HICKSON

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT®

Publisher of GHETTOHEAT®, CONVICT’S CANDY, HARDER, AND GOD CREATED WOMAN, LONDON REIGN, SONZ OF DARKNESS, TANTRUM, GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS, LOVE DON'T LOVE NOBODY, THICKNESS, DIRRRTY, TATTOOED TEARS, UGLY/BEAUTIFUL: ME, CLUB AVENUE, SKATE ON!, SOME SEXY, & TOUGH.

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P.O. BOX 2746 | NEW YORK, NY 10027 | GHETTOHEAT.COM

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STREET LIT GOES LEGIT By Mark Allwood

Columbia News Service, 3/17/06

 

 

In the world of rap music, street credibility is everything. The same is true in the growing genre of writing known as street fiction. With titles like “Gangsta Lean,” “No More Baby’s Mama Drama” and “Blood Money,” street lit is often written by authors who come from hardscrabble backgrounds, some having served time in jail. And mainstream publishers have started to take notice of what street vendors and readers across the country have known for several years. K’wan Foye published his first novel, “Gangsta,” with Triple Crown Publications, which was founded by Vickie Stringer, who penned her first book, “Let That Be the Reason,” while serving a 7-year sentence for drug trafficking and money laundering. Foye’s last two releases, “Hoodlum” and “Street Dreams,” were published by St. Martin’s Griffin Press. Other street lit publishers include Q Boro Books, GHETTOHEAT® and Urban Books. A sure sign that street lit is going mainstream is that rapper 50 Cent just inked a deal with Pocket/MTV Books to distribute his G-Unit Books, which will specialize in urban fiction.

 

Some authors and readers, though, feel the explosion of street lit has been detrimental to traditional black literature. Violence, sex and drugs are usually at the core of street lit. In “Gangsta,” for instance, two members of the Crips gang move from Los Angeles to New York, one to start his life over as a writer, the other to become a criminal kingpin. “I was sitting in my house one day and my baby’s mother was yelling at me about something totally irrelevant, so I started to spin this female character in my head,” said Harlem native Foye. “She needed a cast of characters, so I ripped off a piece of a paper bag and I started writing ‘Gangsta.’”

 

In downtown Brooklyn’s bustling outdoor Fulton Mall, a street vendor who gives his name only as Ray, sells street books for $5 a piece. He says he usually sells 200 or more books a day and current popular titles include “Dogism,” “Money, Power and Respect” and “Going Broke.” Street vendors selling urban fiction are also abundant on 125th Street in Harlem. “They have a lot to do with people’s lives and what’s going on now in the projects,” said Ray, who added that most of his customers are young black women.

 

Brooklyn resident Shawn Carter bought “CONVICT’S CANDY” for his wife, but he said he does not read street lit. “The story lines are good to her,” Carter said. “She likes most of the ones with drugs, prostitution and gangsters.” Street vendor Luis Laboy, standing a block from the famous Junior’s restaurant in downtown Brooklyn, said his top sellers were “Grimey,” “Blinded” and “Dutch.” “Mostly street books are what they’re into,” he said of his customers.

 

About 50 other readers gathered at the Society Coffee Bar in Harlem on a frigid night in early March. These literary fans sat down to hot bowls of chicken tortilla soup, steaming cups of cappuccino and tall flutes of red wine for a reading by author Kenji Jasper, 30. He read from his first work of nonfiction, a memoir about his grandfather titled “The House on Childress Street.” Jasper’s first three novels, “Dark,” “Dakota Grand” and “Seeking Salamanca Mitchell” deal with the same gritty urban environment that street fiction often portrays, but he is not lumped into the same category.

 

“On his fiction side, his milieu is very dark, very street,” literary agent Mannie Barron said of Jasper. “He reminds me of a modern day Raymond Chandler in his depiction of the streets and the underbellies, but like Raymond Chandler, he presents it in a very literary way.” Signed to Harlem Moon/Random House, Jasper has seen firsthand the effect that street fiction has had on traditional black literature. “It’s eclipsed it almost completely,” he said. “Mainstream authors and traditional publishing are taking a beating right now in the black community. I know authors who had great success three or four years ago but are now struggling or writing under pen names. They’re having trouble penetrating a marketplace that’s overrun. At least ten new [street] books come out a month, maybe more, and they’re being purchased by an audience that doesn’t necessarily read about books in magazines.”

 

Millory Polyne, who attended Jasper’s reading, said he was dismayed that young blacks were reading street literature. Although he stopped short of criticizing urban fiction because he does not read it, Polyne said that readers of the genre need to understand the foundations of black literature and what came before. “They should understand how to hustle and how to get your stuff out there by all means necessary, but there’s a long legacy of writers who have worked really hard and their stuff is phenomenal,” he said. “People need to realize that they’ve paved the way and opened the doors for a lot of people to write their own literature.”

 

Barron, an agent with the Menza Barron Agency, believes that there is room for all forms of fiction and that street lit has actually helped add to the diversity of black literature. He doesn’t buy into the argument that urban fiction is degrading to the black experience. “Equality gives us a right to mediocrity, so therefore not everything has to uplift the race,” he said. “This is our pulp fiction, and people forget you need to have this full spectrum. Just like in the broad society with a James Patterson or a Danielle Steele, nobody thinks that they are going to be the cause of the decline of the white race. There’s a time and a place for it. There are times when you just want junk food.”

 

GIUSEPH90, THE TITLE "AND GOD CREATED WOMAN" COMES FROM THE BIBLE. THE BOOK IS A GREAT READ AND MIKA MILLER IS A FABULOUS WRITER. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT IS THAT IT'S A CONTEMPORARY TALE WITH AN URBAN FEEL, ABOUT FOUR DIVERSE WOMEN ON THERE EVOLUTIONARY JOURNEY INTO WOMANHOOD. READ IT: I'M SURE YOU'LL LOVE IT! CHECK OUT THE OTHER TITLES ON GHETTOHEAT®, LOG ON TO HTTP://GHETTOHEAT.COM . WELCOME TO THE GHETTOHEAT® MOVEMENT!

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CONS, EX-CONS FIND MONEY AND A VOICE By Dwayne Campbell

Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer, 4/2/06

 

 

After averting a life sentence for drug trafficking, Leondrei Prince settled down to serve eight years in a Delaware state prison. With time to kill, he read voraciously – Webster’s Dictionary, chick lit by Terry McMillan, old urban fiction by Donald Goines, and new-school street lit by Teri Woods. Then Prince wrote, just as voraciously. A few pages turned into Bloody Money, followed by Bloody Money 2, Me ‘n My Girls, and nine other manuscripts, written in the strong, often profane language of the inner-city streets where he grew up.

 

“I knew that when I got out, I couldn’t go back to selling drugs, and I wouldn’t be able to get a job,” said Prince, 33, who has had three books published since his release in 2003, “so I started looking at writing as a job. But this has exceeded all my expectations.”

 

Books by inmates, both current and former, are an increasingly lucrative segment of the fast-growing genre known as “street lit,” “ghetto lit,” “urban” or “hip-hop” fiction. In many prisons, men and women on lockdown are spending their hours of solitude in a most un-Oz-like fashion, putting pens to yellow pads and finding words to describe the lives of poverty and excess that put them on a path to the slammer.

 

“Right now it’s the biggest fad in prison,” said street lit agent Joseph Jones, who signed Prince while they were both serving time for drug charges in Delaware. “The biggest drug dealer, the smallest crook, they’re writing books.” The results are titles such as Dangerously Insured, by Shafeeq (Reginald Johnson), a state inmate from North Philadelphia; Thugs and the Women Who Love Them, by Wahida Clark, a Trenton woman who is locked up at Alderson Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia; The Family II: Life After Death, the second book by Philadelphian Antonne M. Jones, who spent two years in a Delaware prison; and Memoir: Delaware County Prison, by ex-inmate Reginald L. Hall from West Philadelphia. The books, often published under pseudonyms modeled after rappers, are hits, especially among young people in urban areas.

 

“They write about stuff I can relate to,” said Lynndrena Evans, a 19-year-old Community College of Philadelphia student who has read Prince’s books and other street lit. “It’s stuff we consider everyday life.” Freebbie Rivera, a language arts instructor at Horizon Academy, a school at New York’s Rikers Island jail, said more inmates are writing books because “they see the success of other incarcerated authors, and they get motivated.” Vickie Stringer, for example, left prison and a cocaine-trafficking past to become a best-selling author (Let That Be the Reason; Imagine This); start her own publishing company, Triple Crown; and cut a six-figure deal with Simon & Schuster. “Now they’re writing manuscripts and asking for help with editing,” said Rivera.

