Iceberg Slim, The First Pimpin Author – Review Of Pimp

Iceberg Slim is one of the most successful African American writers ever. That may surprise you, specially if you haven't heard the name before but the truth is he sold millions of books and, in effect, helped to create an innovative style of fiction. His initial book, entitled Pimp, is really a virtual autobiography of his times as a Pimp in Chicago through the 1950's.

It was in print in the late 1960's and was one of the original books to cover the life and times of a street pimp.

It explained the daily life of a pimp, including his philosophy and much of the inimitable terms and dialog a pimp would draw on.

It explains how a pimp controls his women and the assorted intrigues and rivalry that goes on with other pimps, the law and also the John's. Reading the book is like stepping into a new world much like reading Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting.

Iceberg Slim spent several of these years in jailfor minor and major misdemeanors. A final stint in prison persuaded him it was time to give up the illegal life and do something else with his time. He turned to prose and completed Pimp and 6 additional books.

The stints in jailunderline or enlighten the narrative of the Pimp book.

In effect the book is a admonitory story told in a vivid and lucid style.

It is essentially saying do as I say not as I do. Do not go down a similar path as me because it will eventually only end in imprisonment, damage and sorrow. And since the author is lucid and tells a great story, the narrative doesn't seem to shout at the reader however charms instead. His works helped to create the style of writing called urban fiction, street literature, and black pulp fiction. This genre covered the lives of individuals alive in the tightly populated inner metropolitan areas of the Mid West. As the genre name implies these books were aimed to become page turners.

The themes dealt with crime and attempting to get ahead in communities that were usually poor.

The works proved to be very popular in the communities they depicted and are often noted as inspirations to modern day rap and hip hop artists.
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