Cross the Tracks: A Memoir

by Boosie Badazz

Overview

From one of rap’s most evocative writers comes a stirring memoir and “masterpiece of a book” (Snoop Dogg) about how Boosie Badazz, one of the industry’s most controversial figures, was able to overcome insurmountable odds to make his music dreams a reality.

A Baton Rouge native who began rapping at age fourteen, Boosie Badazz was already a cult hero in Louisiana when, in 2009, he was sentenced to two years in prison. The next year, he was indicted on even more serious charges, eventually landing him on Death Row. Prosecutors played Boosie’s music in the courtroom to paint him as a thug with no chance of redemption. However, against overwhelming odds and the backdrop of a social media campaign to #FreeBoosie, he was freed in March of 2014 with a rare second chance to make his music dreams come true.

With illuminating prose, this “truly great read” (DJ Vlad, CEO of VladTV) explores the relationship between Boosie’s life on the streets with his ceaseless tear through the rap industry. From near-death experiences to a ruthless bout with kidney cancer to a life-threatening diabetes diagnosis, Boosie has overcome remarkable challenges to make a name for himself as one of rap’s most influential voices. A redemptive story with an urgent voice, Cross the Tracks is the survival tale of a man who wasn’t sure he would live to see another day...but who rose from the ashes to change the rap industry forever.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781982131371
Publisher:	Gallery Books
Publication date:	05/16/2023
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	102,781
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Torrence Hatch Jr. is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and executive, better known by his stage name Boosie Badazz or simply Boosie (formerly Lil Boosie).

Table of Contents

Foreword xiii

Prologue 1

Chapter 1 Badazz Boosie, South Baton Rouge-The Beginning 7

Chapter 2 Growing Up in the Bloody Red Sticks 13

Chapter 3 My Momma and My Daddy 21

Chapter 4 My First Loves 35

Chapter 5 Blood of My Brother 47

Chapter 6 Parental Discretion 57

Chapter 7 Finding Myself 63

Chapter 8 Product of My Environment 69

Chapter 9 The Transition 85

Chapter 10 Gangster, Gangster 99

Chapter 11 Prison and Life on Death Row 123

Chapter 12 Surviving the Odds 137

Chapter 13 A Blessing or a Curse 153

Chapter 14 Cancer-The Enemy Within Me 165

Chapter 15 Fatherhood 177

Chapter 16 Superhero 195

Chapter 17 Being a Boss 205

Acknowledgments 235

Editorial Reviews

"Boosie is official as a referee’s whistle and so is his masterpiece of a book.” –Snoop Dogg

"As someone who has spent countless hours interviewing Boosie, I was amazed at how much I learned about him from reading this book. This is a truly personal look into the mind and heart of not only a rapper, but a father, a friend, and a man. A truly great read."—DJ Vlad, CEO, VladTV

“Boosie’s book is as real as the legend himself. You have to read it to believe it.”—Webbie

From the Publisher