In addition to
plotting a reunion with The Fugees, rapper Pras has snagged the rights to produce
the story of legendary author Robert “Iceberg Slim” Beck.
The film will be
an adaptation of Iceberg Slim’s book “Pimp: The Story of My Life,”
which was originally released in 1969.
The movie was originally
set to star Ice Cube, with Quincy Jones as one of the producers, but was caught
up in development at Fox Searchlight.
The plot centers
around Iceberg’s life as a hustler and pimp in late 1920’s Chicago.
Iceberg Slim had
another book turned into a feature, as “Trick Baby” was brought
to the silver screen by Universal in 1973.
Born Robert Lee
Maupin in Chicago, Illinois in 1918, Iceberg Slim was raised as a teen in Chicago.
His father abandoned
them and his mother supported the family by working as a maid. She also owned
a beauty shop.
He became a pimp
at the age of 18 and continued until the age of 42. He did a stretch of prison
time at Leavenworth and did a 10 month stint in solitary confinement at Cook
County House of Corrections in 1960.
The ordeal turned
Iceberg Slim “square,” and he started writing about his life experiences
as opposed to living a life of crime.
The film rights
to "Pimp" were originally acquired by Universal as well, due to the
popularity of “The Godfather.”
The project was
considered too controversial, so Universal put out “Trick Baby”
instead.
Many lyricists
in the rap game acknowledge Iceberg Slim as an influence, including Ice Cube
and Ice-T, who are named after the author.
"Iceberg Slim
was true to where he came from,” Ice-T wrote at the beginning of the previously
unpublished Iceberg Slim book “Doom Fox,” which was released in
1998.
“He ruled
the streets of Chicago for twenty-five years and he chose not to write about
what he didn’t know,” Ice-T continued. “He knew pimping. He knew
hustling. He knew the streets. What he calls ‘The Life’ is still the same roller-coaster
ride it’s always been."
Iceberg Slim passed
away April 28, 1992 at age 73.
No release date
was available for Pras’ production.
