
The Harlem Plug
The Richard "Fritz" Simmons Story
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $19.49
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Jeremy Michael Durm
-
By:
-
Harlem Holiday
About this listen
"To have once been a criminal is no disgrace. To remain a criminal is the disgrace." (Malcolm X)
In Harlem’s tumultuous history, there are many tragedies. For those growing up in this part of New York City, a young man known simply as Fritz from West 112th Street became an urban legend in Harlem.
In the 1970s, Richard “Fritz” Simmons is introduced to the drug trade by an associate of the Lucchese crime family, one of the five families of La Cosa Nostra (the Mafia). After negotiating a deal with the Medellín Cartel, Fritz becomes New York’s Cocaine Consignment King. The lucrative deal unlocks a lavish lifestyle with more money than Fritz’s family and Harlem could’ve imagined. Now distributing kilos of cocaine on a kingpin level to many well-known Harlem heavyweights, Fritz employs hundreds throughout the five boroughs of New York City and neighboring states. Fritz further extends his generosity in ways few from the community had ever seen. Fritz reigns supreme for more than a decade in the drug game, making millions under the radar of the NYPD, and he never got busted. Some look at Fritz as the Keyser Soze of the '80s, the most enigmatic drug dealer of that time.
Harlem Holiday brings her inside scoop after almost three decades of silence, speculation, and secrecy. This biography is the in-depth story of Fritz never before told; the tale of how a lowly street hustler rises to orchestrate a one-man syndicate. It’s an account of events, as told by Fritz’s family and closest friends, and details gathered from newspaper clippings, magazine articles, court transcripts, and social media. Fritz’s truth, joy, and despair are fully disclosed, while circumstances surrounding his death still remain a mystery.
©2020 Harlem Holiday (P)2021 Harlem HolidayListeners also enjoyed...
-
The Crack Era
- The Rise, Fall and Redemption of Kevin Chiles
- By: Kevin Chiles, Richard Ray Esq.
- Narrated by: Richard Ray Esq.
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Crack Era: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Kevin Chiles chronicles one of the most treacherous periods in New York City’s history. As told by a man The New York Times once described as, “the biggest drug lord in Harlem since Nicky Barnes”, the book lays bare the harrowing exploits of the narcotics trade Uptown during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s - a world where the lust for freebase cocaine set off a veritable gold rush that turned ghetto boys into young millionaires almost overnight.
-
-
CUT...REDO
- By Boo Roq Nodrama on 10-26-20
By: Kevin Chiles, and others
-
The Dope Game
- Misadventures of Fat Cat & Pappy Mason
- By: Seth Ferranti
- Narrated by: Excellence En'Sound
- Length: 4 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook details Fat Cat and Pappy Mason’s story, chronicling their rise and fall in the annals of gangster lore. Both drug lords are imprisoned for life, due to their crimes and exploits, but their legends live on in hip-hop and popular culture. Written by noted true crime historian Seth Ferranti, this is the most concise, prolific, and detailed account of Fat Cat and Pappy Mason to date.
-
-
Why would you have music?
- By Derek on 07-12-20
By: Seth Ferranti
-
Freeway Rick Ross
- The Untold Autobiography
- By: Rick Ross, Cathy Scott
- Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Freeway Rick Ross: The Untold Autobiography is an intimate look at the day-to-day dealings of a drug kingpin in the heart of the ghetto. It's also the story of a boy born in poverty in Texas who grew up in a single-parent household in the heart of South Central, who was pushed through the school system each year and came out illiterate. His options were few, and he turned to drug dealing. This untold autobiography is not only personal, but also historical in its implications.
-
-
Life as a Drug Kingpin.
- By pixledust on 12-09-15
By: Rick Ross, and others
-
Gangsters of Harlem
- The Gritty Underworld of New York City's Most Famous Neighborhood
- By: Ron Chepesiuk
- Narrated by: J. D. Jackson
- Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Author Ron Chepesiuk chronicles the little known history of organized crime in Harlem.
African American organized crime has had as significant an impact on its constituent community as Italian, Jewish, and Irish organized crime has had on theirs. Gangsters are every bit as colorful, intriguing, and powerful as Al Capone and Lucky Luciano, and have a fascinating history in gambling, prostitution, and drug dealing. In the late 1800s, Harlem became a highly fashionable neighborhood.
