GHETTOHEAT, the debut book by HICKSON--a collection of thought-provoking poetry and prose that focuses on the inner-city voices of ghetto-America. Exploring everyday people experiencing trials and tribulations of life in "da streetz", GHETTOHEAT takes its readers on an emotional roller-coaster; revealing the joys, pains, economic pressures and spiritual struggles many endure within urban populations. With a multitude of complex characters and controversial issues, GHETTOHEAT is street-poetry in motion. It’s raw, real and riveting! GHETTOHEAT— "The hotness in the streets!!!™" Do you feel it? S-S-S-S-S-S-S!
Skate On!
Hickson
Ghettoheat, $15.00, 168pp.
ISBN: 0974298204
It’s 1983 and THE ROOFTOP roller-skating rink is the place to be! SKATE ON!, a coming-of-age tale about three teenage girlfriends from the Polo Grounds projects in Harlem, New York, learning life in the streets, getting into trouble and having carefree fun; while hanging out at the world’s most notorious skating rink, THE ROOFTOP. Meet the young ‘80s ladies: Shani Smith–Darling, smart and naïve, this 15-year-old college student and devout Christian is growing bored of her sheltered life and “good girl” image; becoming more fascinated with fast life in the gritty streets. What happens when sweet and innocent Shani attracts Bricks, a ruthless drug kingpin from Washington Heights?
Keisha Campbell – Sexy, sassy and self-indulged, this 16-year-old materialistic girl is the “ghetto-princess” of Harlem. Extremely driven by money, power and the glamour of the drug world, Keisha, manipulatively goes to great lengths to get what she wants; even if it’s playing with fire by courting Bricks. Will lust and greed ruin her relationship with best friend, Shani?
Monique “Mo-Mo” Morrison – Rough, rebellious and raw, this 18-year-old inspiring rapper is a rebel without a cause; finding herself at war with the ghetto. An aggressive nymphomaniac, living minute-to-minute by any means necessary, will Mo-Mo succumb to the dangerous trappings of the inner-city?
SKATE ON! backwards into the ‘80s and reminisce on fashion, street and pop-culture, classic Hip-Hop, Dance Music and R & B at its best. Word up!
About the Author
HICKSON is CEO and Founder of GHETTOHEAT™. Born and raised in Harlem, he still lives amongst his people. Graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1998, HICKSON received a Bachelors of Science degree in Advertising and Marketing Communications. While attending college full-time, he briefly worked as a free-lance fashion stylist, which soon led to working as a wardrobe coordinator for Audrey Smaltz and the Ground Crew—a backstage management team. There, HICKSON was anointed personally by the queen-of-the-catwalk, Naomi Campbell. For five years, HICKSON was in charge of coordinating her fast and intricate outfit changes; managing to meticulously dress Naomi amidst the fever, fierceness, and frenzy backstage at major fashion shows.
Wanting to get more involved in the creative process of runway shows, HICKSON free-lanced as a Production Coordinator for Bureau Betak, a leading special events/fashion show production company; best known for creating innovative concepts and producing avant-garde shows for fashion designers worldwide. With September 11th having a tremendous impact on his life, values and focus, HICKSON began writing poetry as an outlet; expressing himself freely on paper while dealing with his own personal struggles. The creative writing evolved into the conception of his debut book, GHETTOHEAT, which HICKSON never intended to print; until his best friend read excerpts of his work—encouraging HICKSON to publish his poems immediately. Hunger and passion drove HICKSON into becoming an entrepreneur—creating GHETTOHEAT™ on June 4th 2003, focusing on self-publishing, distributing and marketing his own works; with intentions of publishing other talented authors. HICKSON’s vision is to produce quality works, with his favorite subjects being his people—the inner-city voices of ghetto-America.
