41 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unbelievable, March 15, 2010
This review is from: BMF: The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Mafia Family (Hardcover)
The author does a credible job of crafting the BMF story over the course of 277 pages. The book is at it's best early on and tapers off significantly toward the end. It was apparent that this was a voyeuristic endeavor for the author whose interest in the lifestyle and personalities of the BMF members was apparent throughout. In as much the finite details of the story don't receive nearly the amount of attention they deserve. Had the author done so, she would have found many inconsistencies in regard to the BMF operation and the legend that has emerged.
Ignorant and naive, are the most appropriate terms to describe the behavior of BMF's co-founder Demetrius "Meechie" Flenory throughout the story. At least this is the impression one gets from the author. The story opens with an interview session where a jailed Meech reminisces over all that he has lost. The cars, the money, the notoriety are all listed by the author but it is apparent what he seeks is validation. For all that he has lost, the most precious of all "freedom," isn't mentioned. It's a curious omission from a man facing the remainder of his natural life behind bars.
It's sad because it demonstrates the mentality and mindset of so many men and women, "some young and some more experienced," who are sure to pick up this title and relate or adopt Flenory's irrational manner of thinking themselves. The author falls into the trap of trying to justify the actions of the group by employing the over-used excuse "if it wasn't the Flenory brothers...some else would-perhaps someone not so willing to give back.
Give back? Give back to what, where and to whom? The truth of the matter is BMF spent whatever earnings they made in the clubs of Buckhead, Vegas and Miami! What benefit did this provide to the sections of Atlanta, Detroit, St. Louis or any of the other cities where the product they sold settled? Not a single Buckhead club was owned or controlled by BMF, Miami's south beach is an area notorious for its Jim Crow era policies in regard to black club and business ownership as is the case with the Vegas strip.
Little "if any," of the alleged $270 million in earnings generated by BMF was invested or applied toward the betterment of the communities victimized during their reign. The sad fact of the matter is BMF's "absurd" spending habits and promotion of a highly fictionalized lifestyle masked the continued assault upon black communities through the promotion of the high consumption lifestyle and fatalistic behaviors that have robbed more than 2 million black males of their futures due to incarceration. Our communities are suffering and one of the primary causes for this suffering is the combination of ignorance and apathy.
Far to many of us remain ignorant to the fact that there is no future in selling drugs, Jay-Z's puffery be damned! I've witnessed far to many fall victim to the temptation of fast money who learn far to late that there is no such thing as easy money and the only thing fast about it is the rate at which it disappears. The BMF story is sad because as the judge in the BMF trial pointed out "Flenory is his own worst enemy" as well as an enemy to the reputation and well being of a healthy black image.
Despite this book, multiple DVD's and countless magazine articles, the truth has continued to be ignored. The fact of the matter is the details as contained in the BMF indictment from October 2005 is not nearly as glamorous as we are led to believe. 30 people lost their freedom, and for what 632 kilos, $5.3 million in currency and $5.7 million in assets. Though a considerable sum, it is a far cry from $270 million most often attributed to the operation. So was it worth 40 years behind bars? Well according to Flenory it was. Well someone check back with him in 10 years when his exploits are a faded memory and the magazine editors and struggling authors loose interest.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Read!, March 10, 2010
This review is from: BMF: The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Mafia Family (Hardcover)
I couldn't put this down - (I had to at some points to go to work), it reads like a non fiction, certainly as exciting as the godfather series, an updated version. I loved learning the details of how BMF and Sin City pulled off their dealings and also interesting to hear how the investigators connected the dots.
Great book! I can't wait for the movie.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, not Great, January 31, 2011
I liked it, but its not great. As a follower of hip-hop culture and underground news I've heard about BMF for a few years now, and I was following their story before Meech/ BMF was arrested or sentenced. So when I read the book I didnt come across much information that I hadn't already done from my own personal sleuthing. As I read the book I kept thinking "man, i could've written this" but i'm not an investigative writer or reporter, which If I was, I would have produced pretty much the exact same book, which is one of my gripes about it. Basically this is a good book for people who have never heard or are new to the Name Big Meech (likely through the Rick Ross song BMF). Its a compilation of all the public domain info on the peoples and group itself. My only other gripe was the absence of certain names/ photos, like Bleu DaVinci, and the story of Jeezy and Gucci Mane, which for some some reason has Gucci listed an unnamed rapper beef. Im hoping that's just some legal thing, but Im waiting for the personal stories to come out, directly from the mouth of Meech and Big T and how their "management styles" clashed and lead to their downfall, which is the real story in this typical drug tale.
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