-
-
weak --reader is terrible!
- By Meyer Rosenbloom on 10-18-13
By: Ron Chepesiuk
-
BMF
- The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Mafia Family
- By: Mara Shalhoup
- Narrated by: L. Steven Taylor
- Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the early 1990s, Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory and his brother, Terry "Southwest T", rose up from the slums of Detroit to build one of the largest cocaine empires in American history: the Black Mafia Family. They socialized with music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, did business with New York's king of bling Jacob "The Jeweler" Arabo, and built allegiances with rap superstars Young Jeezy and Fabolous. Yet even as BMF was attracting celebrity attention, its crew members struck fear in a city.
-
-
Good listen
- By Lamont on 04-20-20
By: Mara Shalhoup
-
The Book of Jose
- A Memoir
- By: Fat Joe, Shaheem Reid
- Narrated by: Fat Joe
- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fat Joe is a hip-hop legend, but this is not a tale of celebrity; it is the story of Joseph Cartagena, a kid who came of age in the South Bronx during its darkest years of drugs, violence, and abandonment, and how he navigated that traumatizing landscape until he found—through art, friendship, luck, and will—a rocky path to a different life. This memoir, written in Joe’s own intensely compelling voice, moves with the momentum of pulp fiction, but underneath the tragicomedy and riveting tales of the streets and the industry is a thought-provoking story about a generation of survivors.
-
-
INCREDIBLE AND INSPIRATIONAL STORY
- By Anonymous User on 05-26-23
By: Fat Joe, and others
-
The Crack Era
- The Rise, Fall and Redemption of Kevin Chiles
- By: Kevin Chiles, Richard Ray Esq.
- Narrated by: Richard Ray Esq.
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Crack Era: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Kevin Chiles chronicles one of the most treacherous periods in New York City’s history. As told by a man The New York Times once described as, “the biggest drug lord in Harlem since Nicky Barnes”, the book lays bare the harrowing exploits of the narcotics trade Uptown during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s - a world where the lust for freebase cocaine set off a veritable gold rush that turned ghetto boys into young millionaires almost overnight.
-
-
CUT...REDO
- By Boo Roq Nodrama on 10-26-20
By: Kevin Chiles, and others
-
The Dope Game
- Misadventures of Fat Cat & Pappy Mason
- By: Seth Ferranti
- Narrated by: Excellence En'Sound
- Length: 4 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook details Fat Cat and Pappy Mason’s story, chronicling their rise and fall in the annals of gangster lore. Both drug lords are imprisoned for life, due to their crimes and exploits, but their legends live on in hip-hop and popular culture. Written by noted true crime historian Seth Ferranti, this is the most concise, prolific, and detailed account of Fat Cat and Pappy Mason to date.
-
-
Why would you have music?
- By Derek on 07-12-20
By: Seth Ferranti
-
Freeway Rick Ross
- The Untold Autobiography
- By: Rick Ross, Cathy Scott
- Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Freeway Rick Ross: The Untold Autobiography is an intimate look at the day-to-day dealings of a drug kingpin in the heart of the ghetto. It's also the story of a boy born in poverty in Texas who grew up in a single-parent household in the heart of South Central, who was pushed through the school system each year and came out illiterate. His options were few, and he turned to drug dealing. This untold autobiography is not only personal, but also historical in its implications.
-
-
Life as a Drug Kingpin.
- By pixledust on 12-09-15
By: Rick Ross, and others
-
Gangsters of Harlem
- The Gritty Underworld of New York City's Most Famous Neighborhood
- By: Ron Chepesiuk
- Narrated by: J. D. Jackson
- Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Author Ron Chepesiuk chronicles the little known history of organized crime in Harlem.
African American organized crime has had as significant an impact on its constituent community as Italian, Jewish, and Irish organized crime has had on theirs. Gangsters are every bit as colorful, intriguing, and powerful as Al Capone and Lucky Luciano, and have a fascinating history in gambling, prostitution, and drug dealing. In the late 1800s, Harlem became a highly fashionable neighborhood.
-
-
weak --reader is terrible!
- By Meyer Rosenbloom on 10-18-13
By: Ron Chepesiuk
-
BMF
- The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Mafia Family
- By: Mara Shalhoup
- Narrated by: L. Steven Taylor
- Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the early 1990s, Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory and his brother, Terry "Southwest T", rose up from the slums of Detroit to build one of the largest cocaine empires in American history: the Black Mafia Family. They socialized with music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, did business with New York's king of bling Jacob "The Jeweler" Arabo, and built allegiances with rap superstars Young Jeezy and Fabolous. Yet even as BMF was attracting celebrity attention, its crew members struck fear in a city.
-
-
Good listen
- By Lamont on 04-20-20
By: Mara Shalhoup
-
The Book of Jose
- A Memoir
- By: Fat Joe, Shaheem Reid
- Narrated by: Fat Joe
- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fat Joe is a hip-hop legend, but this is not a tale of celebrity; it is the story of Joseph Cartagena, a kid who came of age in the South Bronx during its darkest years of drugs, violence, and abandonment, and how he navigated that traumatizing landscape until he found—through art, friendship, luck, and will—a rocky path to a different life. This memoir, written in Joe’s own intensely compelling voice, moves with the momentum of pulp fiction, but underneath the tragicomedy and riveting tales of the streets and the industry is a thought-provoking story about a generation of survivors.
-
-
INCREDIBLE AND INSPIRATIONAL STORY
- By Anonymous User on 05-26-23
By: Fat Joe, and others
-
Cross the Tracks
- A Memoir
- By: Boosie Badazz
- Narrated by: Jaime Lincoln Smith
- Length: 4 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From one of rap’s most evocative writers comes a stirring memoir and “masterpiece of a book” (Snoop Dogg) about how Boosie Badazz, one of the industry’s most controversial figures, was able to overcome insurmountable odds to make his music dreams a reality.
-
-
Something is missing.
- By Mr. GeeChee City on 04-18-25
By: Boosie Badazz
-
Adversity for Sale
- Ya Gotta Believe
- By: Jeezy
- Narrated by: Jay Jenkins
- Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
To Jeezy’s legion of fans, his name is synonymous with hustle, grit, and the integrity to go out there and achieve your dreams. In his first book, Adversity for Sale: Ya Gotta Believe, Jeezy shares never heard stories of what it took for him to beat the odds and get out of the streets, his mindset he carefully honed to get an edge, and the lessons that changed his life and business.
-
-
Couldn’t turn it off!!
- By Anonymous User on 09-11-23
By: Jeezy
-
Compton Street Legend
- Notorious Keffe D’s Street-Level Accounts of Tupac and Biggie Murders, Death Row Origins, Suge Knight, Puffy Combs, and Crooked Cops
- By: Duane 'Keffe D' Davis, Yusuf Jah
- Narrated by: Yusuf Jah
- Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis, former shot caller for the Southside Compton Crips and kingpin of a Compton-based drug operation, rose to national prominence as one of the only living witnesses to the 1996 slaying of rapper Tupac Shakur after being featured in several TV specials on A&E (2017), USA Network (2017), Fox (2017), and BET (2018). More than 20 years after the killings of Tupac and Biggie, Keffe D has released his gritty memoir.
-
-
Cool book with a bunch of lies !!!
- By Anonymous User on 06-26-19
By: Duane 'Keffe D' Davis, and others
-
The Corner
- A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood
- By: David Simon, Edward Burns
- Narrated by: Dion Graham, David Simon
- Length: 25 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The crime-infested intersection of West Fayette and Monroe Streets is well-known - and cautiously avoided - by most of Baltimore. But this notorious corner's 24-hour open-air drug market provides the economic fuel for a dying neighborhood. David Simon, an award-winning author and crime reporter, and Edward Burns, a 20-year veteran of the urban drug war, tell the chilling story of this desolate crossroad.
-
-
Insightful. A Must Read For Suburban Americans.
- By WitchCrafter on 06-01-21
By: David Simon, and others
-
My Infamous Life
- The Autobiography of Mobb Deep's Prodigy
- By: Albert "Prodigy" Johnson, Laura Checkoway
- Narrated by: Albert "Prodigy" Johnson
- Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this often violent but always introspective memoir, Mobb Deep’s Prodigy tells his much anticipated story of struggle, survival, and hope down the mean streets of New York City. For the first time, he gives an intimate look at his family background, his battles with drugs, his life of crime, his relentless suffering with sickle-cell anemia, and much more.
-
-
"P" is forever...
- By Anonymous User on 09-22-19
By: Albert "Prodigy" Johnson, and others
-
Life Sentence
- The Brief and Tragic Career of Baltimore’s Deadliest Gang Leader
- By: Mark Bowden
- Narrated by: L.J. Ganser
- Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this unprecedented deep dive into inner-city gang life, Mark Bowden takes listeners inside a Baltimore gang, offers an in-depth portrait of its notorious leader, and chronicles the 2016 FBI investigation that landed eight gang members in prison.
-
-
Good book, but needs to be re-cast.
- By Carey Chiaia on 06-08-23
By: Mark Bowden
-
E.A.R.L.
- The Autobiography of DMX
- By: DMX
- Narrated by: Beresford Bennett
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
His real name was Earl Simmons. As a child, he placed higher on tests than his fellow students and liked to spend mornings with his mother and sisters playing games and making pancakes. But for young Earl - a boy growing up on the streets of Yonkers, New York - that kind of childhood didn’t last long. Beatings, abuse, and neglect very soon had him moving on to other things, like robbing, stealing, drugs, and, eventually, jail. Along the way, however, he found a talent and a passion for rhyme.
-
-
Not a good listen
- By Ty on 03-24-22
By: DMX
-
From Staircase to Stage
- The Story of Raekwon and the Wu-Tang Clan
- By: Raekwon, Anthony Bozza
- Narrated by: Landon Woodson, Raekwon
- Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There are rappers who everyone loves and there are rappers who every rapper loves, and Corey Woods, a.k.a. Raekwon the Chef, is one of the few who is both. His versatile flow, natural storytelling, and evocative imagery have inspired legions of fans and a new generation of rappers. Raekwon is one of the founding members of Wu-Tang Clan, and his voice and cadence are synonymous with the sound that has made the group iconic since 1991.
-
-
A must listen
- By sam on 12-10-21
By: Raekwon, and others
-
The Marathon Don't Stop
- The Life and Times of Nipsey Hussle
- By: Rob Kenner
- Narrated by: Landon Woodson
- Length: 12 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For Nipsey Hussle, “The Marathon” was more than a mixtape title or the name of a clothing store; it was a way of life, a metaphor for the relentless pursuit of excellence and the willpower required to overcome adversity day after day. Hussle was determined to win the race to success on his own terms, and he wanted to see his whole community in the winner’s circle with him.
-
-
Proflic
- By Norris on 08-27-21
By: Rob Kenner
-
Split Decision
- Life Stories
- By: Ice-T, Spike, Douglas Century
- Narrated by: Ice-T, Spike, Douglas Century
- Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ice-T rose to fame in the late 1980s, earning acclaim for his music before going on to enthrall television audiences as Odafin “Fin” Tutuola in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. But it could have gone much differently. In this “poignant and powerful” (Library Journal, starred review) memoir, Ice-T and Spike, his former crime partner—collaborating with New York Times bestselling author Douglas Century—relate the shocking stories of their shared pasts, and how just a handful of decisions led to their incredibly different lives.
-
-
An awesome book
- By Cornelius DeMarcus on 11-30-22
By: Ice-T, and others
-
Sweat the Technique
- Revelations on Creativity from the Lyrical Genius
- By: Rakim
- Narrated by: Rakim
- Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The musician and hip-hop legend - hailed as “the greatest MC of all time” and compared to Thelonious Monk - reimagines the writing handbook in this memoir and guide that incorporates the soulful genius, confidence, and creativity of a master artist.
-
-
Solid
- By Troy on 09-27-19
By: Rakim
-
Trejo
- My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood
- By: Danny Trejo, Donal Logue
- Narrated by: Danny Trejo, Donal Logue
- Length: 13 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On screen, Danny Trejo the actor is a baddie who has been killed at least a hundred times. He’s been shot, stabbed, hanged, chopped up, squished by an elevator, and once, was even melted into a bloody goo. Off screen, he’s a hero beloved by recovery communities and obsessed fans alike. But the real Danny Trejo is much more complicated than the legend.
-
-
The best book ever!
- By Nicolas Rocha on 07-08-21
By: Danny Trejo, and others
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
Life Sentence
- The Brief and Tragic Career of Baltimore’s Deadliest Gang Leader
- By: Mark Bowden
- Narrated by: L.J. Ganser
- Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this unprecedented deep dive into inner-city gang life, Mark Bowden takes listeners inside a Baltimore gang, offers an in-depth portrait of its notorious leader, and chronicles the 2016 FBI investigation that landed eight gang members in prison.
-
-
Good book, but needs to be re-cast.
- By Carey Chiaia on 06-08-23
By: Mark Bowden
-
The Crack Era
- The Rise, Fall and Redemption of Kevin Chiles
- By: Kevin Chiles, Richard Ray Esq.
- Narrated by: Richard Ray Esq.
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Crack Era: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Kevin Chiles chronicles one of the most treacherous periods in New York City’s history. As told by a man The New York Times once described as, “the biggest drug lord in Harlem since Nicky Barnes”, the book lays bare the harrowing exploits of the narcotics trade Uptown during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s - a world where the lust for freebase cocaine set off a veritable gold rush that turned ghetto boys into young millionaires almost overnight.
-
-
CUT...REDO
- By Boo Roq Nodrama on 10-26-20
By: Kevin Chiles, and others
-
E.A.R.L.
- The Autobiography of DMX
- By: DMX
- Narrated by: Beresford Bennett
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
His real name was Earl Simmons. As a child, he placed higher on tests than his fellow students and liked to spend mornings with his mother and sisters playing games and making pancakes. But for young Earl - a boy growing up on the streets of Yonkers, New York - that kind of childhood didn’t last long. Beatings, abuse, and neglect very soon had him moving on to other things, like robbing, stealing, drugs, and, eventually, jail. Along the way, however, he found a talent and a passion for rhyme.
-
-
Not a good listen
- By Ty on 03-24-22
By: DMX
-
Unsuccessful Thug
- One Comedian's Journey from Naptown to Tinseltown
- By: Mike Epps
- Narrated by: J.D. Jackson
- Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mike Epps is one of America’s favorite and funniest people, but the path to fame was paved with opportunities to mess it up. And mess it up he did. Growing up in “Naptown” - what people who live there really call rough-around-the-edges Indianapolis - Epps was drawn to a life of crime, but as he quickly discovered, stealing and dealing didn’t really fit his sweet sensibilities. Not to mention he wasn’t very good at it - take, for example, the day he had to call the cops on himself when a dog wouldn’t let him leave a house he was burgling.
-
-
The performer is not good
- By Sgamble on 04-11-18
By: Mike Epps
-
Rise of a Killah
- By: Ghostface Killah
- Narrated by: Landon Woodson
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dennis Coles—aka Ghostface Killah—is a co-founder of the Wu-Tang Clan, a legendary hip hop group who established themselves by breaking all the rules, taking their music to the streets during hip hop’s golden era on a decade-long wave of releasing anthem after classic anthem, and serving as the foundation of modern hip hop. An all-star cast who formed like Voltron to establish the pillars that serve as the foundation of modern hip hop and released seminal albums that have stood the test of time.
-
-
The rawness
- By Amazon Customer on 12-10-24
By: Ghostface Killah
-
My Infamous Life
- The Autobiography of Mobb Deep's Prodigy
- By: Albert "Prodigy" Johnson, Laura Checkoway
- Narrated by: Albert "Prodigy" Johnson
- Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this often violent but always introspective memoir, Mobb Deep’s Prodigy tells his much anticipated story of struggle, survival, and hope down the mean streets of New York City. For the first time, he gives an intimate look at his family background, his battles with drugs, his life of crime, his relentless suffering with sickle-cell anemia, and much more.
-
-
"P" is forever...