 

Commonly, the writers self-publish after they get out of prison. But some start-up publishers and authors find each other and sign book contracts while they are both stuck in D-block. Prince’s Bloody Money, which chronicles the drug trade and lives of four friends in Wilmington, was first a hit in Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington. When inmates were clamoring for Prince’s manuscript, Joseph Jones became his agent and started charging prisoners - cigarettes or a can of soup - to read the work. Now, in book format, Bloody Money is available to anyone for $15, and selling briskly. According to Jones, the book has sold more than 50,000 copies since it was released, and the sequel, Bloody Money 2, is nearing the 25,000 mark.

 

“Selling 20,000 in paperback for an unknown author is very respectable,” said Charlotte Abbott, a senior editor at the trade bible Publishers Weekly. “Fifty thousand in three years is nothing to scoff at.” Although many street lit titles are now in chain stores such as Borders and Barnes & Noble, experts say actual sales numbers are difficult to determine because sales out of car trunks, mall kiosks, and street-corner stands are not tracked. Overall, the urban-fiction genre grosses about $50 million annually, said Earl Cox, the New Jersey agent and book consultant who published Hall’s gay-themed memoir and brokered Clark’s books to Kensington Publishing Corp. after Thugs landed on Essence magazine’s best-seller list.

 

Clark wrote Thugs and the sequel, Every Thug Needs a Lady, while serving her 101/2-year sentence for conspiracy, money laundering, and mail and wire fraud. Since going to Alderson, she has completed Payback Is a Mutha (in stores this month) and is currently working on a fourth book.

 

Kevin Cunningham, 35, imprisoned at Wyoming Correctional Facility in Attica, N.Y., on drug charges, hopes the three books he wrote behind bars on legal pads help him avoid a fourth prison term. “When I get home in July, I don’t have to focus on the streets,” said Cunningham, whose first manuscript, Sin City, is being edited by his cousin, Philadelphia-based author and literary agent Karen E. Quinones Miller. “I have found something I love.”

 

Jailhouse writers are prolific, said Mustafaa As-Salafi, 35, owner of Level V Publishing, because the only time that many people in the fast lane get to think about their lives is while they are in a cell. “When you are in jail, there aren’t too many outlets,” As-Salafi said. “And if your family cuts you off, you don’t have a whole lot of contact with the streets. All you can do is read, watch TV and write.” With assistance from family members on the outside, As-Salafi started Level V Publishing while serving 51/2 years at State Correctional Institution at Smithfield for a shooting. He left there three months ago and last month released Shafeeq’s Dangerously Insured, a novel about two girls who insure drug pushers and violent criminals they believe are sure to die. Shafeeq is still in the Huntingdon County prison, along with other budding authors, who include Monk (George Smith) who is in for life, and Cutty (William Alston), who will be released soon. Level V plans to publish their books this year. The flood of prison writing, As-Salafi believes, is a result of the alarming numbers of incarcerated African Americans, many of them casualties of the war on drugs and three-strikes laws that ushered in long sentences for violent crimes and crack cocaine dealing.

 

According to the federal Bureau of Prisons at the Department of Justice, in 2003 (the latest year for which data are available), there were 586,000 adult African American males in state and federal prisons (there were 35,000 black women). “We’re the result of that,” said As-Salafi. “We are the ones now explaining what happened during that time, why we robbed, why we sold drugs.” Not all jailhouse writers wait for a publisher to walk into their cell. Jones and other street lit publishers say they receive dozens of letters and unsolicited manuscripts from prisons.

 

“There’s a lot of raw talent in these facilities,” said HICKSON, 36, the head of Harlem-based GHETTOHEAT® who goes only by his last name. GHETTOHEAT® published CONVICT’S CANDY, co-written by Philadelphian DAMON “AMIN” MEADOWS, now in federal prison for dealing drugs. “Every week, I get about 20 letters and manuscripts and 15 of them are from jail.”

 

As these books make it to stores, some people express concern about the in-your-face literature that’s peppered with inner-city clichés (the young girl falls for the drug lord) and amusing stretches of the imagination (prostitutes in Prada). “You don’t see literary leaps being taken,” said Patrik Henry Bass, books editor of Essence. “But the authors shouldn’t be broadly discounted,” said H. Bruce Franklin, the John Cotton Dana Professor of English and American studies at the Newark campus of Rutgers University. Like street fiction fathers Iceberg Slim and Goines, who both served time, the new writers are capturing the life they know. “When they are able to look at their own experience and turn that into some kind of art, it can be valuable for them and for everyone else,” said Franklin, author of Prison Literature in America: The Victim as Criminal and Artist. It’s unlikely that Payback Is a Mutha will displace Beloved as a favorite among the literati, but those behind street lit say that was never their intention. “A lot of people want to read about what they know,” Jones said. “The books are selling because people relate to them.”

 

CONVICT'S CANDY

WRITTEN BY DAMON "AMIN" MEADOWS & JASON POOLE

CONVICT'S CANDY

EDITED BY HICKSON

CONVICT'S CANDY

A GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTION

 

EBOOK & PAPERBACK: SOLD & DISTRIBUTED EXCLUSIVELY AT GHETTOHEAT®!

 

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT® & GHETTOHEAT® TV!

 

GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTIONS:

 

GHETTOHEAT® 
CONVICT’S CANDY 
HARDER 
AND GOD CREATED WOMAN 
LONDON REIGN 
SONZ OF DARKNESS 
TANTRUM 
HICKSONBELIKE... 
LOVE DON’T LOVE NOBODY 
THICKNESS 
GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS 
BANJEE CUNT 
ULTRAFABNABULOUS 
BROTHERS BEHIND BARS 
SO SEXY 
TOUGH 
MR. GHETTOHEAT® 
SKATE ON! 
GHETTOHEAT® EATS 
TURF 
GHETTOHEAT® MAGAZINE!

 

I'M GLAD YOU'VE ENJOYED READING AND GOD CREATED WOMAN. TRY THE OTHER GHETTOHEAT® TITLES. SEVEN PUBLISHED TO DATE: MORE COMING SOON. GOD BLESS YOU....

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GOD CREATED MAN...AND GOD CREATED WOMAN!

AND GOD CREATED WOMAN

ESSENCE BESTSELLER, APRIL 2008

AND GOD CREATED WOMAN

WRITTEN BY MIKA MILLER

AND GOD CREATED WOMAN

EDITED BY HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT®

AND GOD CREATED WOMAN

IN STORES WORLDWIDE!

AND GOD CREATED WOMAN

A GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTION

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT®

Publisher of GHETTOHEAT®, CONVICT’S CANDY, HARDER, AND GOD CREATED WOMAN, LONDON REIGN, SONZ OF DARKNESS, TANTRUM, LOVE DON'T LOVE NOBODY, GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS, DIRRRTY, TATTOOED TEARS, UGLY/BEAUTIFUL: ME, CLUB AVENUE, SKATE ON!, THICKNESS, SOME SEXY, & TOUGH.

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HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT®

Publisher of GHETTOHEAT®, CONVICT’S CANDY, HARDER, AND GOD CREATED WOMAN, LONDON REIGN, SONZ OF DARKNESS, TANTRUM, GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS, LOVE DON'T LOVE NOBODY, DIRRRTY, TATTOOED TEARS, UGLY/BEAUTIFUL: ME, CLUB AVENUE, SKATE ON!, THICKNESS, SOME SEXY, & TOUGH.

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GHETTOHEAT®: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!™

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HICKSON HUSTLES HARDER!

HARDER

WRITTEN BY SHA

HARDER

EDITED BY HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT®

HARDER

IN STORES WORLDWIDE!

HARDER

A GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTION

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT®

Publisher of GHETTOHEAT®, CONVICT’S CANDY, HARDER, AND GOD CREATED WOMAN, LONDON REIGN, SONZ OF DARKNESS, TANTRUM, GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS, LOVE DON'T LOVE NOBODY, DIRRRTY, TATTOOED TEARS, UGLY/BEAUTIFUL: ME, CLUB AVENUE, SKATE ON!, THICKNESS, SOME SEXY, & TOUGH.

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GHETTOHEAT®: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!™

 

 

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LOVE DON'T LOVE NOBODY: A GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTION!

