They Say, “Write What You Know About.” Well, I Know Struggle.

At times brutal, at times strangely and sublimely elegant, Crackin’ Up by The SwankMaster is a story of struggle, despair and, ultimately, hope. Set on the dark streets of the inner city, this gripping and timely novel demystifies a feared, despised, and maligned faction of society; it serves as an evocative portrait of crack addiction. Dialogued in street vernacular, The SwankMaster's literary voice, nonetheless, is necessary, contemptuous and facinating. In your face, walking the tightrope, he takes no prisoners as he catches you off your reading guard. Laced with his macabre humor, readers watch as Keela, Shank, and B-rye tumble headlong into the reality they live. It doesn’t take long before confrontations with the police ensue. Shedding light on a dark corner of society, the author not only gives a voice to its people but shows you its reasons; and politics. No one grows up hoping to be a crack-head, but sometimes the inner city leaves very little option.

Step into the world of the SwankMaster, where hope and despair, triumph and failure collide. Through vivid, raw storytelling, you’ll experience the lives of characters grappling with fate, personal choices, and the weight of existence. Parents clash with children, race confronts change, and history battles the future in this gripping saga. The moods are visceral, the emotions unrelenting, and the story unforgettable—a ride that lingers long after the final page.

The SwankMaster leaves space for your imagination, allowing you to see the characters through your own lens. You’ll be challenged, unsettled, and reflective as you explore a timely tale that sheds light on privilege, struggle, and the assumptions we hold. Dark, intelligent, and unmistakably American, Lamar: A Saga of What It Du Be Like invites you to lose yourself in its many layers. Buckle up—this is storytelling at its boldest.