Iceberg biography

  Iceberg Slim, also known as Robert Beck,was born as Robert Lee Maupinin Chicago, Illinois on August 4th, 1918.He spent much of his childhood in Milwaukee and Rockford, Illinoisbefore returning to Chicago as a teenager.

  His father having abandoned them, Slim's mother supported the family by working as a domestic and operating a beauty shop.

He credits his mother for having prepared him for the pimp lifestyle by pampering him during his childhood.

  Iceberg attended Tuskegee Institute briefly in the mid 1930's, at the same time Ralph Ellisonwas there, however they did not know one another.

  At 18, Robert began his initiation into " the life", adopting his nom de guerre,"Iceberg Slim"and remained a pimp until age 42, predominantly in the Chicago area.

He was incarcerated several times in conjunction with his crimes, including a stretch in Leavenworthand spent a 10 month prison sentence in