IN PAPERBACK & EBOOK FORMATS SOON...

 

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT® & GHETTOHEAT® TV!

 

GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTIONS:

GHETTOHEAT® 
CONVICT’S CANDY 
HARDER 
AND GOD CREATED WOMAN 
LONDON REIGN 
SONZ OF DARKNESS 
TANTRUM 
HICKSONBELIKE... 
LOVE DON’T LOVE NOBODY 
THICKNESS 
GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS 
BANJEE CUNT 
ULTRAFABNABULOUS 
BROTHERS BEHIND BARS 
SO SEXY 
TOUGH 
MR. GHETTOHEAT® 
SKATE ON! 
GHETTOHEAT® EATS 
TURF 
GHETTOHEAT® MAGAZINE!
 

 

 

OHIO PLAYER

 

Coming Of Age…

 

When I was nine-years-old, I’d known early on in my heart that I was my own man. While most of my friends in Cleveland were running to the store for older guys in the projects, or holding their drugs and guns, I was out stealing and hustling to make ends meet. On several occasions, grown dudes had approached me in my hood with propositions or intimidation tactics, but every time I’d declined, assuring them that I WAS MY OWN MAN! It cost me a few war wounds, but I’d also earned my respect! At age twelve, I’d made a name for myself and influenced my peers to stand on their own. They’d stopped making the constant store runs and carrying contraband for older dudes: we were all equal then, a team.

 

Rise And Fall…

 

At sixteen, I’d become the “poster boy” for Longwood Projects. Things were going exceptionally well for me financially, but you know what they say, “Mo’ money, mo’ problems”. Not only had I’d begun facing trouble with the Law, I was having problems with girls, and everybody around me habitually looked for handouts. It’s like the more I’d extended myself to people, the more they’d expected me to. Most of my so-called friends became foes, and the real friends I’d had in my corner were in and out of prison. Haters were mad because my hustle was stronger than theirs, women had become upset that I wouldn’t commit to them (many of them), and the police were irate: what I made in a day on the streets was their monthly earnings. It wasn’t long before my world had turned upside down: I was arrested on drug conspiracy charges and sent to federal prison.

 

The Reality Check…

 

Not knowing what to expect, I’d begun serving my twelve-year prison bid, being surrounded by many men of different races, backgrounds and beliefs. I was always ahead of my time, so I chose to mix with the elder crowd, opting not to hang around guys my age with limited conversations of going back to the streets, and doing the same things that landed them in prison. The older men would teach me lots about life. They’d always painted pictures that made much sense, schooling me on the importance of being in my childrens’ lives—instilling how vital valuing freedom is: freedom at every level. That’s when I’d started revamping myself. I’d realized that I could change my life from whatever state it was to the life I’d desired it to be: by transforming my mindset and reference of myself. Where imagination leads you, reality will follow.                                                      

 

Soon after, I’d begun reading great books, learning more about my history and putting my best foot forward towards change—taking necessary steps to continue my legacy here on Earth, positively. The results of my choice to stay focused in prison, panned out well. I did my time peacefully, and was able to obtain my GED and college credits. I’d then begun my journey into the literary world as a writer. With application, I’d written manuscripts, and eventually was noticed by one of the greatest publishers of all-time, HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT®. He signed me, giving me an opportunity to be more than just a street hustler—one known for doing wrong in the past. Your attitude towards failure, determines your aptitude for success…never stop growing. Life is a constant orchestration of growth: through adversity and challenge. Peace & GHETTOHEAT®!

 

STUBBS is author of the upcoming memoir, BROTHERS BEHIND BARS, & hardcore street thriller, LOVE DON’T LOVE NOBODY!

 

Follow him on all major social media networks: @PAYSTUBBS

 

STUBBS@GHETTOHEAT.COM

 

 

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT® & GHETTOHEAT® TV!

 

GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTIONS:

 

GHETTOHEAT® 

CONVICT’S CANDY 

HARDER 

AND GOD CREATED WOMAN 

LONDON REIGN 

SONZ OF DARKNESS 

TANTRUM 

HICKSONBELIKE... 

LOVE DON’T LOVE NOBODY 

THICKNESS 

GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS 

BANJEE CUNT 

ULTRAFABNABULOUS 

BROTHERS BEHIND BARS 

SO SEXY 

TOUGH 

MR. GHETTOHEAT® 

SKATE ON! 

GHETTOHEAT® EATS 

TURF 

GHETTOHEAT® MAGAZINE!

 

GHETTOHEAT® | P.O. BOX 2746 | NEW YORK, NY 10027 | 

 

GHETTOHEAT®: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!™

 

#GHETTOHEAT 

#THEHOTNESSINTHESTREETS 

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KINGS AND QUEEN OF URBAN LIT By Reeshemah Brightley

Harlem World Magazine, June 2006

 

Three writers, three conversations, one mission—just how tough is it to get your literary treasure from your head to the page to a publisher to the street to an audience. It might have been a crazy day when I talked to Queen Pen, author of “Blossom” over the phone, but the chaotic day didn’t cool her passion. She wasn’t the only one in passionate mode, author K’wan, whose latest book is called “Eve”, had much to contribute as did HICKSON whose company GHETTOHEAT® is fast making its own mark.

 

All three capture the newest literary genre to grace our streets and one that causes fierce debate. Even its name is cause for controversy. Urban literature, street lit, ghetto fiction, K’wan, Queen Pen and HICKSON all have strong opinions about it. I sat, broke bread and listened attentively.

 

Queen Pen had strong words of advice for those seeking to follow in her footsteps, and become literary leaders in a genre. “Self-Publish. When we write the story we put our blood & sweat into it. We put our heart and soul into developing the book. After doing all of that, why would you want to put your destiny in the hands of someone else? When you self-publish, it’s difficult. It’s important to stick with it, the key is YOU CONTROL it. You also get to know the publishing business. When it’s time to go to a major publishing house, no one can pull wool over your eyes. You will know what needs to get done. For me, the situations I came across before signing a 2-book deal with Simon & Schuster, enabled me to learn the publishing business.”

 

At the same time she was able to build relationships will all the black-owned and independent booksellers across the state when she wrote “Situations.” For her, the focus is recycling the dollar within our community, not breaking into what major publishing companies call mainstream community. In order to keep the black-owned and independent, street vendors on 125th Street and in Brooklyn, we MUST support them.

 

K’wan adds his thoughts, he feels you have to know where your strength lies and have a strong self-belief. “Some people are good writers, some are good storytellers, some are both. If you have a story to tell and you feel in your heart of hearts it is a story that needs to be told then go ahead and pursue it.” He also muses about the advice he wished he had been given. “I wish I was given the advice to pursue my dreams and be the best at what you do. To be perfectly honest negativity was my motivation.”

 

HICKSON maintains keeping it real, remaining humble and learning as much as you can about the business of publishing is part of the key to success. His company GHETTOHEAT® came to life after a false arrest, life in the fashion industry and the legacy of 911 prompted his entrepreneurial streak to emerge. He says, “Authors come in blinded by not knowing the industry, not knowing their worth, not knowing the business, not knowing how much their product is worth. They think that all they have to do is get with a big company and the machine is going to work for them. But you still have to work. The company will set them up with a certain budget. Once the budget is over, you’re own your own.”

 

The other major sticking point for all three is the fierce debate that surrounds the literary genre they feature in. K’wan is especially passionate about not classing what he writes as “ghetto literature”. “When they call me an urban writer, I’m not an urban writer, I’m a WRITER! I can write urban, fantasy and contemporary fiction. I feel like I have a passion for writing. You can’t put a classification on me.”

 

Word from these three for all those whose passion is to put pen to paper, fingers to keyboard and produce a literary treasure then is, master your craft, pursue your dreams, learn the industry and defy categorization. It’s also important to circulate the dollars within our community. That sounds like pretty sound advice.   

 

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT® & GHETTOHEAT® TV!

 

GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTIONS:

 

GHETTOHEAT® 
CONVICT’S CANDY 
HARDER 
AND GOD CREATED WOMAN 
LONDON REIGN 
SONZ OF DARKNESS 
TANTRUM 
HICKSONBELIKE... 
LOVE DON’T LOVE NOBODY 
THICKNESS 
GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS 
BANJEE CUNT 
ULTRAFABNABULOUS 
BROTHERS BEHIND BARS 
SO SEXY 
TOUGH 
MR. GHETTOHEAT® 
SKATE ON! 
GHETTOHEAT® EATS 
TURF 
GHETTOHEAT® MAGAZINE!

