Meals are perhaps the most important aspect of prison life. They keep inmates alive, both physically and emotionally, as mess halls and common areas provide a level of social interaction in an otherwise lonely situation. Albert "Prodigy" Johnson served three and a half years in prison, and during that time his focus was on his health—an almost impossible feat behind bars, where many inmates often enter the prison system healthy, but leave with diabetes and hypertension. Commissary Kitchen provides a deeper perspective of what it's like to consume meals in prison. While recipes are provided, Prodigy and co-writer Kathy Iandoli also tell various anecdotes about situations in prison involving food. Meal prep in prison is very limited, so while this work appeals to anyone who has served time or is curious about prison life, it also speaks to those who prepare food with limited access to various cooking luxuries (such as college students in dorms). While the work is informational, above all it humanizes the prison experience in a way that has never been done before.
Albert "Prodigy" Johnson is a multi-platinum recording artist and member of the legendary hip-hop duo Mobb Deep. In 2006, Prodigy was arrested for gun possession and served a three-year prison term. In 2011, he released his first memoir, the critically-acclaimed My Infamous Life. Since then, Prodigy has continued to release both solo projects and albums through Mobb Deep, touring worldwide. When he isn't touring, Prodigy is traveling the United States, lecturing at venues like MIT about the prison system and offering insight on changing the quality of inmates' lives.
Kathy Iandoli is a critically-acclaimed journalist and author. Her work has appeared in publications such as Pitchfork, VICE, Maxim, Cosmopolitan, the Village Voice, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and many others.

Commissary Kitchen

Biographies & Memoirs

Johnson, Albert "Prodigy"

Iandoli, Kathy

Arts & Literature

Infamous Books

"A gritty, fast-paced tale of revenge...Tight, terse prose harkens back to pulp fiction of the 1950s...The work is a breath of fresh air from lengthy, trying-too-hard-to-shock street lit and is an excellent choice for all metropolitan collections." --Library Journal (starred review, Pick of the Month) "The urban setting is unnamed but familiar in this brief, bloody tale of wasted lives lived short and hard." --Publishers Weekly "Simultaneously a fast-paced crime drama and an engrossing, unsentimental moral tale, H.N.I.C. peers into the dark heart that underpins the codes of loyalty and friendship, betrayal and vengeance." --Brooklyn Daily Eagle "In a genre that too often places incorrect ebonics in the mouths of black characters and fails to cross the empathy gap to get into their heads, Savile and Prodigy arrive at a seamless voice that is a refreshing take on crime fiction tropes...if tone and texture are what you're looking for in your hardcore literature...H.N.I.C. delivers the goods." --Okayplayer "H.N.I.C. is written by Prodigy himself and shows the extent to which good rappers can make good storytellers." --Brooklyn Based "Ultimately, H.N.I.C. deals on all the right levels and is completely satisfying." --Blackout Book Review "If you don't have this novella in your library collection already, please be on the lookout for this 2013 release, H.N.I.C., penned by Hip Hop artist Prodigy of the group, Mobb Deep." --StreetLiterature.com "The strength of this novella, in addition to its straightforward prose and rapid pacing, rests on the universal theme at its center: loyalty. Loyalty and the bullshit our friends put us through...Like any good work of crime, H.N.I.C. is grounded in such common experiences and, like any good work of crime, it speaks to all of us, despite the fact that very few of us can bypass an alarm system through some computer trickery." --Nerds of a Feather, Flock Together "It tells the...urban tale of deceit, greed and questioned loyalty with just enough drama to keep you turning the pages." --Literary Jewels "A brutal and quick read...custom-made for the big screen." --Charles Tatum's Review Archive Prodigy, from the legendary hip-hop group Mobb Deep, launches Akashic's new Infamous Books imprint with a story of loyalty, vengeance, and greed. Pappy tries to break out of the game before the head of his crew, Black, gets them all killed. Against his better judgment Pappy agrees to do one last job, but only because it's the price of his freedom. He knows his "brother" Black would rather see him dead than let him walk away. Yet he still agrees to do the job because Black isn't the only one who can't be trusted. Further developing the stark realism and uncompromising streetwise narratives of his lyrics, H.N.I.C. cements Prodigy's position as one of the foremost chroniclers of contemporary urban life. Simultaneously a fast-paced crime drama and an engrossing, unsentimental moral tale, H.N.I.C. peers into the dark heart that underpins the codes of loyalty and friendship, betrayal and vengeance. With H.N.I.C., Prodigy inaugurates Infamous Books, a revolutionary partnership that pairs the Infamous Records brand with Brooklyn-based independent publisher Akashic Books. Infamous Books' mission is to connect readers worldwide to crime fiction and street lit authors both familiar and new.

