The Crack Era: The Rise Fall and Redemption of Kevin Chiles: 1

The Crack Era: The Rise Fall and Redemption of Kevin Chiles chronicles one of the most treacherous periods in New York Citys history. As told by a man The New York Times once described as The biggest drug lord in Harlem since Nicky Barnes Chiles lays bare the harrowing exploits of the narcotics trade Uptown during the late 80s and early 90s -- a world where the lust for freebase cocaine set off a veritable gold rush that turned ghetto boys into young millionaires almost overnight. Baseheads wreaked havoc on the black community. Whats worse upper Manhattan became the epicenter of murder and mayhem as drug-related killings pushed the citys annual death toll well into the thousands. A teenager at the time Kevin earned a rep as a boss among bosses and along with a handful of hustlers from his hood he would directly influence the very music and fashion that ushered in the golden age of hip hop. The crack epidemic parlayed money power and respect for Kev but it also took his freedom as well as the lives of close friends and family. Now this candid memoir exposes liars dispels urban myths and sheds light on an otherwise dark epoch that has bittersweet implications for many today. Having seen and survived it all one of Americas most iconic street figures recounts a bygone era of fast cash and high stakes hustling in Harlem.