The explosive street-lit epic of Power and Beauty continues When his mother was killed, Paul "Power" Clay and his closest friend, Tanya "Beauty" Long, fell under the spell of Slim Simmons, a savvy and ruthless Atlanta businessman. To Power, Slim's world held everything he thought he wanted: women, wealth, and power. He discovered too late that Slim is a ruthless killer. Now Beauty must broker a dangerous bargain to save the man she loves. But is saving Power worth sacrificing herself--body and soul? A tale of gangstas and sistas, money masters and politicians that moves from Paris to New York, Atlanta to Tokyo, the Caribbean to California, Trouble & Triumph is a hip-hop mash-up of loyalty, betrayal, revenge, desire, greed, family, politics, and absolution-- and of two unforgettable young star- crossed lovers from the streets who will risk everything for their dreams . . . and for each other.

Drawing upon his experiences as a young drug dealer in Atlanta, acclaimed hip hop artist T.I. makes his street lit debut with a powerful modern novel of love, tragedy, and hope that vividly brings to life the realities and choices for those who live beyond society's manicured edges. Paul Power Clay and Tanya Beauty Long have only each other when the woman who loved them, Power's mother, Charlotte, unexpectedly dies. Sexually drawn to each other, the sixteen year olds know they must keep their attraction hidden, especially from their new guardian, Charlie "Slim" Simmons, a rich hustler who has his own plans for them. As Slim takes Power under his wing and introduces him to the dark side of Atlanta, he also tries to corrupt Beauty's independence and innocence. Eventually driven apart, the teens' lives take very different paths. Yet neither Power nor Beauty can forget their love, and one day, one of them will have to save the other. A dark, gritty story of sex, violence, hustling, and redemption set on the dangerous streets of Atlanta and peopled with larger-than-life characters, "Power and Beauty" demonstrates the versatility of one of our most promising talents and is sure to connect with his millions of fans.