Young Locs on the Westside, Part II: Still Locin' Up (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781944082109)

Legendary grew up in the LA area leaving his mark from Inglewood to West LA. He was raised by a single mother and grew up as an only child but not a lonely child. Even though Legendary came from the stereotypical ghetto neighborhood with gangs, drugs, poverty, and prostitution, his surroundings had no influence on his writing style at all. "I lived in the hood, everybody knew me, I was an active participant in hood activities but it was never an event that made me say 'Hey, I want to write stories about these conditions one day and the ghetto where I live.' That ain't shit and too many lames do it. I write about people I meet that just happen to live in those areas." Legendary first discovered his knack for wordplay when his 5th grade teacher intercepted a love letter he wrote to his sweetie. She sent the letter home to his Mom. Legendary didn't get in trouble for writing a seductive love letter at 10 years old. The teacher and his mom were upset with him because they never had a man write them a letter worded so beautifully. Usually that's when the adult steps up and notices the talent. Needless to say due to a bitter teacher that was lonely, Legendary was never encouraged to continue his writing even though he had a special gift. It wasn't until 11 years later at 21 years old when Legendary was touring on the road dancing with the world famous Soul Brothers when Rapper Def Jef and Paul Stewart, the CEO of Over the Edge, encouraged him to write novels. Legend took them serious. They believed in him. He wrote two short gangster novels and was quickly labeled by his peers as the 2nd coming of D. Goines and Iceberg Slim and he didn't even know who they were at the time and he certainly wasn't trying to wear that title. Legend continued to hone in on his craft over the years and waited patiently for the right time to release those beasts, as he calls them. That time is now! Legendary currently lives and works in Los Angeles where he is the Director of Operations for Go Beyond the G.A.M.E. Student Athlete Mentoring Program. He received his BA at Cal State University, and also works in the Post Production Field in the TV industry. Legendary is very proud of his son Jelani whom he raised as a single Dad. Legendary loves to root for the Baltimore Ravens, and continues to tour the world dancing with the Soul Brothers on the Golden Era of Hip Hop circuit.