Donald Goines

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Donald Goines (pseudonym: Al C. Clark) (December 15, 1937 – October 21, 1974) was one of the original African American novelists to write in the "street" tradition of Robert Beck (Iceberg Slim).

Born in Detroit, Michigan, to a middle class black family, Donald Goines was addicted to heroin at various points in his life. Goines accomplished an amazing feat by churning out 16 books in just five years. He began his writing career while serving time at Michigan's Jackson Penitentiary, where he was influenced by the work of Iceberg Slim. In his vivid depictions of ghetto and prison life, Goines employed both standard English and black English to great effect.[1]

Some of Goines's novels have become films, such as Never Die Alone, which starred DMX. A minor independent movie made of his life was released released in 2003. Goines's better known works include Eldorado Red, the semi-autobiographical Whoreson, Dopefiend, Daddy Cool and White Man's Justice, Black Man's Grief. Inner City Hoodlum, which Goines had finished before his death, was published posthumously in 1975. The story, set in Los Angeles, was about "smack" (heroin), money and murder. [2]

Goines and his wife were shot to death in Detroit on the night of October 21, 1974. According to some sources, Goines's was gunned down over a failed drug deal. The identity of the killer or killers remains unknown.

His body of work remains in print in paperback format by publishers Holloway House Books.

Contents

[edit] Novels

  • Dopefiend (1971)
  • Whoreson (1972)
  • Black Gangster (1972)
  • Black Girl Lost (1973)
  • Street Players (1973)
  • White Mans Justice, Black Mans Grief (1973)
  • Daddy Cool (1974)
  • Eldorado Red (1974)
  • Swamp Man (1974)
  • Never Die Alone (1974)
  • Crime Partners (1974)
  • Cry Revenge (1974)
  • Death List (1974)
  • Kenyatta's Escape (1974)
  • Kenyatta's Last Hit (1975)
  • Inner City Hoodlum (1975)

[edit] Influence

Reference is made to Donald Goines by the following rappers:

Nas:

With so much drama in QBC
Kinda hard being Escobaro
Eldorado Red/sippin Don out the bottle
my life is life is like Donald Goines novel
–from 'Escobar '97 Freestyle' [1997]

E:40:

Boost up my coins, seek to spit mo Superfly
Than Donal Goines

AZ:

To hard to follow, you took a bite but couldn't swallow
Your mind's boggled, but I'm as deep as Donald Goines novels
–from 'Rather Unique' Doe or Die [1995]

Grand Puba:

The skills go back to the days of flippin coins
Pastime readin books by my man donald goines
-from 'Who Can Get Busy Like This Man' [1990]

Memphis Bleek:

That credit you dead it, I know heads gettin' annoyed
And knew all about a dope fiend before reading Donald Goines
-from 'Can I Live II' Reasonable Doubt [1999]

2Pac:

Criminal ties for centuries, a legend in my own rhymes
So niggaz whisper when they mention
Machiavelli was my tutor Donald Goines, my father figure
Moms sent me to go play with the drug dealers
-from 'Tradin' War Stories' All Eyez On Me [1996]

Ludacris:

So I picked up a couple books from Donald Goines
About the business of this shit and how to flip a few coins
By the age of eighteen I was destined to make it
My bank account read Disturbing The Peace Incorporated
-from 'Eyebrows Down' Chicken & Beer [2003]

Jadakiss:

The revolver or matty’s cool,
Knife game like Daddy Cool, since Bally shoes.
-from 'Mighty D-Block' "Walk Witt Me" (Sheek Luc) [2005]

Ghostface Killah:

Lines from Dolemite/
A few tips from Goines/
Birthday/
Gave her 2 fifty-cent coins/
-from 'child's play' "Supreme Clientele" [1998]

[edit] References

http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/goines.htm Donald Goines (1937-74) - Pseudonym: Al C. Clark.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../d/o/n/Donald_Goines_969c.html"