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Street Lit...Sex, Drugs, and Life On the Streets - For Mature Audiences Only

Called street literature, urban drama, and hip-hop literature, this exciting genre features fast-paced action, gritty ghetto realism, and social messages about the high price of gangsta life. Following in the tradition of Iceberg Slim and Donald Goines, the new generation of street lit writers speaks to the experiences of a wide range of characters - from the ordinary people trying to get by in the projects to hard-core drug dealers, prostitutes, pimps, and gangbangers.

Anthony, Mark. Paper Chasers (2003)
Tired of being ignored by the high rollers in their Queens neighborhood, the members of the Fourth Crew decide to enter the drug trade, with tragic results.

Banks, Al-Saadiq. Block Party (2003)
After a few years away from the game, Cashmere returns home to find that the rules and the players have changed in his absence. Does this middle-aged hustler have a shot?

Foye, K'wan. Gangsta: An Urban Tragedy (2002) Crips assassin Lou-Loc tries to escape from the gangsta world to start a new life as a writer in New York.

Also by this author: Road Dawgs (2003)
Street Dreams (2004)

Glenn, Roy. Is It A Crime? (2003)
After an attempt is made on her life, a beautiful drug dealer enlists the protection of high-powered gangster Mike Black to help her track down the assailant.

Also by this author:
MOB (2004)

Goines, Donald. Whoreson: The Story of a Ghetto Pimp (1972)
Whoreson Jones is the son of a prostitute who becomes a pimp at the age of 16.

Also by this author:
Dopefiend (1971)
White Man's Justice, Black Man's Grief (1973)

Himes, Chester. The End of a Primitive (1997)
When first published in 1955, much of the coarser content was omitted. The story of a white divorcee and a black writer who share a violent, alcoholic weekend in 1950s New York is fully restored in this reprint.

Himes, Chester. Yesterday Will Make You Cry (1998)
In this autobiographical novel, Jimmy Monroe is incarcerated and learns firsthand about the racism, corruption, and random violence of prison life. An edited version of the book was originally published in 1953.

Also by this author:
For Love of Imabelle (1973)
Cotton Comes to Harlem (1988)

Holmes, Shannon. B-More Careful (2001)
Netta knows how to use men to get what she wants, until she meets Black, a drug dealer who's wise to her game.

Also by this author:
Bad Girlz (2003)
Never Go Home Again (2004)

Jasper, Kenji. Dark (2001)
When Thai Williams murders his girlfriend's lover, he is forced to leave behind his privileged life and go into hiding.

Also by this author:
Dakota Grand (2002)
Seeking Salamanca Mitchell (2004)

Jihad. Street Life (2004)
Experience the dark side of street life through the eyes of the doomed young men who believe prison is an inevitability and that the cycle of drug abuse and violence is unbreakable.

Jones, Solomon. The Bridge (2003)
Detective Kevin Lynch must return to the housing projects where he grew up to help an
old friend, now a recovering crack addict, find her missing child.

Also by this author:
Pipe Dream (2001)
Ride or Die (2004)

Lopez, Steve. Third and Indiana (1994)
Gabriel Santoro is a 14-year-old runaway who gets in too deep with a gang of Philadephia drug dealers - now they want him dead.

Miller, Karen E. Quinones. Ida B (2004)
When a shocking crime threatens the tight-knit community of the Ida Barnett-Wells Tower in Harlem, neighbors join together to search for a killer in their midst.

Also by this author:
Satin Doll (2001)

Moore, Y. Blak. Triple Take (2003)
After ten years in prison for armed robbery, J.C. plots revenge against the three childhood friends who betrayed him.

Also by this author:
The Apostles (2004)

Mosley, Walter.Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned (1998)
Socrates Fortlow is an ex-con haunted by his past and struggling to bring justice to his Watts neighborhood.

Also by this author:
Walkin' the Dog (1999)

Mowry, Jess. Way Past Cool (1992)
Two rival Oakland gangs must band together to take down the sociopathic drug dealer who threatens to incite a gang war.

Also by this author:
Six Out Seven (1993)
Babylon Boyz (1997)

Ojikutu, Bayo. 47^th Street Black (2003)
J.C. and Mookie become major players in the Southside Chicago mob scene until a murder they both commit puts one of them behind bars.

Phillips, Gary. Bangers (2003)
A ruthless team of street cops takes on corrupt politicians, grifters, and gangstas in a battle for the streets of Los Angeles.

Also by this author:
The Perpetrators (2002)
High Hand (2000)

Santiago, Danielle. Little Ghetto Girl (2004)
Kisa and Sincere are trying to create a stable life for their new daughter, but greed, jealousy, and betrayal threaten to tear the young family apart.

Sapphire. Push (1996)
Precious is an illiterate 16-year-old girl without hope - beaten by her mother and raped by her father - until she meets a dynamic teacher who helps her to reclaim her life.

Slim, Iceberg. Trick Baby (1967)
Called 'White Folks' by his friends and 'Trick Baby' by his enemies, he's Chicago's shrewdest con man.

Also by this author:
Long White Con (1987)
Mama Black Widow 1969)

Souljah, Sister. The Coldest Winter Ever (1999)
When Winter Santiago's drug lord father is thrown in jail, it's up to her to keep her family at the top at any cost.

Stringer, Vickie. Let That Be the Reason (2002)
Pamela is a dedicated college student and a loving mother. But she's also Carmen, a notorious hustler and the leader of a drug ring. Also try the sequel: Imagine This

Turner, Nikki. A Project Chick (2003)
When her man commits an unforgivable crime, Tressa leaves everything behind to make a life for herself and her sons.

Also by this author:
A Hustler's Wife (2003)

Whitaker, Tu-Shonda L. Flipside of the Game (2004)
At birth, Vera was abandoned in a dumpster by her mother before being placed in the custody of a grandmother who abused her. Now, as an adult, Vera must learn to let down her guard and open her heart to the family and friends who care about her.

Woods, Teri. True to the Game (1999)
Gena and Quadir have a storybook love, but their passion for money and the drug trade threaten to destroy it all.

Also by this author:
Dutch (2003)

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