Pearson, who plays a ruthless gangster of the same name on The Wire, reveals in her memoir how she drew on real life experiences to give her convincing portrayal.

Born a three-pound, cross-eyed crack baby in East Baltimore to drug-addicted parents, Felicia “Snoop” Pearson was born in one of the most dangerous cities in the nation. Growing up in a ghetto, Snoop had to learn how to defend herself, which meant drug slinging and violence were parts of her daily routine at a very young age. Until one particular fight landed Snoop in Jessup State penitentiary after killing a woman in self defense. While locked up, Snoop rebelled against the system and only through the intervention of her mentor, Uncle Loney did she finally set herself on the path to redemption. A few years later, Snoop was fortuitously discovered in a nightclub by one of The Wire’s cast members and quickly recruited to be one of television’s most frightening and intriguing villains.

Snoop’s “hood-to-Hollywood” story is remarkable and as chilling as the character she plays on television. Her experiences with death, sexuality, and violence are unnerving, honest, and endearing all at the same time. This number one Essence bestseller is as raw and thought provoking as “Snoop” herself and full of surprises along the way.