H.N.I.C.

Literature & Fiction

United States

"A gritty, fast-paced tale of revenge...Tight, terse prose harkens back to pulp fiction of the 1950s...The work is a breath of fresh air from lengthy, trying-too-hard-to-shock street lit and is an excellent choice for all metropolitan collections."--Library Journal (starred review, Pick of the Month)"The urban setting is unnamed but familiar in this brief, bloody tale of wasted lives lived short and hard."--Publishers Weekly"Simultaneously a fast-paced crime drama and an engrossing, unsentimental moral tale, H.N.I.C. peers into the dark heart that underpins the codes of loyalty and friendship, betrayal and vengeance."--Brooklyn Daily Eagle"In a genre that too often places incorrect ebonics in the mouths of black characters and fails to cross the empathy gap to get into their heads, Savile and Prodigy arrive at a seamless voice that is a refreshing take on crime fiction tropes...if tone and texture are what you're looking for in your hardcore literature...H.N.I.C. delivers the goods."--Okayplayer"H.N.I.C. is written by Prodigy himself and shows the extent to which good rappers can make good storytellers."--Brooklyn Based"Ultimately, H.N.I.C. deals on all the right levels and is completely satisfying."--Blackout Book Review"If you don't have this novella in your library collection already, please be on the lookout for this 2013 release, H.N.I.C., penned by Hip Hop artist Prodigy of the group, Mobb Deep."--StreetLiterature.com"The strength of this novella, in addition to its straightforward prose and rapid pacing, rests on the universal theme at its center: loyalty. Loyalty and the bullshit our friends put us through...Like any good work of crime, H.N.I.C. is grounded in such common experiences and, like any good work of crime, it speaks to all of us, despite the fact that very few of us can bypass an alarm system through some computer trickery."--Nerds of a Feather, Flock Together"It tells the...urban tale of deceit, greed and questioned loyalty with just enough drama to keep you turning the pages."--Literary Jewels"A brutal and quick read...custom-made for the big screen."--Charles Tatum's Review ArchiveProdigy, from the legendary hip-hop group Mobb Deep, launches Akashic's new Infamous Books imprint with a story of loyalty, vengeance, and greed.Pappy tries to break out of the game before the head of his crew, Black, gets them all killed. Against his better judgment Pappy agrees to do one last job, but only because it's the price of his freedom. He knows his "brother" Black would rather see him dead than let him walk away. Yet he still agrees to do the job because Black isn't the only one who can't be trusted.Further developing the stark realism and uncompromising streetwise narratives of his lyrics, H.N.I.C. cements Prodigy's position as one of the foremost chroniclers of contemporary urban life. Simultaneously a fast-paced crime drama and an engrossing, unsentimental moral tale, H.N.I.C. peers into the dark heart that underpins the codes of loyalty and friendship, betrayal and vengeance.With H.N.I.C., Prodigy inaugurates Infamous Books, a revolutionary partnership that pairs the Infamous Records brand with Brooklyn-based independent publisher Akashic Books. Infamous Books' mission is to connect readers worldwide to crime fiction and street lit authors both familiar and new.

The White House

"The White House is a fast-paced thriller that doesn't disappoint." --Urban Reviews "White House by JaQuavis Coleman starts with a bang and will leave you wanting more." --Book Referees "Kidnapping, murder, and mayhem lead [Draya]--and the reader--through a harrowing and twisting plot to an explosive ending that no one sees coming." --Reading in Black &amp; White "The White House is one of my most personal books ever. I took from a real-life situation and told a story that has been Detroit's secret for years. I'm bringing that to the forefront with my own twist. This venture with Infamous and Akashic feels right...It feels good. They are very in tune with my culture and style of writing which makes this a perfect situation for me." --JaQuavis Coleman on The White House The White House is based on true events, reimagining the dark chronicles of a notorious drug kingpin's death, and the unfortunate events that followed. The young heroine Draya lives paycheck to paycheck, laboring as a maid in a luxurious white house. One day, in the course of performing her duties, she is presented with an irresistible opportunity for a quick--and risky--payday. What unfolds in the white house changes the course of her life. Kidnapping, murder, and mayhem lead her--and the reader--through a harrowing and twisting plot to an explosive ending that no one sees coming. Look through the eyes of this young woman and glimpse how a life can forever be altered due to an unfortunate series of events--all touched off in a legendary white house. Infamous Books, curated by Albert "Prodigy" Johnson of the legendary hip-hop group Mobb Deep, is a revolutionary partnership that pairs the Infamous Records brand with Brooklyn-based independent publisher Akashic Books. Infamous Books' mission is to connect readers worldwide to crime fiction and street lit authors both familiar and new.

