Queens Reigns Supreme: Fat Cat, 50 Cent, and the Rise of the Hip Hop Hustler

by Ethan Brown

Book Overview

Based on police wiretaps and exclusive interviews with drug kingpins and hip-hop insiders, this is the untold story of how the streets and housing projects of southeast Queens took over the rap industry.For years, rappers from Nas to Ja Rule have hero-worshipped the legendary drug dealers who dominated Queens in the 1980s with their violent crimes and flashy lifestyles. Now, for the first time ever, this gripping narrative digs beneath the hip-hop...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400095239
• ISBN13: 9781400095230
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: Anchor Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

The book is a must read! Don't miss out...

I think Queens Reigns Supreme is an excellent read. Mr. Brown did a heck of a job. There's so much interesting information and even more interesting characters, yet Brown manages to put it all together perfectly. Even with all the ground he covers, from the 80s to the present, the book flows smoothly. Btw, Brown was featured in XXL recently. I must say, when you look at the pictures of him, you would never think this guy has all the info he has and access to so many people from the streets. It's obvious he did his research and worked hard to get the stories told from those who were actually touched by what was going on. That was really well done. He did a great job portraying the characters. Although, the one guy, Scoon, I wish his character had been more developed. I recently read an article on him also. He seems like an intellingent guy, very knowledgeable about the topic. I noticed when reading the book, that he had so many connections, with everyone from Russell Simmons to Fat Cat. I think we could have learned more info from him. He's cute too. Seriously, i think this book will be on people's tongues for a long time. A warning: once you start reading it, clear you schedule, because you won't want to put it down.

A Must Read

Fist of all this book is not for just hip hop fans. Lets just say this book was so informative and so well written i have read it twice in 3 days and wouldnt mind reading it the third time. It made me fly all the way from Atlanta to pay a visit to southside jamaica queens, ny (over the holidays) to see the famous baisley projects (116-80 Guy R Brewer) and South Jamaica Estates (aka Forties Project). I could not believe such a small housing project had so much going on in the 80s that no one knew about. My trip was not complete but i will pay another visit there by the summer. I just have to. Whether the things that went on in South Side Jamaica Queens was good or bad, it is still history, that needs to brought to light and i am glad Ethan at least took the first step by coming out with this book. Ethan Brown was so detailed with this book, i will find it hard to know anybody will put this book down once they start. This book will make you ask a lot of questions, and i must say sparked a huge curiosity in me. There is a lot of whys and hows. THIS BOOK IS A DEFINATE DEFINATE MUST READ. And for parents i will say it will be a good gift for you young teenagers who are tempted to get into this life of drugs whether it be a hustler or a user. This book makes you understand that it is not worth it,because at the end of the day all the people ended up dead or in jail, and have nothing to show for it. This book is a must read by all.

Queens truly reigns supreme.

BUMBO CLOT! Like I said in the title QUEENS TRULY REIGNS SUPREME! I hail from southeast Queens and I have heard so many stories of the Supreme Team and Fat Cat and all of those dudes and crews. I just think it's great to get all the facts in one place. Now I understand how everything went down and why. New York is a crazy place, yet it is still a gem. People if you want to know about real street tish and about these fake ass rappers like Ja and Pac and the Goodies I mean Gottis I mean Lorenzos, this is the book. Happy Reading.

A must read about America in the 80s and 90s

This is one of those books that once you read, you can't imagine not having read it--it's filled with the real stuff that went down in and around NY in the 80s and 90s, the music industry, the crack epidemic, and the astonishing lack of interest by law enforcement in the drug trade until, ahem, middle class people started getting killed. 2,606 people were killed in NY state in 1990, a large number due to drug turf wars and the random, senseless violence it spawned. America, love it or leave it, and cover me, I'm going for milk.

a must read

mr. brown's book is long overdue, especially with everything going on today within the hip hop community. this documentation of the interconnections between the street/hustlers of queens and the hip-hop scene (from origin to the present day) is REMARKABLE - a totally fascinating relationship. the book is a truly amazing and insightful account of history and a reallllly engrossing read. definitely pick it up. i can't believe how much i learned and how quickly i read the book.