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Justify My Thug (Thug Series #5)

4.56 of 5 stars 4.56 · rating details · 948 ratings · 85 reviews

Justify My Thug continues the scintillating drama of Wahida Clark’s bestselling Thug series. Following the action of Thug Lovin’, the story rejoins the saga’s favorite couple, Tasha and Trae, as they try to overcome their troubles and make their marriage work. Meanwhile, Jaz is facing drama of her own. In the torrid world of sex, drugs, and crime, Wahida Clark continues he...more

Paperback, 288 pages

Published April 26th 2011 by Cash Money Content

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Feb 07, 2013 Ashlee rated it 2 of 5 stars

Being that I have read the whole series and I really couldn't wait for this one to come out,I was very disappointed. The story was nothing like i ever imagined it would be like, it felt like i found myself reading it just to know what happened with the characters but not enjoying it like i did with all of the other books. I felt like this book was rushed and a real let down to anyone who was anticipating this book for as long as we waited, the story was just a on going drawn out series of events...more

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Jul 22, 2011 Sheena at Hot Eats and Cool Reads rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aa-and-urban, series, fiction

Tasha and Trae fell off their damn rockers in this one. After reading this series almost back to back I can say this book is definitely a little different from the rest as far as the characters go. Damn near everyone is cheating, murdering and getting knocked up and not with each other... whoa! Of course this is not the series end, because nothing was resolved and we were left hanging once again!

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Aug 14, 2011 Aisha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Man I loved this book I read it within hours, it kept me on edge the entire time. I've grown to really love and hate these characters, I loved how Kaylin is still the voice of reason and attentive to his wife Angel. Words can not explain how feel about Marvin man I was disappointed, Faheem and Jaz I'm still on edge about them I know that they have history and I've read about some of it but there's more lying there with those two we'll see in the next one I guess, and finally Trae and Tasha Mackl...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Angelia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own

As I stated before these are sooo NOT the Trae' and Tasha that we fell in LOVE with in Wahida's previous novels.....Eventhough this one was different from the other's in the Thug series, I still couldn't help turning the pages to see what would happen next.....with that being said I can't wait to see what Trae, Kaylin, Kendrick, Faheem and Rick will do next and what will the WOMEN who LOVE them Tasha, Trina, Jaz and Angel do when it comes to the THUGS in their lives....but like Tasha said if we...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

The first Wahida Clark book was Every Thug Needs a Lady. Since that book I was hooked like a a fish. So I feel if you havent read the previous 4 books but you somehow ended up with this in your hands, STOP! Do not pass GO! Go read the others, you might actually understand why these couples and characters are so loved and act the way they do. I just feel you cant get the whole feel of this Thug Series without reading them. Now... So I read this book about a couple months ago along with Thug Lovin...more

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Oct 13, 2011 Chanel Price added it

this book was good. cant wait till the nexts one. tasha and trae need to get back doing the family thing i hate too see them having problems.Faheem and Jaz WOWW Wahida had shocked me with them.. how could faheem put her out the house. and how could he sleep around on jaz with that SKANK Oni. i think that marvin had got what he deserved but i didnt like that trae had killed him. hopefully Kyra can find the missing pieces she is looking for to get back to her child . OMG Kaylin and Angel.. i cant...more

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May 29, 2011 OOSA rated it 1 of 5 stars

I Didn't Drink the Kool-Aid,

I don't even know where to begin with this review. I won't bother with a recap because those that have followed the Thug series already know the players and what it is. "Justify My Thug" picks up where the last book left off. To say that I was disappointed, insulted or stupefied wouldn't begin to express how I felt while I was flipping the pages of this book. I don't know who any of these characters are but they are not the same as the series started out with and that...more I Didn't Drink the Kool-Aid,

I don't even know where to begin with this review. I won't bother with a recap because those that have followed the Thug series already know the players and what it is. "Justify My Thug" picks up where the last book left off. To say that I was disappointed, insulted or stupefied wouldn't begin to express how I felt while I was flipping the pages of this book. I don't know who any of these characters are but they are not the same as the series started out with and that readers grew to love. It's like `The Invasion of the Body Snatchers' or something. It looked like them. They had the same names. But these are not the same characters. Everyone seems to have digressed in maturity with age. Love turned into abuse and disrespect. Domestic violence and verbal abuse is not cute or sexy nor can it or should it be justified by thug mentality.

