Customer Reviews

Street Legends, Vol. 1

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Even if that dude on the corner won't admit it, he wants to be known. Wants people in the hood to uphold him, feel him and carry his legacy on when his time has come to either serve time, or lay down, `cause the next up and coming hood star has taken his place. But before the baby hoodlums were even conceived, homage has to be paid to those who've not only paved the way, but left their unique marks not only on Queens, Baltimore, D.C. Philly and the Bronx, but the headlines, nightly news and gave voice to many rap artists and pages in books.

I could make it simple and say something like Seth "Soul Man" Ferranti raised the bar, or throw a classic spin and say that `Street Legends' is pure genius. Yet, that still doesn't feel like those words do it justice! `Soul Man' utilizes testimonials, interviews, and court transcripts to lay out precisely how each and every STREET LEGEND, the most feared and ruthless gangsters of our time, came into culmination, their reigns in the streets and subsequently their life sentences. Kenneth `Supreme' McGriff, Wayne `Silk' Perry, Anthony Jones, Aaron Jones, Peter `Pistol Pete' Rollack, and George `Boy George' Rivera understood that in order to be bold enough to play in the game, then they also had to be bold enough to carry the weight that comes with it.

While I've never read a book written by Seth "Soul Man" Ferranti, I've read a few articles published by him at The Urban Book Source and Don Diva, and had no doubt that Seth would provide readers with a perceptive yet discerning voyages into the lives of `Street Legends!'

I definitely recommend `Street Legends' to all, I'm going to also stress nothing in life is guaranteed. Regardless of why they went to the streets, how much money they made, people they bed or love they receive, in this game you'll either succumb to death or prison. So choose wisely!

Reviewed by: Crystal

Seth "Soul Man" Ferranti goes in depth of the rise and fall of six gangsters, Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, Wayne "Silk" Perry, Anthony Jones, Aaron Jones, Peter "Pistol Pete" Rollack, George "Boy George" Rivera. Getting the almighty dollar by any means necessary was there way of life. Nothing is guaranteed in this game but death or prison. Was it worth it? If they could have a chance to do it all over again, would they?

Take a ride with Soul Man as he gathers knowledge from interviews, testimonials of how and why did these young men became the epitome of their city. This book profiles each legend during the crack epidemic and how each one is on one accord with the "no snitching" movement during there reign in the streets.

This is my first novel by Mr. Ferranti, and I commend him for doing such a wonderful job with book. He uses accurate points of view on each street legend. This is a must read, especially for our young generation out there in the streets. Simply thought provoking.

Tangerine

Reader's Paradise Book Club

Reviewed by Cherri Millard

UrbanBookSource.com

In Street Legends, Author/Journalist Seth Ferranti chronicles the criminal careers of six gangsters: Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, Wayne "Silk" Perry, Anthony Jones, Aaron Jones, Peter "Pistol Pete" Rollack, and George "Boy George" Rivera. Cocaine, heroin, customized luxury cars, jewelry and murder filled their way of life. Street Legends paints an exhaustive portrait of the criminal lives these legends lived and guides readers through their childhood activities, attraction to the life of crime and ultimately, their demise.

Ferranti eloquently pulls readers into the trenches from which these men surfaced and through testimonials and interviews, brings each reader to the underworld in which these street lords thrived.

Ferranti explores the lives of men like, Peter "Pistol Pete" Rollack, a product of the Soundview section of The Bronx, who was known for his ruthless killings. Before his fall, Pistol Pete made millions of dollars in the drug game and became the founding member of the Sex, Money, Murder east coast blood set, after being recruited while on Riker's Island (directly by "O.G. Mack" the founder of the first east coast blood set: Nine Trey Gangsta) for the murder of Karlton Hines.

Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, the pale, green-eyed, intellectual was characterized as a gentlemen and gangster. Word on the street says he kept his watch 55 minutes fast so he would always be on time. Ethan Brown, author of Queens Reigns Supreme and Snitch, had this to say about him, "He's incredibly intelligent and aware of what's going on in the world." McGriff eventually developed ties with Irv Gotti, the man behind Hip Hop artists JaRule and Ashanti, and the co-founder of Murder Inc. But exactly what would drive a person back to the streets after establishing chief relationships with movers and shakers of key industries?

George Rivera, better known as "Boy George," has been idolized for his infiltration into the drug world with his potent "obsession" brand; a trap start before the term was even invented. Boy George took over the streets of New York and eventually became the youngest male sentenced to natural life. Wiretaps, informants and surveillance photos led the way for authorities to put Mr. Rivera away forever. Boy George had already made millions of dollars by the time he was 23 years of age.

Although each of the six men documented in Mr. Ferranti's Street Legends amassed their glory and street fame via different routes one thing ties them together: A sentence of life in prison. So, does crime really pay? Find out in Seth Ferranti's Street Legends.

