Iceberg Slim: The Life of a Legend Uncovered

This post was written by DOC NYC blogger Carrie Nelson

Wednesday’s snowstorm prevented director Jorge Hinojosa and producer Ice-T from traveling to New York for the US premiere of ICEBERG SLIM: PORTRAIT OF A PIMP. But through remarks given by DOC NYC’s Artistic Director, Thom Powers, they were still able to convey their thanks and gratitude to the audience. Powers shared that Hinojosa was inspired to make the film after Ice-T gave him a copy of Pimp: The Story of My Life, Slim’s most famous book. The resulting film presents an intimate portrait of a man who worked to redeem his troubled past through writing.

ICEBERG SLIM tells the story of Robert Beck, a man whose sexual abuse as a child and troubled relationship with his mother led to him pursuing a life of crime and objectification. Beck spent years working as a pimp, mastering the art of manipulating his “stable” of women to earn a profit, only to eventually be arrested and imprisoned.

Once freed from prison, Beck made a commitment to reform his ways. He married, fathered three daughters, and with his wife’s encouragement and support, turned his experiences as a criminal into groundbreaking novels. Adopting the pseudonym Iceberg Slim, he wrote books with that deglamorized the experience of pimping. ICEBERG SLIM follows Beck’s path from criminal to literary icon.

The aesthetics of ICEBERG SLIM mirror those of the books he wrote. Scenes of Beck’s early life are animated with images reminiscent of pulp novel illustrations. Those images create a strong connection between Beck’s life and Slim’s storytelling.

The animations and archival photos and films of Beck are mixed with interviews with those closest to Beck and those who have been inspired by his work. The first half of the film focuses heavily on the influence Slim’s books had on both celebrities (such as Quincy Jones, Chris Rock, Snoop Dogg, and Ice-T) and academics (such as Dr. Todd Boyd and Justin Gifford).

The second half takes a personal turn and places its emphasis on the voices of Beck’s first wife, Betty, and their daughters, Camille, Melody, and Misty. This blend of perspectives provides insight into both the man’s public and private personas, creating a film that is simultaneously universal and deeply unique.

Carrie Nelson is a writer and filmmaker, committed to using media to advocate for social justice. Follow her work at www.carolyn-nelson.com.