 

GHETTOHEAT® | P.O. BOX 2746 | NEW YORK, NY 10027 

 

GHETTOHEAT®: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!™

 

#GHETTOHEAT 

#THEHOTNESSINTHESTREETS 

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FOLLOW @HICKSONHOTNESS ON TWITTER FOR ALL THE LATEST GHETTOHEAT® NEWS AND UPDATES ON HICKSON!

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT®

Publisher of GHETTOHEAT®, CONVICT’S CANDY, HARDER, AND GOD CREATED WOMAN, LONDON REIGN, SONZ OF DARKNESS, TANTRUM, GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS, LOVE DON'T LOVE NOBODY, DIRRRTY, TATTOOED TEARS, UGLY/BEAUTIFUL: ME, CLUB AVENUE, SKATE ON!, THICKNESS, SOME SEXY, & TOUGH.

GHETTOHEAT® | P.O. BOX 2746 | NEW YORK, NY 10027 | GHETTOHEAT.COM

GHETTOHEAT®: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!™

 

 

DID YOU KNOW?...

By Alina Oswald, A & U Magazine (America’s AIDS Magazine), August 2006

 

 

Alina Oswald Talks with Harlem-Based Publisher HICKSON About Getting the Word Out About HIV.

 

Did you know...that HIV circulates in prison through unprotected sex?

That condoms are not allowed in prison, in order to not advocate sex?

That convicts often use potato chip bags or latex gloves as condoms?

 

They also use Vaseline, which eats out the latex…. That HIV-positive convicts rarely receive treatment? Or when they do, medical professionals do not monitor it? Same goes for hormone therapies for transgenders. That transgenders are at high risk for getting infected with HIV, especially those who are forced to buy cheap, black market injectable hormones? Why should we care?

 

“I get this [question] a lot at book signings,” HICKSON—who goes only by his family name—tells me during our phone interview. “The real issue is HIV/AIDS,” the founder and CEO of GHETTOHEAT® explains. Set in the heart of Harlem, his multimedia company publishes books that explore off-mainstream topics like the ones mentioned above. The newest GHETTOHEAT® production is CONVICT’S CANDY, a novel based on the true prison experiences of its co-authors—DAMON “AMIN” MEADOWS and JASON POOLE. The story follows in the footsteps of Candy, a victimized transsexual who is arrested on credit card scam charges, only a week away from the surgery that would give “her” the body of the woman “she” really is.

 

Locked up with the other male convicts, Candy learns about prison life through sexual harassment, violence, stigma, and HIV exposure. She learns that the prison rule: “what happens in prison, stays in prison”—does indeed have its own exception—HIV/AIDS. While the novel doesn’t leave anything out when exposing the reality of living behind bars, CONVICT’S CANDY offers a lesson on how not to get HIV—adding to the fight against the pandemic. “I was really impressed with CONVICT’S CANDY,” HICKSON comments, “not only because the authors were writing [it] from prison, [but because, while] not many convicts touch on HIV/AIDS issues, [they] are very passionate about the topic.”

 

Because too many of his friends are battling the disease, HICKSON is also passionate about educating people, especially the younger generation (whose members he calls “rebels without a cause”) on how not to contract HIV. He believes that HIV infections will continue to rise and that the numbers will not go down soon for two reasons: people’s recklessness and the Internet. Also, when using alcohol, meth, or other drugs that impair their judgment, people engage in unprotected sex. And sometimes sex itself becomes a “feel good” medicine…a drug.

But does the polar opposite of sex with multiple partners work? HICKSON believes that abstinence doesn’t work either, because everything today revolves around sex, starting with BET and MTV. “People on TV become local heroes [to youth],” he comments. “Values have changed,” he says talking about the fast tracks of our lives, as we focus more on work and less on spending quality time with our families. Parents are busy with work and often leave their children alone at home with too much time to watch TV.

 

Internet dating also fuels HIV infections. People meet first on the Internet and then in person. An example would be, say, an HIV-positive flight attendant involved in Internet dating who can set up numerous meetings with people all over the globe…and lead to a “world disaster,” HICKSON theorizes. But is there a solution in sight? HICKSON is an advocate for safer sex, helping spread the word through his monthly GHETTOHEAT® newsletter. As for raising awareness about the dangers of HIV, HICKSON points out that someone well-known needs to come out and talk about today’s HIV/AIDS issues and have a similar effect over people’s understanding of AIDS as Rock Hudson did in the mid-eighties. For more information about GHETTOHEAT®, log on to WWW.GHETTOHEAT.COM.

 

Alina Oswald is a freelance writer, whose works have appeared in national and international publications.

 

 

CONVICT'S CANDY

WRITTEN BY DAMON "AMIN" MEADOWS & JASON POOLE

CONVICT'S CANDY

EDITED BY HICKSON

CONVICT'S CANDY

A GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTION

 

EBOOK & PAPERBACK: SOLD & DISTRIBUTED EXCLUSIVELY AT GHETTOHEAT®!

 

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT® & GHETTOHEAT® TV!

 

GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTIONS:

 

GHETTOHEAT® 
CONVICT’S CANDY 
HARDER 
AND GOD CREATED WOMAN 
LONDON REIGN 
SONZ OF DARKNESS 
TANTRUM 
HICKSONBELIKE... 
LOVE DON’T LOVE NOBODY 
THICKNESS 
GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS 
BANJEE CUNT 
ULTRAFABNABULOUS 
BROTHERS BEHIND BARS 
SO SEXY 
TOUGH 
MR. GHETTOHEAT® 
SKATE ON! 
GHETTOHEAT® EATS 
TURF 
GHETTOHEAT® MAGAZINE!

 

GHETTOHEAT® | P.O. BOX 2746 | NEW YORK, NY 10027 

 

GHETTOHEAT®: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!™

 

#GHETTOHEAT 

#THEHOTNESSINTHESTREETS 

#HICKSON 

#CEOOFGHETTOHEAT 

#TEAMGHETTOHEAT 

#HICKSONHOTNESS 

#PEACEANDGHETTOHEAT 

#HICKSONBELIKE 

#GHETTOHEATBOOKS 

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#GHETTOHEATTV 

#GHETTOHEATMOVEMENT 

#INSTAHICKSON 

#MAMAGHETTOHEAT 

#HOUSEOFGHETTOHEAT 

#GHETTOHEATSALUTE 

#PAZYGHETTOHEAT 

#GHETTOHEATHOTNESS 

#IAMGHETTOHEAT 

#GHETTOHEATPRODUCTION 

#MOVIMIENTODEGHETTOHEAT 

#BABYGHETTOHEAT 

#INSTAGHETTOHEAT 

#GHETTOHEATWORLDWIDE 

#SALUDODEGHETTOHEAT 

#MRGHETTOHEAT 

#GHETTOHEATGLOBALGROUPHUG 

#LACASADEGHETTOHEAT 

#GHETTOHEATEATS 

#GHETTOHEATCOM

Q & A WITH HICKSON: CEO OF GHETTOHEAT® AND DC BOOKDIVA, July 2006

I sat down with HICKSON, CEO of GHETTOHEAT® to discuss the book CONVICT’S CANDY, and to get the 411 on his next projects!

DC BOOKDIVA: HICKSON, you are the publisher of the newly released book, CONVICT’S CANDY, can you tell our readers a little about GHETTOHEAT® and the book?

HICKSON: GHETTOHEAT® is my publishing company which I started on June 4^th, 2003. It wasn’t my original plan to pursue, since I was working in the fashion industry at the time. I was working as NAOMI CAMPBELL’s personal wardrobe coordinator for five years, before working as a production coordinator for all of the big designers worldwide, before quitting the business the day before the 9/11 tragedy. It was then where I began writing as a form of expression and escapism. I was dealing with a lot at that time, in which the writing process was therapeutic for me. CONVICT’S CANDY is written by my two artists, DAMON “AMIN” MEADOWS and JASON POOLE. The two contacted me in April 2005, telling me about the book. I was really impressed with DAMON “AMIN” MEADOWS and JASON POOLE for wanting to write a book from federal prison that deals with HIV/AIDS awareness, as well as what really goes on behind the prison walls. I feel the two are doing a great justice for the urban community, especially to those who are still ignorant to the fact of transmissions of the deadly virus.

DC BOOKDIVA: How did you come up with the title, or did the writers come up with it?

