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  • Published: 28 January 2025
  • ISBN: 9781496750044
  • Imprint: Kensington
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 256
  • RRP: $35.00
Categories:

Inner City Hoodlum





The last novel by Donald Goines, the OG master of urban lit, a gritty, graphic thrill ride of relentless street violence, desperate measures, and brutal, unstoppable revenge . . .

The last novel by Donald Goines, the OG master of urban lit, a gritty, graphic thrill ride of relentless street violence, desperate measures, and brutal, unstoppable revenge . . .

Johnny Washington is a ruthless survivor, a Black teen raised on the streets of L.A., a battlefield of broken families, rival gangs, and minimum wage—all under the cold, watchful eye of the men and in blue. But Johnny’s found a loophole. He knows the freight yards like the back of his hand. He and his crew, Josh and Buddy, hit them often, stealing just enough to get by. Until Josh is gunned down by a security guard, who gets his brains bashed in by Buddy. Out of options, Johnny turns to Elliot Davis, a local kingpin who recruits and exploits Johnny’s sister until she’s no longer useful. Fueled by her pointless, inevitable death, Johnny and Buddy come after Davis with guns blazing and ready for all the smoke . . .

  • Published: 28 January 2025
  • ISBN: 9781496750044
  • Imprint: Kensington
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 256
  • RRP: $35.00
Categories:

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Praise for Inner City Hoodlum

Praise for Donald Goines:

"Machiavelli was my tutor, Donald Goines my father figure." Tupac Shakur

"The voice of the ghetto itself." The Village Voice

“Donald Goines, a brilliant writer of street literature captures the pain of addiction perfectly.” —Black Enterprise, The 18 Best Books of All Time on Dopefiend

“Goines’ influence on hip-hop, pulp-fiction, movies, and scores of authors deserves as much praise as a James Baldwin or Richard Wright, who also wrote about Black life in the ghetto.” —Darryl Robertson, Hip hop journalist

“A true master at depicting street life in it rawest, most authentic form, Mr. Goines mastered the art of storytelling from the darkest corner of America: the ghetto. His brilliance still shines through and touches the soul of modern black culture.” —JaQuavis Coleman, New York Times bestselling author

“Donald Goines is the most iconic voice in urban fiction. His masterful pen is timeless.” —Ashley Antoinette, New York Times bestselling author

"I learned to read on Donald Goines. His books are classics." —Carl Weber, New York Times bestselling author and founder of Urban Books

"A timeless writer, Donald Goines laid the foundation for all who came after. Fifty years later, his novels continue to inspire urban fiction from one generation to the next.” —Wahida Clark, New York Times bestselling author

“He lived by the code of the streets and his books vividly recreated the street jungle and its predators.” New Jersey Voice

“Donald Goines is one of Hip Hop’s Greatest Inspirations.” The Source Magazine

"The godfather of black pulp fiction." —Salon.com

“Goines put you right there in the action.” —AllHipHop.com

“Donald Goines was for the streets [in the 70s] what the rappers are today...He was in the streets, of the streets and spoke for the streets.” —Chaz Williams, CEO of Black Hand Entertainment

“Donald Goines has become, decades after his death, one of the most influential African-American authors in the African-American literary canon.” —Thumpers Corner

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