Original Gangsta, 1895 at Schema : more than ethnic

Original Gangsta, 1895

Ice-T may have referred to himself as hip hop's O.G. but Cecil Brown's "I, Stagolee" may best tell the story of the history of the African American gangster, pimp, and political playa figure. This followed "Stagolee Shot Billy," a non-fictional account of the story which has been one of the most told in blues, jazz and which was even covered or retold by Bob Dylan, the Stones & the Clash. It has been noted as a predecessor to the Blaxploitation films of the 70s on top of its' place in hip hop.

Book Description (from Amazon): "It's the birth year of Ragtime music, 1895, and Lee "Stagolee" Shelton, a St. Louis pimp, murders Billy Lyons, a political gang member. Afterwards, Stagolee makes a deal with Judge Murphy to bring order to the underworld. As a member of a group of pimps called the "Stags," Stagolee makes alliances with the Democratic Party and votes for a Democratic Mayor. Later, the Stag Party, along with the Democratic Party, elects St. Louis's first black policeman. It is this policeman who is sent to arrest Stagolee for the murder of Billy Lyons. Now, nearly 50 years after singer Lloyd Price introduced mainstream audiences to the "Stagger Lee" story, Cecil Brown portrays the events that gave rise to this mainstay of African-American popular culture. This follows the successful Stagolee Shot Billy, Brown's nonfiction account of the same story."

Stagolee excerpt | Stagolee Shot Billy | Rap Music and the Stagolee Mythoform | Stagolee Wiki article | Order "I, Stagolee" | "Order "Stagolee Shot Billy" | American Pimp | Iceberg Slim

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