HICKSON: “AMIN” came up with the title, CONVICT’S CANDY. “Candy” is the name of the pre-op transsexual in the story, one who gets arrested one week before the scheduled sex change operation. Without giving too much of the story, “Candy” looks exactly like a woman, being forced to be housed with male inmates within the facility. That alone should tell you what was going on in the prison. Keep in mind this is a true story. Things were changed around to protect the guilty parties.

DC BOOKDIVA: What other works has your company published or is looking to publish?

HICKSON: The first book that I published was my own, titled after my company, GHETTOHEAT®. It’s a collection of hardcore poetry that deals with many social issues within the inner city. The beauty about the book is that it’s sequential, so it actually seems though you’re reading a novel, with characters that meet up from time-to-time. I’m finishing up the last few touches on my first novel, SKATE ON!. The story takes place in Harlem in the 80s, based on three teenaged girls from the Polo Grounds Projects, learning life on the gritty streets, all while venturing to the most notorious roller-skating rink in the world—The Rooftop! SKATE ON! takes you back in time to a place when life was less chaotic. HARDER, written by SHA is being released this fall. The story is based on a young teenage girl named Kai from South Side, Jamaica, Queens, with ambitions of taking over the entire New York City drug trade on her own. The story is going to get the attention of a lot of people, as it deals with Kai growing up, and her struggle to survive against all odds. Soon after, SONZ OF DARKNESS, written by DRU NOBLE will be released. It’s an urban sci-fi tale about two brothers who were separated early on as children, but brought back together by conflict. The story is well written, and most refreshing, not your typical “ghetto” story.

DC BOOKDIVA: What are your future plans for GHETTOHEAT®?

HICKSON: To do everything in a major way. Stay tuned!

DC BOOKDIVA: What books are you currently reading and what authors do you admire?

HICKSON: Truthfully, I haven’t had time to read any new books, due to the fact that I’m constantly reading manuscripts. Authors that I admire—my own! (Smile). Log on to GHETTOHEAT.COM and check them out.

DC BOOKDIVA: Tell me a little about HICKSON, and the things that interest you.

HICKSON: HICKSON is a man who lives with integrity, marches to the beat of his own drum, one who is here to make a difference in life—with hopes that his legacy passes on.

DC BOOKDIVA: Well, thank you, HICKSON, I appreciate your time, and will be looking out for more from you.

HICKSON: Thank you.

For information on DC BOOKDIVA, log on to DCBOOKDIVA.COM

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT®

Publisher of GHETTOHEAT®, CONVICT’S CANDY, HARDER, AND GOD CREATED WOMAN, LONDON REIGN, SONZ OF DARKNESS, TANTRUM, GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS, LOVE DON'T LOVE NOBODY, DIRRRTY, TATTOOED TEARS, UGLY/BEAUTIFUL: ME, CLUB AVENUE, SKATE ON!, THICKNESS, SOME SEXY, & TOUGH.

GHETTOHEAT® | P.O. BOX 2746 | NEW YORK, NY 10027 | GHETTOHEAT.COM

GHETTOHEAT®: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!™

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CONVICT'S CANDY CONQUERS...

A & U: AMERICA'S AIDS MAGAZINE, MAY 2006

ESSENCE BESTSELLER, OCTOBER 2006

WENDY WILLIAMS' BOOK CLUB PICK, APRIL 2007

DON DIVA'S TOP 10 LIST, NOVEMBER 2007

HIP HOP WEEKLY MAGAZINE BOOK PICK, APRIL 2009

STREET ELEMENTS MAGAZINE, MAY 2009

BLEU MAGAZINE, APRIL 2010

CONVICT'S CANDY

WRITTEN BY DAMON “AMIN” MEADOWS & JASON POOLE

CONVICT'S CANDY

EDITED BY HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT®

CONVICT'S CANDY

IN STORES WORLDWIDE!

CONVICT'S CANDY

A GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTION

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT®

Publisher of GHETTOHEAT®, CONVICT’S CANDY, HARDER, AND GOD CREATED WOMAN, LONDON REIGN, SONZ OF DARKNESS, TANTRUM, GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS, LOVE DON'T LOVE NOBODY, DIRRRTY, TATTOOED TEARS, UGLY/BEAUTIFUL: ME, CLUB AVENUE, SKATE ON!, THICKNESS, SOME SEXY, & TOUGH.

GHETTOHEAT® | P.O. BOX 2746 | NEW YORK, NY 10027 | GHETTOHEAT.COM

GHETTOHEAT®: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!™

 

 

Q & A WITH URBAN FICTION BOOK CLUB, & HICKSON: CEO OF GHETTOHEAT! 5.29.09

 

After our reading of CONVICT’S CANDY, A GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTION by JASON POOLE and DAMON “AMIN” MEADOWS, we were lucky enough to start a correspondence with HICKSON, the CEO of GHETTOHEAT®.

 

 

KRISTINA D.: Some in the African American community support and encourage street lit while others disapprove of it. Why do you think some people are critical of street lit? Do you think their fears are founded in truth in any way? What would you say to make them understand your goals with THE GHETTOHEAT® MOVEMENT?

 

HICKSON: There’s been a lot of controversy swarming around urban lit/street lit for various reasons, and for some time now. Within the industry you have some contemporary writers who frown upon urban lit/street lit, discrediting it, some even blatantly saying it isn’t real literature, due to the nature of the stories, in addition to putting some writers of urban lit/street lit down because most of the writers are self-taught and didn’t go to college for four years to study journalism, or even take creative writing classes. Some contemporary writers don’t feel that a person writing about their own experiences within the inner streets warrants them as a professional writer, which I totally disagree with. If you’re capable of crafting great works without having journalism as a level of concentration in college, does that mean you’re not able to create magnificent works? I think not.

 

In my opinion, I think the negative lashing against urban street writers is due to the success of urban lit/street lit, its growth, the huge book sales behind it, as well as the attention many writers have gotten from this genre, some contemporary writers sharing less of the spotlight and profits than urban/street writers. Also, there’s a lot of truth within urban lit/street lit—truth that’s brutally honest at times, and unfortunately, the truth hurts.

 

Yet, I personally don’t agree with all of urban lit/street lit, some of it is poorly written at times, have weak storylines as well as the writings can be extremely reckless at times. Yet, on a positive note, this genre is also getting many who weren’t normally reading books, interested. At GHETTOHEAT®, I make sure that all works produced serve a purpose, gives messages for the readers to draw upon, and produce great quality material that doesn’t glamorize street life. Even with it being urban lit/street lit, it deals with the real issues at hand. For instance, in HARDER, it deals with a young girl’s involvement within inner-city street trappings, yet it’s a cautionary tale, one that deters many from taking the wrong path. THE GHETTOHEAT® MOVEMENT is all about promoting literacy worldwide, getting many to read more. From a business and personal standpoint, my mission is to have a great writing team to execute many types of works from different genres that have jewels for many to take, ones that will help readers with their own personal journey in life.

 

KRISTINA D.: What books influenced you in your personal life and as an author?

 

HICKSON: My all-time favorite writer is Langston Hughes. Anything he produced I make sure to read. I love how he made something so complex appear to be so simple, which is very hard to do—a skill in itself. I love how he dealt with social commentary, bringing forth real issues of the people in poetry, as well as in his “Simple” scenarios. I’ve been compared to Langston Hughes as a writer, which I don’t feel worthy of because he was an absolute genius, yet in my poetry book, GHETTOHEAT®, I also deal with issues of race, violence, love, teen pregnancy, economic factors within the urban community, sexuality, HIV/AIDS awareness, etc, so I can understand the comparison, as well as we’re both Harlemites.  

 

Yet I’m highly motivated by Gordon Parks, he being the true Renaissance man, having many talents. I have different gifts and talents, some which are reflected in my productions at GHETTOHEAT®. I wear many hats here, doing everything from A to Z. I’m fully hands on with all executions at my company. But, it wasn’t until the success of Teri Woods’ “True To The Game” and Sister Souljah’s “The Coldest Winter Ever” that raised my eyebrow, which encouraged me to not only write GHETTOHEAT® after quitting the fashion industry, but to also start my own business and create, market, sell and distribute my own works, later signing other writers. To date I have fifteen authors signed to the company, many with multiple book deals here. I’m also an independent publisher with no intentions of partnering up with a major publishing house, yet producing on the same level as one.

 

KRISTINA D.: What is your perception of the way homosexuality functions in the genre of urban fiction?  Do you feel LGBT characters achieve visibility in many urban fiction books, or are they most often depicted as characters that are deeply flawed and tragic?

 

HICKSON: Like television and film, homosexuality isn’t portrayed in a positive light in urban fiction, also. There are rarely any masculine, affluent, progressive, leading gay characters in urban fiction, most being overly flamboyant, reflected as a buffoon, or extremely promiscuous, many lacking stability. Which isn’t the real case. Yet, I fully understand why this has happened/happening. Hip-Hop and urban lit/street lit are synonymous, and being gay in Hip-Hop is taboo within the inner city and Hip-Hop community. It’s troublesome for many to view a strong, masculine gay man the same way as a heterosexual man. Yet, there’s no real difference, other than the sexual preference.

 

In CONVICT’S CANDY, one of the characters “allegedly” is one of the biggest stars in Hip-Hop, having liaisons with a beautiful transgender while in prison, before making it big within the music industry. A very masculine man nonetheless, a hard pill for many to swallow, those who have figured out the character’s identity. Yet, it’s not a tell-all book. It’s an expose’ on what really goes on behind the prison walls, enlightening many on the daily environment of the prisons, and HIV/AIDS awareness. Even if you had no intentions of learning about the different ways of getting the deadly disease, it’s told in such a salacious way that keeps the reader intrigued and engrossed. CONVICT’S CANDY is my bestseller to date, many sending letters and e-mails on how the book is saving lives. Yet, until Hollywood changes how gay characters are depicted within the media, and the urban community is less informed about gay culture, there will continue to be a vicious cycle of gay characters lacking strength and power within the media.

 

KRISTINA D.: Race is a touchy subject…when ‘suburban’ Caucasian people started listening to Hip-Hop and trying to buy Hip-Hop labels, many previously empowering rap lyrics turned violent. How do you feel about White people – many of whom have not experienced inner-city life – reading urban fiction?

 

HICKSON: I absolutely love the fact that Hip-Hop has become a universal language, enjoyed by many of different ethnicities, backgrounds, and ones from different economic classes and structures. In Japan alone, many don’t speak English, yet will chant rap lyrics of platinum rap artists. I find this fascinating. I have no problem with people learning about other cultures—I have a problem with others stealing from one’s culture then claiming it as their own, which has been going on for years. Going back to the 50s, there were many Black singers who were robbed of fame and fortune, due to the music industry not wanting to market and promote Black artists on their own records, instead, opting to credit Black artists works with White singers. Yet, I promote diversity at GHETTOHEAT®. I would love to come across a writer coming other from a Black and Hispanic background who wrote with the same level of passion, intensity and creativity. So personally, I don’t discriminate, I embrace. 

 

Hip-Hop is highly appreciated by Caucasians: the rapper Eminem alone has clearly proved this. Most rap concerts are thick with a White audience. I think it’s great that Caucasians are becoming more intrigued with urban lit/street lit, giving them better understanding of our experiences within the urban community, as well as Black/Latin culture in the process.

 

KRISTINA D.: What role should libraries/librarians play in empowering urban people? How is street lit related to this process? What could we be doing better?

 

HICKSON: By stocking ® continue its mission to promote literacy, not just within the urban streets, but worldwide; this simply is done by e-mailing me at HICKSON@GHETTOHEAT.COM. more Black literature on your shelves, including urban lit/street fiction, so readers can get more understanding, as well provide an outlet for those who already relate to urban lit/street fiction, as it’s a great need for it. You can have more Black and Latino writers come in and do readings, Q & A’s, and book signings, so a connection can be made between the writers and readers, other than the reader reading the books. Create book clubs, one that’s even multicultural, and get the readers involved in Black literature. Of course also by logging on to GHETTOHEAT.COM—see what’s going on in our world, and inquire about aiding in helping GHETTOHEAT continue its mission to promote literacy, not just within the urban streets, but worldwide; this simply is done by e-mailing me at HICKSON@GHETTOHEAT.COM.

 

KRISTINA D.: What do you want us to know about the GHETTOHEAT® MOVEMENT…is there anything that you think might surprise us?

 

HICKSON: THE GHETTOHEAT® MOVEMENT is a growing network of everyday people who have joined forces with GHETTOHEAT® worldwide in the fight of eliminating illiteracy. People who enjoy great books about urban life and street culture, relationships, sexuality, women’s issues, politics, science fiction, poetry, erotica, as well as contemporary urban classics, that as I said before, serve a purpose, have relevance, and will educate, empower and enliven, all through entertainment.

 

I’m very proud of this movement. Originally I started GHETTOHEAT® to become an entrepreneur and to make a living, after my decision of leaving the fashion industry. In the midst, I discovered that by starting the company, I was also giving opportunities to other writers who would not normally be signed at major publishing houses, due to discrimination. Yet in all of this, I also realized that I’ve given voices to the voiceless, a platform for many worldwide who need not only to be heard, recognized and respected, but also appreciated. That’s what’s happening at GHETTOHEAT®. I’ve created a creative outlet, a platform for many to delve into the experience, not just urban, but the entire GHETTOHEAT® experience, one that has become bigger than me, my original idea, as well as the company—THE GHETTOHEAT® MOVEMENT.

 

CONVICT'S CANDY

WRITTEN BY DAMON "AMIN" MEADOWS & JASON POOLE

CONVICT'S CANDY

EDITED BY HICKSON

CONVICT'S CANDY

A GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTION

 

EBOOK & PAPERBACK: SOLD & DISTRIBUTED EXCLUSIVELY AT GHETTOHEAT®!

 

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT® & GHETTOHEAT® TV!

 

GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTIONS:

 

GHETTOHEAT® 
CONVICT’S CANDY 
HARDER 
AND GOD CREATED WOMAN 
LONDON REIGN 
SONZ OF DARKNESS 
TANTRUM 
HICKSONBELIKE... 
LOVE DON’T LOVE NOBODY 
THICKNESS 
GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS 
BANJEE CUNT 
ULTRAFABNABULOUS 
BROTHERS BEHIND BARS 
SO SEXY 
TOUGH 
MR. GHETTOHEAT® 
SKATE ON! 
GHETTOHEAT® EATS 
TURF 
GHETTOHEAT® MAGAZINE!

 

GHETTOHEAT® | P.O. BOX 2746 | NEW YORK, NY 10027 

 

GHETTOHEAT®: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!™

 

#GHETTOHEAT 

#THEHOTNESSINTHESTREETS 

#HICKSON 

#CEOOFGHETTOHEAT 

#TEAMGHETTOHEAT 

#HICKSONHOTNESS 

#PEACEANDGHETTOHEAT 

#HICKSONBELIKE 

#GHETTOHEATBOOKS 

#GHETTOHEATMAGAZINE 

#GHETTOHEATTV 

#GHETTOHEATMOVEMENT 

#INSTAHICKSON 

#MAMAGHETTOHEAT 

#HOUSEOFGHETTOHEAT 

#GHETTOHEATSALUTE 

#PAZYGHETTOHEAT 

#GHETTOHEATHOTNESS 

#IAMGHETTOHEAT 

#GHETTOHEATPRODUCTION 

#MOVIMIENTODEGHETTOHEAT 

#BABYGHETTOHEAT 

#INSTAGHETTOHEAT 

#GHETTOHEATWORLDWIDE 

#SALUDODEGHETTOHEAT 

#MRGHETTOHEAT 

#GHETTOHEATGLOBALGROUPHUG 

#LACASADEGHETTOHEAT 

#GHETTOHEATEATS 

#GHETTOHEATCOM

EVERYONE, CHECK OUT THE GHETTOHEAT® CLIPS ON YOUTUBE.COM AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHETTOHEAT® PAGE. CLICK ON THE LINK:

HTTP://YOUTUBE.COM/GHETTOHEATCOM

PEACE & GHETTOHEAT®!

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT®

Publisher of GHETTOHEAT®, CONVICT’S CANDY, HARDER, AND GOD CREATED WOMAN, LONDON REIGN, SONZ OF DARKNESS, TANTRUM, GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS, LOVE DON'T LOVE NOBODY, DIRRRTY, TATTOOED TEARS, UGLY/BEAUTIFUL: ME, CLUB AVENUE, SKATE ON!, THICKNESS, SOME SEXY, & TOUGH.

GHETTOHEAT® | P.O. BOX 2746 | NEW YORK, NY 10027 | GHETTOHEAT.COM

GHETTOHEAT®: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!™

 

THE ‘H’ MAN BRINGS THE HEAT

By Alina Oswald, Beyond Race Magazine 7/06

 

H is for Heat. H is for Harlem. H is for HICKSON, a native of Harlem with an ear for the heated stories of the inner city and with a few tales of his own. “Harlem is where the heart is,” 36-year-old HICKSON says, willing to talk just about everything but his first name (which, at least for now, remains a mystery).

 

He graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1998, with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Advertising and Marketing Communications. While attending college on a full-time basis, HICKSON also worked as a freelance fashion stylist, a job that led to a wardrobe coordinator position with Audrey Smaltz and the Ground Crew, a recognized backstage management team. It was here that he was put in charge of coordinating catwalk queen Naomi Campbell’s outfits.

 

Five years into his work, on September 10, 2001, HICKSON decided to leave the industry, unaware of the tragic events about to happen the following day. “After 9/11, I was living off my savings,” HICKSON recalls. He also started to put his life experiences into words at that time. Soon, writing became a creative outlet for HICKSON. He was writing poetry in between job interviews. At the advice of his friends, HICKSON published his poems in GHETTOHEAT®, a collection of verse portraying the experiences, energy, and vibe of urban inner city life. HICKSON says life on the streets of Harlem includes “the good, the bad and [definitely] the ugly, [but also] the beauty of it, too. It is not all tragic, it’s love as well,” he says. “I love my people and my native place, even if, sometimes it [can] get chaotic.”

 

To self-publish his poetry book, HICKSON founded his own multimedia company, GHETTOHEAT®. It all happened in 1996 in the Village during Veteran’s Day weekend. HICKSON was wrongly accused of not using a token for his train trip. He was handcuffed and locked in a men’s bathroom in the train platform…without being allowed to use the bathroom. It took the police four hours to release him, because they were waiting for the shift change to collect overtime. Taken to Central Bookings, ten officers were involved in an enforced illegal strip search of HICKSON, violating his rights. This led to a class action suit, which HICKSON won in 2000.

 

Three years later, HICKSON received his check. Two days later, on June 4th, 2003, he started his company, GHETTOHEAT®, “What exists before, during and after the fire,” as defined on its website, WWW.GHETTOHEAT.COM GHETTOHEAT®’s mission is to educate and empower everyone through entertainment by creating awareness, be it for safer sex, HIV/AIDS, or street-life awareness, in its products.

 

While starting with only one author (HICKSON) GHETTOHEAT® now publishes six authors and is seeking other new and original voices. GHETTOHEAT® authors come from all paths of life and from everywhere across the country. Two of them, JASON POOLE and DAMON “AMIN” MEADOWS, are co-authors of CONVICT’S CANDY, a novel inspired by actual events and the authors’ personal experiences. It exposes the reality behind bars and issues like HIV/AIDS and sexual harassment among convicts through the story of a transgender woman locked together with male inmates. While the two authors are awaiting their soon-to-come release, HICKSON is promoting CONVICT’S CANDY through book events around the nation. After all, HICKSON believes in the powerful message in CONVICT’S CANDY. That’s why he decided to make it a GHETTOHEAT® production.

 

But GHETTOHEAT® is much more than a multimedia company. It is a movement against illiteracy within inner cities, providing a creative outlet for youth to express themselves freely through the art of writing. GHETTOHEAT® has established a college scholarship fund intended for young adults pursuing careers in journalism and or creative arts. Funding for the scholarship comes partly from the sales of GHETTOHEAT® products.

 

THE GHETTOHEAT® MOVEMENT is also about everyday people across the world united in their efforts to promote the importance of reading. As defined on HICKSON’s web site, the movement’s mission is “to find a solution for the serious, ongoing problem of illiteracy within urban communities.”

 

HICKSON has been dedicating his life’s work to improving the lives of others through fighting illiteracy and bringing into the open real issues of life on the street. He hopes that soon it will be possible to make GHETTOHEAT® books into movies and, therefore as to the ways in which GHETTOHEAT® can help. After all, HICKSON concludes, “[GHETTOHEAT®] is all about making a difference.”

 

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT® & GHETTOHEAT® TV!

 

GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTIONS:

 

GHETTOHEAT® 

CONVICT’S CANDY 

HARDER 

AND GOD CREATED WOMAN 

LONDON REIGN 

SONZ OF DARKNESS 

TANTRUM 

HICKSONBELIKE... 

LOVE DON’T LOVE NOBODY 

THICKNESS 

GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS 

BANJEE CUNT 

ULTRAFABNABULOUS 

BROTHERS BEHIND BARS 

SO SEXY 

TOUGH 

MR. GHETTOHEAT® 

SKATE ON! 

GHETTOHEAT® EATS 

TURF 

GHETTOHEAT® MAGAZINE!

 

GHETTOHEAT® | P.O. BOX 2746 | NEW YORK, NY 10027 | HTTP://GHETTOHEAT.COM/ | HICKSON@GHETTOHEAT.COM

 

GHETTOHEAT®: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!™

 

 

#GHETTOHEAT 

#THEHOTNESSINTHESTREETS 

#HICKSON 

#CEOOFGHETTOHEAT 

#TEAMGHETTOHEAT 

#HICKSONHOTNESS 

#PEACEANDGHETTOHEAT 

#HICKSONBELIKE 

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#GHETTOHEATMAGAZINE 

#GHETTOHEATTV 

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#MRGHETTOHEAT 

#GHETTOHEATGLOBALGROUPHUG 

#LACASADEGHETTOHEAT 

#GHETTOHEATEATS 

#GHETTOHEATCOM

 

http://www.amazon.co...27531548&sr=1-7

http://www.ghettoheat.com/shop.html

DAMON “AMIN” MEADOWS: URBAN LIT WITH A TWIST

By Seth “Soul Man” Ferranti,

Urban Book Source, 10.1.07

Violence, sex, and drugs are usually at the core of street lit, but DAMON “AMIN” MEADOWS flipped the script with CONVICT’S CANDY, his venture into the book game, which he co-wrote with JASON POOLE. The two authors wrote the book at FCI Manchester, a federal prison in Kentucky, and while JASON was released in January 2007, AMIN is still incarcerated, now doing time at FCI Loretto in Pennsylvania. His book, CONVICT’S CANDY, which is based on a true story, is a unique entry into the street lit genre as it deals with sexual identity, prostitution, and homosexuality within the prison system. The story follows Candy Sweets, a teenaged, pre-op transsexual, who gets locked up in the Feds one week before his scheduled sex change.

Candy soon finds himself caught in several love affairs with men who have families, girlfriends, and wives at home waiting for them to be released. Candy learns about prison life through sexual harassment, violence, stigma, and HIV exposure. But Candy doesn’t kiss and tell; “she” understands the code of silence: what happens in prison stays in prison. Yet with CONVICT’S CANDY, AMIN was courageous enough to break that code, exposing the world to the reality of men on the down low while in jail. The book takes a serious look at a serious matter and explains how the HIV virus spreads rampantly through the prison system. It also reveals how the dangerous and deadly disease is transmitted back out to society to unsuspecting women in the community, when infected inmates are released and return to their homes and loved ones bringing their diseases with them.

“Being incarcerated for over 14 years, I’ve seen a lot of these so-called men in here fall weak to homosexual activities,” AMIN says. “And some of these transgender they have sex with are HIV positive.” But don’t get it twisted, ain’t nothing homo about AMIN.”

DAMON “AMIN” MEADOWS is an African-American Muslim who grew up in the hard, fast streets of South Philly. This brother keeps it thorough, and lets the world know about some of his fellow prisoners in CONVICT’S CANDY, the homo-thug segment that is.

“These so-called men go home or go on visits with their wives or girlfriends as if they’re still heterosexual,” Amin says. “Kissing and hugging all over their women on the visits, or having sex with their women when they go home knowing they were just kissing, hugging, and having sex with other men. Those women could be my daughters one day or other women in my family so I feel I have an obligation to make these realities known.”

And with CONVICT’S CANDY, AMIN has. The book has made waves in the outside world, shocking and disgusting in equal manner. Wendy Williams, the radio personality and Queen of Drama, choose the controversial title as the book club’s pick for the month of March, saying “The real deal about jail life. If you have a man doing a bid, you must read CONVICT’S CANDY.” Don Diva put the book on its Top 15 Urban Book List. Even hip-hop superstar Lil’ Kim read the book saying, “I really loved CONVICT’S CANDY, the book is ill.” And for real, AMIN and JASON got a little ill writing the book, as in sick ill, concerning the subject matter.

