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!!!TM" 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 GHETTOHEATTM. 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 GHETTOHEATTM 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.