- By Anonymous User on 09-22-19
By: Albert "Prodigy" Johnson, and others
-
Life Sentence
- The Brief and Tragic Career of Baltimore’s Deadliest Gang Leader
- By: Mark Bowden
- Narrated by: L.J. Ganser
- Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this unprecedented deep dive into inner-city gang life, Mark Bowden takes listeners inside a Baltimore gang, offers an in-depth portrait of its notorious leader, and chronicles the 2016 FBI investigation that landed eight gang members in prison.
-
-
Good book, but needs to be re-cast.
- By Carey Chiaia on 06-08-23
By: Mark Bowden
-
The Crack Era
- The Rise, Fall and Redemption of Kevin Chiles
- By: Kevin Chiles, Richard Ray Esq.
- Narrated by: Richard Ray Esq.
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Crack Era: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Kevin Chiles chronicles one of the most treacherous periods in New York City’s history. As told by a man The New York Times once described as, “the biggest drug lord in Harlem since Nicky Barnes”, the book lays bare the harrowing exploits of the narcotics trade Uptown during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s - a world where the lust for freebase cocaine set off a veritable gold rush that turned ghetto boys into young millionaires almost overnight.
-
-
CUT...REDO
- By Boo Roq Nodrama on 10-26-20
By: Kevin Chiles, and others
-
E.A.R.L.
- The Autobiography of DMX
- By: DMX
- Narrated by: Beresford Bennett
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
His real name was Earl Simmons. As a child, he placed higher on tests than his fellow students and liked to spend mornings with his mother and sisters playing games and making pancakes. But for young Earl - a boy growing up on the streets of Yonkers, New York - that kind of childhood didn’t last long. Beatings, abuse, and neglect very soon had him moving on to other things, like robbing, stealing, drugs, and, eventually, jail. Along the way, however, he found a talent and a passion for rhyme.
-
-
Not a good listen
- By Ty on 03-24-22
By: DMX
-
Unsuccessful Thug
- One Comedian's Journey from Naptown to Tinseltown
- By: Mike Epps
- Narrated by: J.D. Jackson
- Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mike Epps is one of America’s favorite and funniest people, but the path to fame was paved with opportunities to mess it up. And mess it up he did. Growing up in “Naptown” - what people who live there really call rough-around-the-edges Indianapolis - Epps was drawn to a life of crime, but as he quickly discovered, stealing and dealing didn’t really fit his sweet sensibilities. Not to mention he wasn’t very good at it - take, for example, the day he had to call the cops on himself when a dog wouldn’t let him leave a house he was burgling.
-
-
The performer is not good
- By Sgamble on 04-11-18
By: Mike Epps
-
Rise of a Killah
- By: Ghostface Killah
- Narrated by: Landon Woodson
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dennis Coles—aka Ghostface Killah—is a co-founder of the Wu-Tang Clan, a legendary hip hop group who established themselves by breaking all the rules, taking their music to the streets during hip hop’s golden era on a decade-long wave of releasing anthem after classic anthem, and serving as the foundation of modern hip hop. An all-star cast who formed like Voltron to establish the pillars that serve as the foundation of modern hip hop and released seminal albums that have stood the test of time.
-
-
The rawness
- By Amazon Customer on 12-10-24
By: Ghostface Killah
-
My Infamous Life
- The Autobiography of Mobb Deep's Prodigy
- By: Albert "Prodigy" Johnson, Laura Checkoway
- Narrated by: Albert "Prodigy" Johnson
- Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this often violent but always introspective memoir, Mobb Deep’s Prodigy tells his much anticipated story of struggle, survival, and hope down the mean streets of New York City. For the first time, he gives an intimate look at his family background, his battles with drugs, his life of crime, his relentless suffering with sickle-cell anemia, and much more.
-
-
"P" is forever...
- By Anonymous User on 09-22-19
By: Albert "Prodigy" Johnson, and others
-
The Black Godfather
- Frank Matthews
- By: Seth Ferranti
- Narrated by: Seth Ferranti
- Length: 1 hr and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Frank Matthews was the black Godfather. In an era when the Mafia controlled the heroin trade with a vise grip, Matthews was able to bypass them and get his own connection for heroin in Corsica. It's said that he generated millions of dollars of cash from drug sales in the early 70s and had apartments full of drug money. He also organized Black dealers nationwide and had them all getting drugs from him. He was the original Superfly and American gangster.
