Original Gangster, Frank Lucas
Original Gangster, Frank Lucas
List: $16.95 | Sale: $11.87
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Original Gangster
The Real Life Story of One of America’s Most Notorious Drug Lords

Author: Frank Lucas

Narrator: Cary Hite

Unabridged: 7 hr 17 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download (DRM Protected)

Published: 06/08/2010

Synopsis

In his own words, real-life American gangster Frank Lucas recounts his life as the former heroin dealer and organized crime boss who ran Harlem during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Determined to break the Italian Mafia's monopoly over drug smuggling in New York, Frank cut out middlemen and began smuggling heroin into the United States directly from his source in Vietnam using the coffins of dead American soldiers. Making a million dollars per day from his "Blue Magic," the purest heroin on the street, Frank Lucas became one of the most powerful crime lords of his time, while rubbing shoulders with the elite in entertainment, politics, and crime. This powerful memoir reveals what really happened to the man whose rise and fall was dramatized in the 2007 feature filmAmerican Gangster, exposing a startling look at the world of organized crime.

About Frank Lucas

Frank Lucas’ organized crime career was the focus of the 2007 film American Gangster.

About Aliya S. King

Aliya S. King is the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Keep the Faith. She has held editorial positions with Billboard and the Source, and her articles have appeared in Essence, Ms., Vibe, Vibe Vixen, Uptown, CMJ: New Music Monthly, Teen People, Black Enterprise, and many others. She is currently a senior writer for Giant magazine and a contributing editor for Upscale magazine. 

About Cary Hite

Cary Hite is an experienced actor and audiobook narrator who has had the pleasure of working with a number of publishing houses. An Earphones award-winner, he currently resides in New York City.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Headlines on November 13, 2014

If you’re a fan of “Breaking Bad” and its mythical Blue Sky meth, you might want to pull up a chair and dive into the story of real life drug lord Frank Lucas and his legendary Blue Magic heroin. It’s all within the pages of “Original Gangster: The Real Life Story of One of America’s Most Notorious......more

Goodreads review by Lara on January 31, 2014

I found this book entertaining, and educational. (About some history of drug crime in NYC, 1970s) Also listened to it on audiobook, I believe it's read by the author. The voice really adds to the character of the story, which I appreciated. I think it was a good read......more

Goodreads review by Jamie on March 09, 2014

Despite all the terrible things he did in his life, you have to appreciate how he had the determination to achieve anything based on where he came from.......more

Goodreads review by Micky on July 19, 2024

A good read but a wasted life......more

Goodreads review by Eric on February 06, 2023

Gangsters Original Habitat In New York City Typically I don't like to read books. I'm more into podcasts and shows. But for English class I had to choose a memoir novel for this project. While looking for a book I came across this amazing book “Original Gangster”by Frank Lucas. This book caught my at......more

Quotes

“From a sharecropper’s shack in North Carolinato the top of Harlem’s drug trade, Lucas recounts his eventful life in vivid detail…With journalist King’s aid, Lucas is a straightforward yet compelling narrator, never making excuses for his life of crime, though he has come to regret it.” Publishers Weekly

“[A] spellbinding memoir by one of Harlem’s most famous heroin smugglers…[Lucas] expresses remorse for the lives that were ruined by the product he sold, but the overall tone is a fond remembrance of a life lived in the fast lane…With the connection to American Gangster, this should be a hit with movie buffs as well as true-crime fans.” Library Journal

“His may not be a novel story, but with King’s help, [Lucas] tells it bluntly and with integrity. He doesn’t try to exonerate himself but seems to recount his deeds with ruthful honesty. Great gangsta stuff.” Booklist

“Lucas spins a yarn that gives a new view of black history that’s good enough to be paired with an outdoor porch, a few lazy hours and a cold beer on a warm Saturday night.” Ebony

Awards

  • BookRiot Pick
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