“The characters are definitely true characters,” AMIN says. “JASON and I conducted interviews with transsexuals, but living in this controlled environment, we’re forced to see lewd acts even if we don’t want to. The very sad part is that it’s so common that people are becoming desensitized to it.” Of the endeavor JASON said, “AMIN had the idea and he sat down with me and asked me to help him with it. I sat down and listened to his idea and thought it was something we really needed to do. It was very hard to stomach some of the things that went on, but the information needed to be out there.” The book is urban fiction but with a twist, and in his attempt to raise AIDS awareness, AMIN has crafted a riveting story that reads fluidly from start to finish.

“I started writing novels because I knew I could tell a hell of a story, and I’ve never been scared to go against the grain,” AMIN says. “I’m taking the title of controversial author. Urban authors have to step out of the box they put themselves in, because there is so much more to write about than drugs, killing, and getting money.” But still, AMIN supports his fellow prison writers. “I love the fact that the brothers and sisters are doing something positive,” he says.

And AMIN has traveled a long road himself, starting his federal case in 1993. “I was the youngest person hit with a conspiracy indictment,” he says. “Eight of the fourteen testified against me, which caused me to get a life sentence without the possibility of parole. But I kept my faith in Allah and kept fighting. I’ve been successful with two of my several appeals and now have an up and coming release date. All praise to Allah.” And AMIN’s success has brought many fans.

“I’m getting feedback from fans and supporters,” he says. “One 17-page letter I got made me name the writer DT for Detective Tee because she has literally spent 8 months finding out who each of the main characters were in real life and she’s 85% correct. But one of the most meaningful letters I’ve gotten thus far was from a muslimah (a female Muslim) who told me that my book moved her so much after reading it, that she got tested for HIV and found out she was positive. She thanked me because she found out in the early stages and with today’s medicines, she’ll be able to stay healthier longer, if Allah wills.” And AMIN has more plans too.

“The most important thing I’m learning is true Islam, because there are so many misconceptions about what people think Islam is,” AMIN says. “I am taking full advantage of my incarceration to better myself mentally, spiritually and physically, which will in turn prepare me to become an efficient citizen in society.”

So check out CONVICT’S CANDY, available on Amazon.com and everywhere books are sold.

Seth Ferranti is a contributing writer for The Urban Book Source and accomplished journalist having written articles for Don Diva, Slam, King, Feds and many more.

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT®

Publisher of GHETTOHEAT®, CONVICT’S CANDY, HARDER, AND GOD CREATED WOMAN, LONDON REIGN, SONZ OF DARKNESS, TANTRUM, LOVE DON'T LOVE NOBODY, GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS, DIRRRTY, TATTOOED TEARS, UGLY/BEAUTIFUL: ME, CLUB AVENUE, SKATE ON!, THICKNESS, SOME SEXY, & TOUGH.

GHETTOHEAT®

P.O. BOX 2746 | NEW YORK, NY 10027 | GHETTOHEAT.COM

GHETTOHEAT®: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!™

PEACE, CYNIQUE. THE ONLY COMPETITION HICKSON HAS: IS HICKSON.... GOD BLESS YOU.

H I C K S O N

EXPERIENCE

1/00 – 9/01 Bureau Betak

Production Coordinator

• Executed fashion shows and special events

• Provided backstage management at venues

• Organized models and talent during run-of-show

• Liaison with designers, stylists, models, hair and make-up teams

• Participated in castings, meetings and rehearsals

• Coordinated preparation of fashion shows and special events

10/94 – 10/99 The Ground Crew

Collection Coordinator

• Supervised 30 staff members

• Conducted staff meeting preparation and assistance

• Liaison with show producers, designers’ production staff, models and talent

• Arranged and coordinated models and talent wardrobe

PRODUCTIONS

2000

• KATAYONE ADELI Fall 2001 – Production Coordinator

• MICHAEL KORS Fall 2001 – Production Coordinator

• DONNA KARAN Fall 2001 – Production Coordinator

• CELINE Spring 2001 – Production Coordinator

• TSE NEW YORK Spring 2001 – Production Coordinator

• DKNY Spring 2001 – Production Coordinator

• MICHAEL KORS Spring 2001 – Production Coordinator

• DONNA KARAN Spring 2001 – Production Coordinator

• VICTORIA’S SECRET CANNES 2000 CINEMA AGAINST AIDS – Production Coordinator

• TSE NEW YORK Fall 2000 – Production Coordinator

• JOHN BARTLETT Fall 2000 – Production Coordinator

• DONNA KARAN Fall 2000 – Production Coordinator

1998

• MTV FASHIONABLY LOUD – Collection Coordinator for Jean-Paul Gaultier, Tristan Webber and Julian McDonald

• VIBE STYLES – Collection Coordinator for Naughty Gear, Kangol, Tommy Hilfiger, Lugz and Walker Wear

1997

• MTV FASHIONABLY LOUD – Collection Coordinator for Antonio Berardi, John Bartlett and Todd Oldham

• VIBE STYLES – Collection Coordinator for The North Face, Lugz, Avirex, Bear & Polo

•EPPERSON Fall 1997 – Fashion Show Director

1996

• MTV FASHIONABLY LOUD – Collection Coordinator for Gianni Versace, Todd Oldham, Vivienne Westwood, Dolce & Gabbana and Anna Molinari

• VH1 FASHION AWARDS – Collection Coordinator for John Galliano, Gucci, Halston, Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, Helmut Lang & Chanel

1995

• VH1 FASHION AWARDS – Collection Coordinator for Thierry Mugler’s 20^th Anniversary

• FRENCH MENSWEAR FEDERATION SPRING 1996 – Collection Coordinator for Jose Levy, Dominique Marlotti, John Rocha & Kenzo

EDUCATION

5/98

Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York

Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Advertising & Marketing Communications

Marithe & Francois Girbaud

Mark Eisen

Mary McFadden

Maurice Malone

Michael Kors

Miu Miu

Mohl Furs

Moschino

Nautica

Nicole Miller

Nike

Oscar dela Renta

Pamela Dennis

Patrick Robinson

Peter Cohen

Phat Farm

Philip Treacy

Randolph Duke

Rebecca Moses

Rifat Ozbek

Robert Comstock

Robert Freda

Roberto Cavali

Russell Bennett

Searle

Stephen Digeronimo

Steve Fabrikant

Structure

Susan Lazar

Timberland

Tommy Hilfiger

Troa

Tse

Valentino

Vera Wang

Victor Alfaro

Vivienne Tam

Westcott

Wilke Rodriguez

Yashiyuki Kionishi

Yeohlee

Yohji Yamamoto

Zang Toi

http://www.ghettoheat.com/artists.html

HICKSON: CEO of GHETTOHEAT®

Publisher of GHETTOHEAT®, CONVICT’S CANDY, HARDER, AND GOD CREATED WOMAN, LONDON REIGN, SONZ OF DARKNESS, TANTRUM, GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS, LOVE DON'T LOVE NOBODY, DIRRRTY, TATTOOED TEARS, UGLY/BEAUTIFUL: ME, CLUB AVENUE, SKATE ON!, THICKNESS, SOME SEXY, & TOUGH.

GHETTOHEAT®

P.O. BOX 2746 | NEW YORK, NY 10027 | GHETTOHEAT.COM

GHETTOHEAT®: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!™

HELLO XEON, THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY. YES, IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT OTHERS ARE NOT FOLLOWING SUITE AND ARE CHEAPENING THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY, BRANDS, AUTHORS, GENRES AND WORKS BY DRASTICALLY LOWERING PRICES AND GIVING AWAY WORKS FOR FREE, NOW EVEN WITH EBOOKS, BUT I'VE CHOSEN FROM DAY ONE NOT TO. I'M CHALLENGED DAILY BY MANY IN THIS ARENA...AND HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS, BUT I BOW DOWN TO NO ONE.... I WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT: THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS. GHETTOHEAT® HAS ALWAYS TAKEN A STAND FOR WHAT'S RIGHT, AND GOD WILLING, WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. BE BLESSED, XEON.

I rememeber meeting you when you were first getting off the ground Hickson -- keep up the good work!

THANKS TROY! I APPRECIATE THE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. WILL CONTACT YOU SOON.