-
-
straight to the point
- By Anonymous User on 12-29-24
By: Seth Ferranti
-
Gangsters of Harlem
- The Gritty Underworld of New York City's Most Famous Neighborhood
- By: Ron Chepesiuk
- Narrated by: J. D. Jackson
- Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Author Ron Chepesiuk chronicles the little known history of organized crime in Harlem.
African American organized crime has had as significant an impact on its constituent community as Italian, Jewish, and Irish organized crime has had on theirs. Gangsters are every bit as colorful, intriguing, and powerful as Al Capone and Lucky Luciano, and have a fascinating history in gambling, prostitution, and drug dealing. In the late 1800s, Harlem became a highly fashionable neighborhood.
-
-
weak --reader is terrible!
- By Meyer Rosenbloom on 10-18-13
By: Ron Chepesiuk
-
The Dope Game
- Misadventures of Fat Cat & Pappy Mason
- By: Seth Ferranti
- Narrated by: Excellence En'Sound
- Length: 4 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook details Fat Cat and Pappy Mason’s story, chronicling their rise and fall in the annals of gangster lore. Both drug lords are imprisoned for life, due to their crimes and exploits, but their legends live on in hip-hop and popular culture. Written by noted true crime historian Seth Ferranti, this is the most concise, prolific, and detailed account of Fat Cat and Pappy Mason to date.
-
-
Why would you have music?
- By Derek on 07-12-20
By: Seth Ferranti
-
Harlem Godfather
- The Rap on My Husband, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson
- By: Karen E. Quinones, Mayme Hatcher Johnson
- Narrated by: Patricia R. Floyd
- Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first and only full biography on legendary Harlem gangster, Bumpy Johnson who was depicted in the movies Cotton Club, Hoodlum, and American Gangster.
-
-
Amazingly presented book.
- By Alex devault on 03-15-23
By: Karen E. Quinones, and others
-
BMF
- The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Mafia Family
- By: Mara Shalhoup
- Narrated by: L. Steven Taylor
- Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the early 1990s, Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory and his brother, Terry "Southwest T", rose up from the slums of Detroit to build one of the largest cocaine empires in American history: the Black Mafia Family. They socialized with music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, did business with New York's king of bling Jacob "The Jeweler" Arabo, and built allegiances with rap superstars Young Jeezy and Fabolous. Yet even as BMF was attracting celebrity attention, its crew members struck fear in a city.
-
-
Good listen
- By Lamont on 04-20-20
By: Mara Shalhoup
-
Armed with Good Intentions
- By: Wallo267, Iyanla Vanzant
- Narrated by: Wallo267
- Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Named after his well-respected father who disappeared when he was two, Wallo grew up in North Philadelphia with his mom, brothers, and grandmother, feeling pressure to achieve the success and reputation his father had on the streets. Wallace “Wallo267” Peeples spent twenty years in and out of the prison system before restarting his life and catapulting himself to unforeseen levels of social impact, cultural influence, and success. Now he shares his story with the trademark honesty that’s made him an inspiration to those who need it most.
-
-
Never quit
- By Amazon Customer on 09-21-24
By: Wallo267, and others
-
Cross the Tracks
- A Memoir
- By: Boosie Badazz
- Narrated by: Jaime Lincoln Smith
- Length: 4 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From one of rap’s most evocative writers comes a stirring memoir and “masterpiece of a book” (Snoop Dogg) about how Boosie Badazz, one of the industry’s most controversial figures, was able to overcome insurmountable odds to make his music dreams a reality.
-
-
Something is missing.
- By Mr. GeeChee City on 04-18-25
By: Boosie Badazz
-
The Marathon Don't Stop
- The Life and Times of Nipsey Hussle
- By: Rob Kenner
- Narrated by: Landon Woodson
- Length: 12 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For Nipsey Hussle, “The Marathon” was more than a mixtape title or the name of a clothing store; it was a way of life, a metaphor for the relentless pursuit of excellence and the willpower required to overcome adversity day after day. Hussle was determined to win the race to success on his own terms, and he wanted to see his whole community in the winner’s circle with him.