A lot happened in this book, yet nothing happened. It was just a bunch of strung along events and characters running around doing things with no real plot or purpose except to make it possible for another book to keep this series going. Add to that a lot of pointless sex. There was no closure and, instead, new issues were brought into play that now makes it necessary for readers to continue on to get answers. Five books in, readers deserve more. I feel cheated and insulted.

With Cash Money backing this project, I expected, at the very least, quality editing. That is not the case. More than the copyediting issues, though, was the obvious lack of a content or developmental editor. A qualified person would have picked up on the plot issues. And that person should have definitely nixed this narration. The alternating first-person narration was ridiculous. I counted sixteen, yes sixteen narrators with some narrations as short as one paragraph. Readers are forced to jump from one character to the next to the next to the next, all within the same chapter. Many of the characters that got airplay through their own narration weren't even central characters. Because of this, there is zero connection with any of the characters. Apparently character development stopped in book two or three. I didn't even bother counting how many times the narration switched as I'd still be counting. And just when the narration issue couldn't get any worse, the book flipped to third-person temporarily only to flip back to the ever-changing and dizzy first-person.

Many scenes were unbelievable. Some will reason that it's not that serious, that this is a work of fiction. Exactly. Fiction, not fantasy. With some of the outlandishness of this book, it read more like fantasy. I could give example after example in this review but that would only spoil the book for someone else.

I initially loved the Thug series and Wahida quickly became one of my favorites, but I don't know what happened here or honestly with her last few releases. "Justify My Thug" is like a rocking chair. It was moving but didn't go anywhere. I'm sure that with her tons of fans there will be plenty that like this book just because it's Wahida. I don't doubt that if this book was published by a first time or unknown author, the reviews would not be the same. But for those willing to be honest and real, on the strength of the content of this book, "Justify My Thug" falls way short of the power of the beginning of this series as well as Clark's talent (displayed early on in her career). It's very unfortunate as these originally were some really great characters that a lot could have and should have been done with. Now they are just doing any old thing for the sake of more books. It's almost as if someone else had a hand in this or the fire is gone. I feel that same way about her other recent releases. Either way, I wish Ms. Clark the best and I truly enjoyed her first releases, but I'm sorry, this is it for me.

Reviewed by: Toni
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Dec 11, 2012 Mikeisa Jones rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had a cousin who was into the streets all his life but when he had his 1st son he tried to leave the streets alone. Only it wasnt that easy because the people from his past was never far behind. After trying to leave his past behind he ran into some enemies that still had a problem with him and didnt care that he was trying not to get involved with everything. The tension evenyaully lead to an altercation and now he is taken from his son and is facing 8 years in jail. All because he wanted to...more I had a cousin who was into the streets all his life but when he had his 1st son he tried to leave the streets alone. Only it wasnt that easy because the people from his past was never far behind. After trying to leave his past behind he ran into some enemies that still had a problem with him and didnt care that he was trying not to get involved with everything. The tension evenyaully lead to an altercation and now he is taken from his son and is facing 8 years in jail. All because he wanted to let the past go but other people didnt.

This book is part of the Thuggs series that I been reading. Justify My Thug book talks about the drama with the newly wed couple Tasha and Tre. Whle moving out the ghetto and starting a suceesful career Tasha is forced to choose between her career or Tre. As bad as she want to bring Tre along he is not ready to give his bad habits drugs, lies and scandals up. Tre does'nt want to leave selling grugs behind but but Tasha fear it can cost her her job. Eventaully Tre past starts to catch up with him and everything spins out of control. The past that Tre is trying so hard to let go off catches up with him when he runs into some enemies from his past. Remembering the promise he made to Tasha Tre tries to avoid it all but the problem followed him. He made one final mistake which landed him in jail facing 25 to life. With all that is going on Tasha is right there supporting him hoping that can make it out this situation.