Coleman, JaQuavis

"White House by JaQuavis Coleman starts with a bang and will leave you wanting more."--Book Referees"Kidnapping, murder, and mayhem lead [Draya]--and the reader--through a harrowing and twisting plot to an explosive ending that no one sees coming."--Reading in Black & White"The White House is one of my most personal books ever. I took from a real-life situation and told a story that has been Detroit's secret for years. I'm bringing that to the forefront with my own twist. This venture with Infamous and Akashic feels right...It feels good. They are very in tune with my culture and style of writing which makes this a perfect situation for me."--JaQuavis Coleman on The White HouseThe White House is based on true events, reimagining the dark chronicles of a notorious drug kingpin's death, and the unfortunate events that followed.The young heroine Draya lives paycheck to paycheck, laboring as a maid in a luxurious white house. One day, in the course of performing her duties, she is presented with an irresistible opportunity for a quick--and risky--payday. What unfolds in the white house changes the course of her life. Kidnapping, murder, and mayhem lead her--and the reader--through a harrowing and twisting plot to an explosive ending that no one sees coming. Look through the eyes of this young woman and glimpse how a life can forever be altered due to an unfortunate series of events--all touched off in a legendary white house.Infamous Books, curated by Albert "Prodigy" Johnson of the legendary hip-hop group Mobb Deep, is a revolutionary partnership that pairs the Infamous Records brand with Brooklyn-based independent publisher Akashic Books. Infamous Books' mission is to connect readers worldwide to crime fiction and street lit authors both familiar and new.

Swing

"Wise librarians will stock up and 'swing' this one over to erotica fans."--Library Journal"This newest offering from Miasha packs quite a punch...This erotic thriller keeps the drama and the sex coming from start to finish."--Library Journal (Erotica column)Included in Written Magazine's "Publisher's Picks: 30-Books-in-90-Days" list"A sleazy little gem of a book...Short, dirty, and a riveting page-turner...This is literature with teeth and claws."--Chicago Center for Literature and Photography"A nicely paced thriller, balancing raunch with equally juicy interpersonal drama...a strong writer who is unmistakably in her element."--The Brooklyn Paper/February Houses"Swing is a very entertaining read: devious characters, murderous lovers, plot twists, and plenty of hot sex. Who could ask for anything more?"--Lily Lick Books ReviewsPraise for Miasha:"Miasha is a writer to watch."--Publishers Weekly"Miasha writes with the fatal stroke of a butcher knife."--Omar Tyree, author of Insanity"She's the crème de la crème."--Vickie M. Stringer, author of Dirty Red"Miasha writes with fire."--Crystal Lacey Winslow, author of Life, Love & LonelinessPart of the Infamous Books imprint, curated by Albert "Prodigy" Johnson.Lyssa and Jacob, owners of the swingers' club Puss and Boots, have been living an active swingers lifestyle ever since their two children moved out of the house. Every couple months they hire a "live-in," a girl who in exchange for room, board, and a paycheck provides sex on demand.Danielle and Stewart met each other at a swingers' club eight years ago. They fell in love and married, soon becoming regulars at Puss and Boots before obtaining their own private room in the club.JuJu and Ferrari are the epitome of opposites attract. She's fifty, he's thirty. She is wild and outgoing and he is reserved and laid-back. She's a millionaire former model; he's a college dropout wannabe model. They've been going to Puss and Boots since the club opened two years ago.Tori and Kevin always talked about experimenting with threesomes and group sex but never made time to act on their thoughts and wishes. Well, it's Kevin’s thirtieth birthday, and what better gift than a surprise visit to Puss and Boots?Swing is the story of the treacherous and steamy collisions in the lives of these four couples. Roped with sultry scandals and lustful lies, this novella will propel readers to their highest highs and drop them to their lowest lows.Infamous Books, curated by Albert "Prodigy" Johnson of the legendary hip-hop group Mobb Deep, is a revolutionary partnership that pairs the Infamous Records brand with Brooklyn-based independent publisher Akashic Books. Infamous Books' mission is to connect readers worldwide to crime fiction and street lit authors both familiar and new.