-
-
Proflic
- By Norris on 08-27-21
By: Rob Kenner
-
Sweat the Technique
- Revelations on Creativity from the Lyrical Genius
- By: Rakim
- Narrated by: Rakim
- Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The musician and hip-hop legend - hailed as “the greatest MC of all time” and compared to Thelonious Monk - reimagines the writing handbook in this memoir and guide that incorporates the soulful genius, confidence, and creativity of a master artist.
-
-
Solid
- By Troy on 09-27-19
By: Rakim
-
Wayne "Silk" Perry
- Washington DC Hitman
- By: Seth Ferranti
- Narrated by: Seth Ferranti
- Length: 1 hr and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Wayne Perry has been called the Michael Jordan of the murder game. He is the most infamous gangster to ever walk the streets of Washington DC. The Washington Post called him one of the District's most heinous murderers and Jay-Z dropped Wayne's name in his song Tom Ford.
-
-
the story
- By shane on 04-01-25
By: Seth Ferranti
-
The Corner
- A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood
- By: David Simon, Edward Burns
- Narrated by: Dion Graham, David Simon
- Length: 25 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The crime-infested intersection of West Fayette and Monroe Streets is well-known - and cautiously avoided - by most of Baltimore. But this notorious corner's 24-hour open-air drug market provides the economic fuel for a dying neighborhood. David Simon, an award-winning author and crime reporter, and Edward Burns, a 20-year veteran of the urban drug war, tell the chilling story of this desolate crossroad.
-
-
Insightful. A Must Read For Suburban Americans.
- By WitchCrafter on 06-01-21
By: David Simon, and others
-
Lucky Me
- A Memoir of Changing the Odds
- By: Rich Paul, Jesse Washington - contributor, LeBron James - foreword
- Narrated by: Rich Paul, Dennis Logan
- Length: 4 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There’s a story about Rich Paul that everyone knows: A twenty-one-year-old kid from Cleveland who sells sports jerseys out of his car meets a high school basketball phenom named LeBron James at an airport—the two become friends and forge a decades-long partnership that reinvents the business of sports. That random meeting might seem like the lucky break that changed Paul’s life. But a moment of good fortune means nothing without the struggle that gets you there. And the truth is, Paul had always been lucky.
-
-
Bad choices made this man
- By Lynn Gibson on 10-18-23
By: Rich Paul, and others
What listeners say about The Harlem Plug
Highly rated for:
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- JM
- 06-13-22
Great Story
Wonderful work. The author took you to Harlem in a way that wasn’t expected. This story was bigger than Fritz. Meaning it emphasized the family and environment that created him. It was more about a family struggling trying to make it. The highs and lows Almost like two books in one. Not what I was expecting but honestly not mad at it!!!!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kristen L
- 05-02-23
A Legend
fritz was a legend who walked among everyone else. but it's deeper than that, Fritz family helped create his drive to rise to the top along with his deep character which drove the entire story.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tee Hill
- 02-25-22
Awesome, Awesome, Just F*ckin Awesome ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The story is about 8hrs long, it's so good, I'm gonna listen again. Awesome
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- gregory
- 03-10-22
Classic
This book tells a story that needs to be told!! Fritz was definitely a king!!!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Greg J. Jackson
- 06-17-22
Excellent and reality
I am hoping for a part 2 of how everyone ended up in life. Especially Shelah. So sad.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jeremy Davis
- 03-23-23
A must read!
We’ve all heard the stories about the Harlem drug game over the last century, This book filled in a lot of the blanks. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 12-03-22
A thrilling story
This book took me on an adventure through Harlem and through Fritz’s life. This was a great listen and a hell of a ride Fritz!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Leonard Carson
- 04-28-22
Great book!
Loved it! Great story and prayers and much love to the family and families! Awesome story and from me reading this Fritz is gone but definitely not forgotten! (Ray Ray from Cleveland Ohio)
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- George
- 02-13-22
Outstanding
A must have, enjoy every single chapter. Well told the author definitely did the research.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lawrence
- 12-25-21
Great story
A Surprisingly well written well told story,
I really enjoyed the flow of the book.
The storyline was great! It easily could become a feature film. Looking forward to reading future books by the author.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful