Street Poison: The Biography of Iceberg Slim

Street Poison: The Biography of Iceberg Slim

by Justin Gifford

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	9993 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	270 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

Robert Beck (June 14, 1918 – November 19, 1992),better known by his pseudonym Iceberg Slim, was an American pimp and author. He is known for his semiautobiographical novels that chronicle his experiences in the pimp game. His most famous book, Pimp: The Story of My Life, was published in 1969 and became a bestseller. Slim's work has been praised for its gritty realism and its insights into the world of hustling and pimping. He has been called the "godfather of urban literature" and his work has been credited with influencing generations of writers, including Donald Goines and Ice Cube.

Early Life

Robert Beck was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1918. His father was a Pullman porter and his mother was a domestic worker. Beck grew up in a poor neighborhood and began hustling on the streets at a young age. He quickly learned the tricks of the trade and became a successful pimp. In the 1940s, Beck was arrested and sentenced to prison for pimping. He served several years in prison and it was during this time that he began writing his first novel.

Literary Career

After his release from prison, Beck moved to Los Angeles and began writing full-time. He adopted the pseudonym Iceberg Slim and published his first novel, Pimp, in 1969. The book was an instant success and became a bestseller. Slim followed up with a series of other novels, including Trick Baby, Mama Black Widow, and Long White Con. His novels chronicled his experiences in the pimp game and depicted the harsh realities of life on the streets. Slim's work was praised for its gritty realism and its insights into the world of hustling and pimping. He became a popular figure in the African American community and his work was credited with influencing generations of writers.

Personal Life

Iceberg Slim was married several times and had seven children. He was a controversial figure and his work was often criticized for its glorification of violence and misogyny. However, Slim maintained that his work was simply a reflection of the reality of life on the streets. He died in 1992 of a heart attack at the age of 74.

Legacy

Iceberg Slim is considered one of the most important figures in African American literature. His work has been praised for its gritty realism and its insights into the world of hustling and pimping. Slim has been called the "godfather of urban literature" and his work has been credited with influencing generations of writers. His novels continue to be read and enjoyed by readers around the world.

Iceberg Slim was a complex and controversial figure. He was a pimp, a hustler, and a writer. His work has been praised for its gritty realism and its insights into the world of hustling and pimping. Slim has been called the "godfather of urban literature" and his work has been credited with influencing generations of writers. His novels continue to be read and enjoyed by readers around the world.

Street Poison: The Biography of Iceberg Slim

by Justin Gifford

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	9993 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	270 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE