You’ve heard about Gangsta Rappers but What about the Gangster Writer

Introducing Al-Saadiq Banks

In the belly of the beast, when convicts are looking for books to read, one author is at the top of the list. Because in prison it’s not about letting go, it’s about holding on and the tales that Al-Saadiq Banks writes epitomize the gangster ethos. The author, who hails from the Garden State, has been putting books out on his True 2 Life Publishing house since 2002. “I have dropped about one a year ever since.” Al-Saadiq says and as his audience has grown so has his ambitions. But Al-Saadiq didn’t start writing for fame and fortune. He had other deeper and private reasons.

“I didn't start writing with the intentions of being an author or to sell books.” Al-Saadiq says. “I started writing basically to challenge myself and prove that I could write a book if I chose to.” Like most serious artists and authors it wasn’t about the commerce, it was about the art and the passion.

”I spent a lot of years on those streets, so I have stories for years.” Al-Saadiq says. “Whether the events have happened to me, to those close to me, or just things that I have heard about, I have enough information to write forever.” Just like in gangsta rap and hip-hop, authenticity is something you can’t put a price on. Stripes are earned by putting in work.

“I write about the real of the streets, not the fairy tale streets.” Al-Saadiq explains. “No over dramatic scenes or fantasy island type writing in my books, and dudes that come from that world can totally relate.” Like they say, real recognizes real, and the guys doing life in the federal pens appreciate the gravity of Al-Saadiq’s stories. But it’s not like Al-Saadiq was raised with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Born in the seventies, his parents separated when he was five, leaving his mother to raise him singlehandedly. Academically the future novelist excelled. At a young age he was introduced to boxing and that became his first passion. As talented as he was he never took boxing serious.

”I come from a broken home where I was raised by my mother,” Al-Saadiq says. “But she instilled in me the importance of morals and the importance of education.  I grew up in the boxing gyms so I've always been a fighter from damn near birth.  Foolishly, I turned down a pro boxing contract for the love of that fast money on the streets.” Like so many inner-city youth Al-Saadiq turned to the streets.

His dream of boxing was deferred as he lived out his dreams on the street until he was gunned down and had to reassess his lifestyle. “There were a few things that I could've done in the real world but that fast money had me chasing with tunnel vision.” Al-Saadiq says. “Although I've never been to prison, my mind was imprisoned by those streets for a very long time.” But writing took him away from the streets.

”Business is business, whether it's in the corporate world or the underground world.  If you can make it out on these streets you can run and operate any Fortune 500 Company.  It's all the same.” Al-Saadiq has proved his acumen by selling over 600,000 of his books since 2002. As the majors have come calling he has stayed fiercely independent.

“We formed True 2 Life Publications because in no way could we see ourselves signing with any other publishing house.  Independence is the key for us!” Al-Saadiq says. The author could never imagine signing his rights over for an advance when he knows in the long run it would hurt his pockets. “I have learned that all business is the same and politics of the business always presents itself.  In order to play any game and win, you must first understand the politics of that game.”

To date Al-Saadiq Banks has written and published nine novels. Recently he has entered  the world of graphic novels. “The comic book is based off of the Block Party novel.” Al_saadiq says. “We are still learning how to bring the two markets together.” Al-Saadiq and True 2 Life have a mission to adapt the novels into comic book series and graphic novels. One reason this man is ready to take his work to the next level.

By using guerilla marketing techniques, social media outlets and corporate world tactics Al-Saadiq has succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. But he is not through. “The next level for True 2 Life is animation and motion comics as well as filmmaking. A Block Party movie and Strapped series are coming soon.” Al-Saadiq says. Therein lies the secret to his success, always striving and never settling, another project to bring to completion. And Al-Saadiq won’t be happy until he is in Hollywood, a long way from Newark, New Jersey. But well within his reach.