This books talks about events that happens everyday in actual reality. The author Wahida Clark said when she write she try to write stories people can relate too and thats exactly what she did. She writes about the things she saw around her growing up. I think she did a good job in ctaching the actual reality in her stories. The choices made in this book are things we have to decide from anytime we have an altimatium. Even when the decisions are hard you have to know when to decide to help better yourself. Which is eaxctly what Tasha had to do and that is whats best for her and her career.

Reading these stories make me feel like im one of the characters and everything is happening to me. I like that feeling because it makes me want to read more and make finsihing the book easier. I also like the type of genre of this book becauase I can relate to the things each character goes through. Especially with experiencing a simular situation like this is my own personal family. I know if this is something I can read and relate too I know other people can do the same.

To me the lesson of this book is that everyone past will eventually catch up with them so be careful with what you do. Whats done in the dark comes to the light. Tre learned that the hard way and it also caused him his family that he waited so long for. At least he know later down the line if he gets out that the streets is not worth losing everything.(less)

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Jun 07, 2011 Shanika added it · review of another edition

i must say this book was on point! a lot of people say trae was wrong for sleeping with that charli lee but tasha went overboard. sleeping with someone who ur mayne sees as family is off limits. but trae beatin up on tasha like dat was overboard too. but he got her mind right. anda situation between faheem jaz and oni was shockin too. i couldnt believe he threw jaz on da streets like dat. i never saw dat comin. but i was really blown away when kyra was still alive. i really thought she was dead....more

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May 14, 2011 Authoress YungLit rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 10, 2011 Robin Strain rated it 2 of 5 stars

I became a fan of the Thug series with the first one. I actually ready Thug Lovin first before realizing this was a series and I was hooked. However, I must say that now after reading all, I didn't enjoy this one like the others.

Trae and Tasha along with Kyra and Marvin were by far my favorite couples and this book really just destroyed these couples. There is no way I believe that Tasha and Trae really are so in love. Tasha is fearful of her life so she stays. Trae's ego is too big to let her...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Keasha Imstillstanding rated it 4 of 5 stars

From the very 1st Thug installment Thugs and The Women who Love Them to Justify My Thug I've been hooked....but this book here has knocked the wind out of me....the #1 couple from the Hood to Hollywood is on the breaks....this wasn't suppose to happen, Tasha broke the ultimate code with this one....but everything there mg else and all the other characters are on track....this installment had me excited, disappointed,happy, sad and hanging on to every page turning detail....getting impatient wait...more

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Jun 10, 2011 Nicki Kamiesh rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 18, 2011 Mareissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was excited when part 5 of this series released. But..I was still left with my mouth hung open waiting for answers. Although Tasha and Trae seemed to be the focal characters in this book, I was taken for a spun with Jaz and Faheem's situation, Krya, and Oni's place into the book. The POV style that it was written confused me at first.I know for sure there will be a part 6 and Wahida's work had been incredible with the last four (Thug Matrimony being my fave! ), I just felt that this book lacke...more

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May 13, 2011 Cami rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was upset by the way it just ended i hope theres going to be another one..cause i love these books

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Jul 30, 2011 Andrea White rated it 5 of 5 stars

she never lets me down
this book rates off the charts

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Sep 18, 2011 Janea Readalot rated it 1 of 5 stars

I HATED THIS BOOK…i was completely disappointed in this book, none of the characters where the same, they were either negative as hell or being hoes. I know the characters have to grow and change but this is just to much change, wahida is the bomb and i love her writing so much but she super fell off with this. So miss clark if your reading any of these reviews, i just have one request pleaseeeeeee bring back the characters that we know and love. Especially tre and tasha and please don't go mis...more

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Mar 30, 2013 Mel rated it 3 of 5 stars

I haven't read a book in this series for quite a while... Maybe that's why this one was a little disappointing. It kept me entertained, for sure. Maybe I need to go back and reread the others? I can't really remember the characters being like this? I can't really comment on the Trae/Tasha relationship. Simply because it's abusive and, while fiction I just can't understand how someone busting my face would lead to sex of any kind. In real life it's easy for people to judge women in abusive relati...more

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Apr 27, 2011 Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars

There were alot of unanswered questions in this book. I feel the ending was a let down, so I know there has to be yet ANOTHER sequel to this series. After waiting so long for answers, only to be left with even more unanswered questions was somewhat bogus to me. And OMG how much more drama is Trae and Tasha going to go through? So much abuse was really over the top. BUT I will say this, " If this series would end with the next novel, I THINK I would read it, otherwise I'd just prefer to draw my o...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Eva Leger rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: b-urban-fiction, preqs-seqs-series

This was going so good for me. I usually hate when a book gets so out there but I'll admit at anytime that Clark has a knack for it. This was damn near a five star book for me even though it was unrealistic along the lines of a John Locke book, just with an urban flavor.
So, everything was going great. Until. Until page 230. On that one page Clark nearly ruined the entire book for me. I had to work hard to not throw the book on the damn ground. Why would Clark, an established author in her genre,...more This was going so good for me. I usually hate when a book gets so out there but I'll admit at anytime that Clark has a knack for it. This was damn near a five star book for me even though it was unrealistic along the lines of a John Locke book, just with an urban flavor.
So, everything was going great. Until. Until page 230. On that one page Clark nearly ruined the entire book for me. I had to work hard to not throw the book on the damn ground. Why would Clark, an established author in her genre, put her own damn self in her own book? Why? That is the number one most tacky thing an author can do and you know, I don't see it all that much - if ever - outside of this genre. Why is that? All of a sudden readers are hit with this oh so intelligent paragraph:
"...Why? Because my shit is still on point. I checked my Twitter account and all of these haters was on there tweetin' about... you guessed it... ME! So fuck this next ho emailing my girl Wahida talking about I'm a chicken head. I'm this, I'm that. NO! What I am is full of Thug Matrimony, Every Thug Needs a Lady, and me and my girls all have Thugs and we are The Women who Love Them....."
I think that one paragraph is the single most tackiest I've ever witnessed in any book - EVER.
If anyone knows the author I'd love to have my question answered - why? Why? For the LOVE OF GOD WHY? There's no need. You do not need to shamelessly plug yourself and every book in the series in a BOOK THAT'S IN THE SERIES! The person reading it ALREADY HAS IT IN THEIR HANDS! I don't get it. That's something I'd expect from a first time author who has no hope of ever making it. Not Clark. I'm still disgusted.
Besides that horrible mess the story is the usual. Not so realistic but as I said before, she makes it work. At first I thought I had messed up by not reading them all back to back because the characters didn't seem how I remembered. Then I read another review that mentioned the characters being so different so I'm guessing that's where my issue came from. But it still worked.
This story switches between all of the major characters - and even some extra minor ones - which makes like a dozen people, if not more, back and forth and back and forth. It made for some confusion. I found it hard to keep up with who was who and that shouldn't have been an issue being that I've read each book in this series.
I also expected this to be the end. I mean, after all, how long can you keep a series going for? Or, better yet, how long should you keep a series going for? I hope Clark doesn't try to pull more than one more book out of Tasha and Trae. Any more than that would make the entire series plummet.
I really hope she refrains from inserting herself, her titles, her friends names, and their titles, in her future works. Am I the only person who thinks this is tacky as hell? Especially from one of the most well known authors in urban fiction? It smacks of Toy Styles shameless plugging under the guise of "honoring" other authors. I've come to expect that from her after reading a few of her books - not from Clark. :((less)

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Aug 24, 2011 Odessa rated it 1 of 5 stars

This was by far the worst book of the series I found my self reading it just to end the series I had feel in love with them and by the end of this book I was ready to justify my thug and kill them all off I would just like to say I would like money back for just that one book the other books mainly the stretching book I would gladly party double man I was so hurt by whatTosha and I felt that Tosha wa a big let down but look how she got with Trae she pieced to be ahood rat

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Mar 27, 2013 India Jones-tanner rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have read every book in this series and some were better than the others. This one, it was filled with drama, but some of the drama didn't sit well with me.

Trae went from being a devoted, loving husband to a woman beater! After some mind-blowing make-up sex, he chokes her almost killing her. If that wasn't enough, he busts her lip, tries to push her out an airplane, demands she gets an abortion, and then makes her perform oral sex on him. WHAT?!?!?

Also, there were too many different story li...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Msbella rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

Fast entertaining read but it's more of the same from Wahida. This book had so much potential to be a 5star read but it fell short in the end. Theres still many unanswered questions so I expect the series to be dragged out even longer. Faheem, Jaz, and the new twist saved the book for me. I'm so over Trae and Tasha. Hope Wahida focus more on the other characters in the next installment because I can't take no more of their back and fourth, running in circles. 3.5-4.0star read.

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Jan 05, 2012 Bridget rated it 1 of 5 stars

Okay, I heard so many people say Wahida Clark writes good stories, well they just are not for me. I read this book to almost the end and then I realized I couldn't stomach the subject or the vulgarity of her books. I did do some research on her and I do feel she is a great business woman and I love her riches to rags back to riches story. This thug passion/love fiction isn't for me, but it was different and I am glad I at least gave it a try. To each their own! Happy Reading!

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Apr 28, 2011 Ranae Baker added it Recommends it for: Hell Yeah

I have waited for this book for so long and i was there to get it as soon as they the book was put on the shelf, I read the book in 4hrs, and just like i knew it would be it was the BOMB!!!!! I love Wahida Clark she always keeps it hood and i know theres another book coming out to this series because there is still some unfinished business in the family, so please don't make us wait long Wahida.

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Apr 20, 2013 Metris rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was really an intense reading love, lies, drugs, theft, murder!!!! Justify My Thug was continuation of the life of my favorite Hustlers and their Lovers. Angel & Kaylin were kind of laid back in this book. Kyra & Marvin take turn for the worst. Jaz & Faheem (the coolest Hustler) were dealt some unexpected drama and last but not least Trae & Tasha still struggling to put their life and marriage back together!

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Aug 29, 2011 Sequoia Carr rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

OMG! This book was off the chain Wahida Clark you did a great job. I never wanted to put the book down. Now I am wondering if there is another one telling what happen after trae killed kyron. Please anyone let me know if there is a book after this one that tells what happen after this book. I loved this book and Every Thug Needs a Lady to. Big props to wahida clark she did her thang.

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Feb 13, 2012 Rakia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio-books, african-american-fic, good-reads-2012

The story was fine but I didn't like the production of the audio book. Too many sound effects actually cheapens an audio book. All you really need are good narrators. Somewhere in the middle of the story the authors starts shouting out about her other books and twitter haters. WTH? Then it goes back into the story. It was like some weird hood subliminal messaging.

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Sep 04, 2011 Monisha rated it 5 of 5 stars

This Book OMG! Tasha Tasha Tasha Is All I Can Really Say... I Understand The Fact That Trae Had Cheated On Her And She Was Hurt But Come On Now That Was To Close To Home Honey!..And Kyron I'm So Glad Trae Offed His Shady Ass.. Just Wondering How Kaylin And The Rest Of The Santo's Clan Is Going To Take This I'm So Ready For The Next Part!!

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Nov 25, 2011 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Still a good read. Became a little silly on the parts when Tasha was talking about the whole twitter thing and named the author and all the books the author has written. That kind of messed up the vibe. The ball was dropped on China Li or whatever her name was b/c after they killed Stephon then never re-visited the subject but maybe that will be in the next book.

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About Wahida Clark

Wahida Clark was born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey. She decided to start writing fiction while incarcerated at a women's federal camp in Lexington, KY. Her style is street, raw, and she has an imagination that's in overdrive. When you read her novels they are so real you are convinced of one of three things: that you are inside the book, you know the characters, or you just have to meet them....more

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Quotes from Justify My Thug

“ Like They Say, the game is chess, it damn sure aint checkers. Every move I make is so that i can conquer and destroy. " -- Trae Macklin !” — 34 people liked it

“We aint in the game to love these hoes, you suppose to hit it and pass it to the left. I diidnt love that hoe , it was just something to do. " -- Kyron Santos” — 15 people liked it

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Justify My Thug (Thug Series #5)

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