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 in 2003. Goines's better known works include Eldorado Red, the semi-autobiographical Whoreson, Dopefiend, Daddy Cool (which was made into a graphic novel) 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", 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 Man's Justice, Black Man's 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:
AZ:
- Too 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]
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]
Nas:
- With so much drama in QBC,
- Kinda hard being Escobaro,
- Eldorado Red, sippin Dom out the bottle,
- my life is life is like Donald Goines novel.
- –from 'Escobar '97 Men in Black Soundtrack [1997]
- Lines from Dolemite,
- A few tips from Goines,
- Birthday,
- Gave her 2 fifty-cent coins.
- -from 'Child's Play' "Supreme Clientele" [1998]
- 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 (Jay-Z) [1999]
- So I picked up a couple books by Donald Goines,
- About the business of this shit, how to flip a few coins.
- -from 'Eyebrows Down' Chicken & Beer [2003]
- The revolver or matty’s cool,
- Knife game like Daddy Cool, since Bally shoes.
- -from 'Mighty D-Block' "Walk Witt Me" (Sheek Luc) [2005]
- I'm the act to follow, housing kids like Ronald
- Mac like Donald Goines, flows I change like coins
- -from 'Orange Pineapple Juice' "Resurrection" [1994]
- If Donald Goines wrote my life my name would be Kenyatta
- -from 'Take Em To War' "Scars & Memories"
[edit] References
- Allen, Eddie B., Jr. Low Road: The Life and Legacy of Donald Goines. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2004.
- Stone, Eddie. Donald Writes No More. Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1974.
