From Hustler to Businessman

By Andre Shadi Ali

Book Description
Andre Hill was born in Flemington, New Jersey--a place he has no memory of. His true story begins with disorientation and discovery, when unforeseen circumstances placed him on a plane to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. There, he would be embraced by grandparents he barely knew, Andre's world expands overnight with the introduction of an auntie, cousin uncles and four siblings he never realized he had. His older brother Red quickly becomes his anchor in this unfamiliar home.
Just as he begins to feel safe and seen, Andre is uprooted again--this time to Paterson, New Jersey, in the care of his mother. The transition is jarring, and his spirited nature often puts him at odds with her discipline. As a creative and curious child, his mother, concerned with his wellbeing involves him in the church and enrolls him in the choir. But when she demands he repeats the sixth grade, disappointment, shame, anger, insecurity and confusion drives him to rebellion and self-destruction.
What follows is he plunges into street life--drugs, violence, and a hardened exterior hiding a wounded soul. But Andre's story isn't defined by that darkness. The birth of his son becomes the catalyst for change, setting him on a path of redemption built through reflection, sacrifice, and hard choices.
Now a businessman and mentor, Andre shares his story with brutal honesty and unwavering hope. This is a story about roots and rupture, failure and faith--a journey that proves healing is possible, and that who you were does not determine who you can become.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0G62HQ2GG
• ISBN13: 9798999277213
• Release Date: January 2026
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.6" x 6.0"