In 1969, his first autobiographical novel was
Pimp: The Story of My Life, published by Holloway House.
Reviews of
Pimp were mixed; it was quickly categorized as being typical of the black "revolutionary" literature then being created. However, Beck's vision was considerably bleaker than most other black writers of the time. His work tended to be based on his personal experiences in the criminal underworld, and revealed a world of seemingly bottomless brutality and viciousness. His was the first insider look into the world of black pimps, to be followed by a half-dozen pimp memoirs by other writers. Of his literary contribution, a Washington Post critic claimed, "Iceberg Slim may have done for the pimp what Jean Genet did for the homosexual and thief: articulate the thoughts and feelings of someone who's been there."
Pimp sold very well, mainly among black audiences. By 1973, it was reprinted 19 times and sold nearly 2 million copies.
Pimp was eventually translated into German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, and Greek. Nevertheless, the book was largely ignored by white America; even the venerable Library of Congress does not own a copy.
He wrote seven more novels. Beck has sold over six million books prior to his death in 1992, making him one of the best-selling African-American writers (after Alex Haley). All his books were published exclusively as paperbacks. Iceberg Slim also released an album of poetry called
Reflections in the early 1970s.
Pimp was followed by
Trick Baby,
Naked Soul of Iceberg Slim,
Mama Black Widow,
Long White Con,
Airtight Willie & Me, and
Death Wish: A Story of the Mafia.
Recordings
- Reflections (first press 1976, ALA Records); producer: David Drozen; executive producer: Louis Drozen; music: Red Halloway Quartet; photography: Robert Wotherspoon
- Reflections (reissue 1994, Infinite Zero/American Recordings/Warner Bros. Records)
- Reflections (reissue 2008, Uproar Entertainment)
Film adaptations
In 1973 one of his reality novels,
Trick Baby, was adapted as a blaxploitation movie of the same name, directed by Larry Yust.
A movie adaptation of
Pimp has been planned for a long time. There were announcements of a movie directed by Bill Duke and starring Ice Cube; that project was put on hold. In 2004 rapper Pras acquired the rights to produce a movie based on the book.
Mama Black Widow is rumored to be in production, directed by Darren Grant and adapted by Will De Los Santos. Reports have suggested that the film would feature Kerry Washington, Anthony Anderson, Rihanna, Mos Def, and Macy Gray.