MIASHA

"Wise librarians will stock up and 'swing' this one over to erotica fans." --Library Journal "This newest offering from Miasha packs quite a punch...This erotic thriller keeps the drama and the sex coming from start to finish." --Library Journal (Erotica column) "A sleazy little gem of a book...Short, dirty, and a riveting page-turner...This is literature with teeth and claws." --Chicago Center for Literature and Photography "A nicely paced thriller, balancing raunch with equally juicy interpersonal drama...a strong writer who is unmistakably in her element." --The Brooklyn Paper/February Houses Included in Written Magazine's "Publisher's Picks: 30-Books-in-90-Days" list "This book is a hot and fast read that will surely delight readers. With Swing, Miasha gives us a walk on the wild side." --Urban Reviews "I love the twists and turns in the story, and as the story unfolds it gets more interesting page-by-page. Miasha delivered a wonderful plot to the story that left you anticipating more." --AfterDarkOnline "Swing is a very entertaining read: devious characters, murderous lovers, plot twists, and plenty of hot sex. Who could ask for anything more?" --Lily Lick Books Reviews Part of the Infamous Books imprint, curated by Albert "Prodigy" Johnson. Lyssa and Jacob, owners of the swingers' club Puss and Boots, have been living an active swingers lifestyle ever since their two children moved out of the house. Every couple months they hire a "live-in," a girl who in exchange for room, board, and a paycheck provides sex on demand. Danielle and Stewart met each other at a swingers' club eight years ago. They fell in love and married, soon becoming regulars at Puss and Boots before obtaining their own private room in the club. JuJu and Ferrari are the epitome of opposites attract. She's fifty, he's thirty. She is wild and outgoing and he is reserved and laid-back. She's a millionaire former model; he's a college dropout wannabe model. They've been going to Puss and Boots since the club opened two years ago. Tori and Kevin always talked about experimenting with threesomes and group sex but never made time to act on their thoughts and wishes. Well, it's Kevin's thirtieth birthday, and what better gift than a surprise visit to Puss and Boots? Swing is the story of the treacherous and steamy collisions in the lives of these four couples. Roped with sultry scandals and lustful lies, this novella will propel readers to their highest highs and drop them to their lowest lows. Infamous Books, curated by Albert "Prodigy" Johnson of the legendary hip-hop group Mobb Deep, is a revolutionary partnership that pairs the Infamous Records brand with Brooklyn-based independent publisher Akashic Books. Infamous Books' mission is to connect readers worldwide to crime fiction and street lit authors both familiar and new.

Black Lotus

"[A] heart-thumping thriller...K'wan does a masterful job of keeping readers on their toes right up to the very last page."--Publishers Weekly"Fans expecting another thug-in-the-street story will be pleasantly surprised at this rough police procedural."--Library Journal"K'wan steadily builds to a frantic, movie-worthy climax."--Entertainment WeeklyIncluded in Written Magazine's "Publisher's Picks: 30-Books-in-90-Days" list"One of hip-hop fiction's hottest authors."--King"The legacies of Iceberg Slim and Donald Goines are forever preserved."--Upscale"Well-written at a fast pace...the suspense is cutting edge and cunning. Even if you are on top of your sleuth game, you will not figure out the game players or assassin until the end...Hats off to you K'wan."--Ski-wee's Book CornerDetective James Wolf earned the nickname Lone Wolf from his inability to work with a partner. He's a hard cop who doesn't mind bending the rules to the point of breaking them to make a case, which is why Internal Affairs is digging in his backyard, looking for buried bones. People are starting to wonder: Which side of the law is the Lone Wolf really hunting for? His career hanging on by a thread, he needs a major show of good faith to keep employed and out of prison. That's when he gets the call.From the moment he arrives at the crime scene, Detective Wolf knows that he's in over his head. He's a narcotics detective, called in to consult on a homicide, but this is no ordinary homicide--a priest was butchered and left for dead inside his own church, with the promise of more bodies to follow. The only lead is the killer's calling card: a black lotus flower left at the crime scene. Detective Wolf now has the opportunity to quietly track and stop the Black Lotus before the next victim is claimed, in exchange for wiping his service record clean.Accepting this case started as Detective Wolf's attempt to get Internal Affairs off his back. But when his hunt for the Black Lotus leads him to a cold case from his past, it becomes personal.Infamous Books, curated by Albert "Prodigy" Johnson of the legendary hip-hop group Mobb Deep, is a revolutionary partnership that pairs the Infamous Records brand with Brooklyn-based independent publisher Akashic Books. Infamous Books' mission is to connect readers worldwide to crime fiction and street lit authors both familiar and new.

