Queens Reigns Supreme: Fat Cat, 50 Cent, and the Rise of the Hip Hop Hustler

by Ethan Brown

Based on police wiretaps and exclusive interviews with drug kingpins and hip-hop insiders, this is the untold story of how the streets and housing projects of southeast Queens took over the rap industry.For years, rappers from Nas to Ja Rule have hero-worshipped the legendary drug dealers who dominated Queens in the 1980s with their violent crimes and flashy lifestyles. Now, for the first time ever, this gripping narrative digs beneath the hip-hop fables to re-create the rise and fall of hustlers like Lorenzo “Fat Cat” Nichols, Gerald “Prince” Miller, Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff, and Thomas “Tony Montana” Mickens. Spanning twenty-five years, from the violence of the crack era to Run DMC to the infamous murder of NYPD rookie Edward Byrne to Tupac Shakur to 50 Cent’s battles against Ja Rule and Murder Inc., to the killing of Jam Master Jay, Queens Reigns Supreme is the first inside look at the infamous southeast Queens crews and their connections to gangster culture in hip hop today.

Genres: Music, Hip Hop, Nonfiction, True Crime

289 pages, Paperback

First published November 22, 2005

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queens Reigns Supreme should be required reading for all the happy middle-class white kids who spout hip-hop lyrics ad nauseum but can only understand them with the help of UrbanDictionary.com. (Although, to be fair, Brown only deals with East Coast trends. White kids who run around in COMPTON t-shirts will have to turn to another source for illumination.) The connections that Brown makes between the Queens crack kingpins and the hip-hop stars who rap their legacy are neither glorifying nor downplayed. In the author's view, they are what they are.

Thanks to Brown's thorough research, including interviews with major players and associates within both scenes in question, he is able to paint a nicely multifaceted picture of the evolution of the gangsta mentality on the East Coast. His discussion is far-reaching enough to include analysis of pertinent snippets of hip-hop songs, including tracks that fall off the beaten path for someone only tangentially familiar with the subject matter, which makes the examination here quite well-rounded. He's impartial in his observations, but encourages the reader to draw their own conclusions in a way that really lets the audience feel involved in the chronicle. All in all, a worthy read.

[Hubert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really detailed rendering of two threads of localized history, drug running in the 80s in the Hollis neighborhood of southern Queens, and hip hop that started with Run DMC, later involving 50 Cent. Author Ethan Brown takes detailed notes from interviews with specific informants and characters in the book, pores over multiple affidavits from U.S. Attorney Generals offices, and pieces together the alliances and beefs that various drug hustlers and hip hop moguls have through the 80s and 90s all the way to the early 2000s. The number of characters is enough to make your head spin, but you get a good overall sense of what Hollis Queens was like in the 80s and 90s. (The list of major characters is placed in the beginning of the book, and it's worth going back to it over and over again as you read.)

[Neko · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's good but at times confusing- trying to keep up with everything that's going on. I wasn't drawn to it as much as I thought I'd be. There is a lot of history in this book which you could easily read a few times over to understand everything. I'm glad I read it but at the same time if I hadn't of bought it at a super discounted price I know I would never of read it either.

[Jak Krumholtz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Keeping track of everyone was confusing at times but some really fascinating tales of drama here for anyone from the area or into hip hop.

[Fred Meister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

[Rowan T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impeccable research and interview work with this one make it must read for any discerning hip-hop head.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dope book on the dope game and how it relates to some of the most successful Queens-bred hip hop artists-in Particular 50 Cent, Ja Rule, Irv Gotti and RUN DMC. Ethan Brown uncovers links between some of the biggest drug dealers in Queens from the 80's and 90's and some of the most powerful in hip hop. The book is not an indictment its just an examination of street relationships and how NY hip hop has been shaped by these relationships. Ethan Brown has done an extensive amount of research and includes tons of footnotes about his resources. Very good read if you like crime drama, the 80's and hip hop!

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never got to finish this book, it was borrowed and had to be returned. However, it was interesting enough that I want to finish it. This is saying something as it could not be further from the books I generally enjoy. If you like knowing the background behind music you will like this. Please note I hve no idea how accurate is the information inside the book. I do not know the subject well. Regardless, the story, at least the first half, was interesting.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deep look into the hustlers of Southeast Queens, from the coke kingpins, to the big crack dealers, to the stickup kids and grinders of the early 90s, to the rappers who took on street cred-laden names, or ran with ex-hustlers, to bolster their own lacking street credibility. Queens Reigns Supreme draws a consistent line from the 80s to the early 2000s, showing a fascinating narrative of a few New York neighborhoods.

[Darrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fascinating history of neighborhood narco thugs that show up as references in New York hardcore rap of the last decade - Ethan Brown put together a hell of a read

this reminded me of Narcocorrido - a book about Chalino Sanchez the balladeer of LA and Sinaloa drug traffickers who met a grisly end

[Amar Pai · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a bit scattered-- reads like it was culled from a bunch of newspaper articles, narrative thread comes and goes. But really interesting account of NYC 80's drug dealers and the mythos that grew around them.

[Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The REAL story behind Queens and the crack era. Really good read. Not as much on the rappers, but does show you how fake rappers like 50 Cent and Ja Rule are, and how real DMX is. The Darkman X wasn't playing back in the day.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent source of information for those enthralled by the Queens criminal underworld and how it relates to Hip Hop. However, There are parts that aren't completely accurate because they're based on tellings of multiple people. Still a good read.

[Shenandoah Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gangsta's don't live that long this book was based in Hollis Queens it's interesting the supreme team reign and how 50 cent and Ja rule tie into this book It was a page turner thanks Ethan Brown very good read

[Mali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing look into the drug wars of the 80's and 90's.

[Jovan Johnson]

keep making books

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent sociological look at hip hop. Totally recommended. Real talk.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is dope, I recommend this book to hip hop heads who want to know the background of Queens, NY

[Lisa Keating · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good interesting book read for CRJ 102. Talked about a lot of people I did not know existed, said a lot about the crack era and the crime that went with it. Very interesting.

[Wil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Agree w/Amar.. a bit scattered.. A collection of police reports, etc.

[RK Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was really well researched.

[Kahuce]

Well Detailed... the real truth behind all of the inquisite and sarcasm...