Times and Vibe. Engaged to an up-and-coming rapper herself, Alex is tasked by Vibe to write an in-depth piece about these women, who seem to have it all. But as Alex starts peeling back the layers, she discovers that these women's lives are actually marred by infidelity, drug addiction, tragedy, physical and emotional abuse, and betrayal. To make matters worse, video vixen Cleo Wright has decided to air everyone's dirty secrets in a scandalous tell-all, enlisting Alex as her ghostwriter. "If you've been with me, you've achieved something," Cleo's book begins, "I'm a benchmark. Like going platinum." In it, she's about to reveal that she's slept with any and everyone, including potentially Alex's man, Birdie. Which leads to a terrifying realization: Alex may have more in common with these WAGs than she thought. Of course, a big part of the fun is guessing which real-life hip-hop celeb inspired these fictional characters. I'm going to dare to say there's a little bit of Rihanna, Chris Brown, DMX, Jay-Z, Karinne "Superhead" Steffans (who published the New York Times bestselling Confessions of a Video Vixen back in 2005), in here...and much, much more. Latina readers will find Josephine Bennett, the fashion designer and wife of Jamaican superstar producer Ras Bennett, particularly fascinating. She's part Dominican, part French, and she'd give up anything just to have a child with her husband. Only, life is never that easy. I won't give away much, but I'll say one of King's most beautifully written and heartbreaking scenes involves Josephine and Ras in their search to conceive. Platinum is proof that King, who wrote this book inspired by an article she herself wrote for Vibe in 2006, is one of the most exciting voices around.

Too Hot to Handle

Aliya S. King's "Platinum" is nothing short of brilliant. It centers around Alex Maxwell. Alex is a writer and master at her craft. She's given the assignment to pen an article about hip-hop wives. As Alex delves deeper into the wives' lives, she listens to their heartfelt stories and she begins to feel a kinship with them. Alex herself is engaged to an up-and-coming rapper and begins to wonder how close the women's lives mirror her own. Meanwhile, Cleo, the ultimate groupie, prides herself in the fact that she has slept with the majority of entertainers in the hip-hop world. Cleo decides to write a tell-all book and Alex is hired to be the ghostwriter. Cleo names each one of the artists she's slept with and this bombshell threatens to bring the hip-hop world to its knees. Cleo has rappers running for cover. As Cleo's book continues to create havoc and aware of the repercussions once the book is released, Alex begins to wonder if working on the book was such a great idea after all. She also can't help but wonder whether her fiancé's name will be among the men Cleo has slept with. King skillfully shows the downside of show business. With non-stop drama and realistic characters, she showcases her considerable talents in this electrifying book. "Platinum" is a must read. Reviewed by: Anna

Amazing Book! I couldn't stop reading!!!

I read the book, Platinum yesterday, and I must say that I found it amazing! I read the complete book in one sitting, as I was so engaged. Everyone knows that what usually sells is a combination of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Substitute Rock and Roll with Hip Hop/Rap, and all the elements are there! We look at these people from the outside and never know what is truly going on INSIDE their lives. The Appearance of "having it all" and living a glamorous life isn't the whole story. I'm so glad this book was written. I think everyone should read it and realize that the life of celebrities, and their significant others, is not what it appears to be. The feeling of envy for me was certainly replaced with sympathy. I would never give up my normal life for anything like that. The book was well written and it made you feel for each of the characters, even the ones who seemingly didn't deserve it. Well done!

I could not put this book down!

I have been waiting for this book to come out for months. I picked it up on Friday and read it in 7 hours on a flight to Stockholm. I could not put it down. It's the type of novel that you cannot wait to see what is going to happen on the next page. I laughed, I cried and I got angry. And it was great fun trying to figure out what real stars these characters are based on. I didn't want it to end and it left me wanting more. If you are looking for a great summer/vacation read, you NEED to pick this book up!

Platinum - great read!

Aliya S. King's Platinum takes a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of the women behind superstar hip-hop artists -- the wives, girlfriends, groupies, and video vixens -- and shows that underneath the glitz and glamour lies a plethora of pain and suffering. King makes you care about each of the five very different women who are at the heart of the story -- including Cleo, the video model who is writing her tell-all memoir, complete with names and details. King is a master storyteller, and puts her skills to great use here. Platinum is a fast read, and has broad appeal. Although part of the fun of reading the book is guessing which rappers and R & B artists are represented by its characters, the rappers in King's story could easily be rockers or Hollywood stars. Even if you're not particularly interested in hip-hop and R & B, you can enjoy King's storytelling. I look forward to Aliya S. King's next novel.