K'WAN

Selected for the Library Services for Youth in Custody 2015 In The Margins List One of Library Journal's Best African American Fiction Books of 2014 "[A] heart-thumping thriller...K'wan does a masterful job of keeping readers on their toes right up to the very last page." --Publishers Weekly "Fans expecting another thug-in-the-street story will be pleasantly surprised at this rough police procedural." --Library Journal "K'wan steadily builds to a frantic, movie-worthy climax." --Entertainment Weekly Included in Written Magazine's "Publisher's Picks: 30-Books-in-90-Days" list "Yet another heart-thumping thriller by this Hip Hop author who delivers." --Library Services for Youth in Custody "This book features the sublime story and character development that K'wan is known for." --Urban Reviews "One of hip-hop fiction's hottest authors." --King "The legacies of Iceberg Slim and Donald Goines are forever preserved." --Upscale "Black Lotus is an absolutely riveting read...an edge-of-the-seat nail-biter...you won't be disappointed." --Zachary Mule "Well-written at a fast pace...the suspense is cutting edge and cunning. Even if you are on top of your sleuth game, you will not figure out the game players or assassin until the end...Hats off to you K'wan." --Ski-wee's Book Corner Detective James Wolf earned the nickname Lone Wolf from his inability to work with a partner. He's a hard cop who doesn't mind bending the rules to the point of breaking them to make a case, which is why Internal Affairs is digging in his backyard, looking for buried bones. People are starting to wonder: Which side of the law is the Lone Wolf really hunting for? His career hanging on by a thread, he needs a major show of good faith to keep employed and out of prison. That's when he gets the call. From the moment he arrives at the crime scene, Detective Wolf knows that he's in over his head. He's a narcotics detective, called in to consult on a homicide, but this is no ordinary homicide--a priest was butchered and left for dead inside his own church, with the promise of more bodies to follow. The only lead is the killer's calling card: a black lotus flower left at the crime scene. Detective Wolf now has the opportunity to quietly track and stop the Black Lotus before the next victim is claimed, in exchange for wiping his service record clean. Accepting this case started as Detective Wolf's attempt to get Internal Affairs off his back. But when his hunt for the Black Lotus leads him to a cold case from his past, it becomes personal. Infamous Books, curated by Albert "Prodigy" Johnson of the legendary hip-hop group Mobb Deep, is a revolutionary partnership that pairs the Infamous Records brand with Brooklyn-based independent publisher Akashic Books. Infamous Books' mission is to connect readers worldwide to crime fiction and street lit authors both familiar and new.

Caught Up

One of Library Journal's Best Books of 2015 "Holmes...is a noted pioneering street lit author. His smooth-flowing narrative mixes crime, sex, and sassy street language, giving his protagonists a true life-in-the-streets feel. This will more than satisfy serious readers of urban fiction." --Library Journal (Starred Review, Pick of the Month) "I read this book in one sitting....It's a great way to escape and be entertained for a few hours." --Baltimore Times "Pure entertainment." --Hawt Reads Dixyn Greene has it all. She is a hustler's wife, the mother of a beautiful daughter, and she owns a town house and a nice car--she's living the life. But when the feds arrest her man, Dixyn's whole world begins to crumble. Quickly things go from bad to worse--as the bills begin to mount, her ability to continue to maintain her lavish lifestyle is put to the test. Strapped for cash, her good intentions lead to bad decisions. Enter Brian Winters, B-Dub, and her one saving grace, or so she initially believes. In Dixyn's time of need, B-Dub turns out to be no more than an opportunist with his own agenda. Dixyn becomes indebted to him and is forced to do his bidding in order to survive. With B-Dub on her back, she submerges herself into the murky waters of street life and is soon entangled in a web of lust, betrayal, blackmail, and deceit. She ultimately discovers that there are no rules in the game. In the game, loyalty is limited. Trust will get you hurt and love will get you killed. Infamous Books, curated by Albert "Prodigy" Johnson from the legendary hip-hop group Mobb Deep, is a revolutionary partnership that pairs the Infamous Records brand with Brooklyn-based independent publisher Akashic Books. Infamous Books' mission is to connect readers worldwide to crime fiction and street lit authors both familiar and new. Releases include works by national best sellers JaQuavis Coleman, K'wan, Miasha, Prodigy, and many others forthcoming.

Holmes, Shannon

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Books by Infamous Books

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Infamous Books publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Commissary Kitchen

H.N.I.C.

H.N.I.C.

The White House

The White House

Swing

Swing

Black Lotus

Black Lotus

Caught Up