I read Street Legends and was impressed with the amount of information Ferranti was able to put together about these street legends. I've spent the last 15 years of my life in prison around many of these street legends and I must say that his book comes as close to the real thing as it gets. All those who are interested in urban legend stories will enjoy Street Legends.

This book was absolutely fascinating. The book was a page turner - sex, violence, and the drug world from the inside / out. I couldn't put it down, and I can't wait for part #2.

Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, Wayne "Silk" Perry, Anthony Jones, Aaron Jones, Peter "Pistol Pete" Rollack, and George "Boy George" Rivera all have one thing in common in Seth Ferranti's Street Legends; honor thy code of the streets.

From the hoods of New York to Southeast Asia, and places in between, the six men noted above were gangsters in every sense of the word. Each was able to build an empire that was comprised of racketeering, murder, fear, and love. Yes, these men were loved. Loved by the legions of men that followed them, by drug addicts whom they supplied with their fix, loved by the community they gave back to, revered in rap songs, and in some instances, loved by law enforcement officials. Ironically, it was these same group of individuals who feared them, breathing life into Niccolo Machiavelli's question; is it better to be loved or feared? But the legend's stories exemplified how it was possible to be both, simultaneously. The volume also allowed for the examination of crime life and asked one basic question of all involved; was it worth it? With varying degrees of responses to this question, Street Legends provided an opportunity for readers to determine their own perspective by providing first-hand testimony from all of the crowned legends, friends, acquaintances, snitches, and legal documents. Understand that these legends were not given that title because of the plethora of drugs, murders, and money they obtained. Something much deeper, morally as a matter of fact, was the determining factor.

I applaud Seth Ferranti for his dedication to putting together a well-rounded view of the men he is paying homage to. The depths of the testimonies are what pulled me in and kept me reading. The lack of proper editing made it a slow read though. Street Legends would be a good guide for individuals who want to know the real meaning of `keepin' it gangsta.' Urban fiction fans and people who indulge in crime reads will also enjoy it.

Reviewed by Darnetta Frazier

APOOO BookClub

The early lives of these men were noteworthy particularly the bridges that carried them into legendary status. Some were charismatic rather than ruthless and showed a maneuvering savvy that belied the lives that they led. Particularly, Kenneth McGriff, a gentlemanly statesman, whose larger than life escapades and accomplishments belie his

physical stature and background.

Had the legalese been cited, the actual factuals could have been researched by those desiring to do so. Reliving the court decisions for each subject and circumstance was distracting and tedious. I appreciated the thoroughness of its inclusion, although it gave the affair a technical feel, reminiscent of a documentary rather than homage.

Firm and authoritative, this literature gives the average reader an authentic glimpse into a world they could only imagine. Powerful testimonials, particularly from some hip hop heavyweights, and `matter-of-fact' grit, drive this book. Amid the crime and calculated misdeeds, these were tales of integrity: there is honor amid the bloodshed, drugs, and money.......even among thieves.

Street legends is confusing the way it is written with vague quotations and super-biased eye-witness account.

The book reinforces the reckless attitudes of star-struck fans of gangster-ism.

Here is an example of how a great deal of this book is composed: "My dog Killer murked like 50 dudes a week and laid down his murder game tight." He was a legend selling crack to 9-month pregnant orphans and if they was short he'd kill them and stomp the fetus. And he got love in the community giving out free crack pipes around New Years.

Then the they had trial and the cops set him up and put him in jail trying to frame him. "Did I forget to say my man murdered people for having on cologne he didn't like"?

He innocent even though he killed people!

THIS MADNESS GOES ON THROUGHOUT THE BOOK! SOME OF THESE GUYS HAVE COMPELLING STORIES BUT HERE IN THIS BOOK IT COMES OF SILLY AND NOT WELL THOUGHT OUT.

Have you ever watched American Gangster on BET? Author Seth "Soul Man" Ferranti brings American Gangster from BET to the books in "Street Legends". He chronicles the six most feared and respected gangsters who live by the creed "death before dishonor".

STREET LEGENDS profiles Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, the infamous drug lord of Queens, NY. Wayne "Silk" Perry, most feared because of his murder game, Anthony "AJ" Jones, who prosecutors described as a "killing machine" and Aaron Jones, the founder and leader of the Junior Black Mafia, who ran a multi-million dollar drug organization. Peter "Pistol Pete" Rollack from the "Sex, Money and Murder" gang are also included. Last, but not least is George "Boy George" Rivera, a drug multi-millionaire at the young age of 21.

In reading this novel, I found myself asking if everything these men did was worth the money, cars and material possessions, just to end up a hood legend?

Reviewed by Leona Romich

for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers