Necessary Evil

By: Kareem Hayes

Narrated by: Kareem Hayes

Necessary Evil is a book based on the social ecology of New York’s drug trade during the early 90s. It documents how people from various ethnic back rounds function in the “urban melting pot”. Dealing with poverty many young men turn to selling narcotics as a means of survival. We often examine the perils of the inner city, with the many treacherous deeds, crimes and evil acts performed by some of our brothers and sisters. Not taking the time to realize that a lot of these evils are necessary to establish them as apex predators in a concrete jungle where the rules are eat or be eaten.

This story is driven by three main characters who have very diverse personalities and back rounds. The main character Jamaal being an introvert who grew up with drug addicted mother and physically abusive father. Jamaal’s self-discipline seems to be his only refuge there is an underlined need for family.

Throughout the story you find him searching to recreate the family he never had if it’s not through his street ties then it's with his first love Samaya. The other two main characters serve as supporting cast, if you will. “Fire,” a young aggressive individual with somewhat of a “napoleon complex,” he suffers from severe sickle cell anemia, and is very frail in stature. So he over compensates by being as menacing as possible. His greatest fear is that someone will think he weak. “Basil” is more of the type of guy that has it—all looks, charisma and charm. He grew up in a wealthy West Indian family but still chooses to dabble in the street life. Together the three of them have this elemental dynamic. They balance each other out. Another prominent aspect of this book is the commentary; as the author I use hip hop music, fashion and urban dialect that is true to the times.

Listening to this book is much like a tour through some of the most dangerous ghettos ever, from Flatbush Brooklyn to Harlem Manhattan even into the bowels of Trench Town Jamaica. Much of the book is based on things that I have seen firsthand growing up in New York City. I explore the diversity of New York’s gang culture with its many Caribbean and Muslim (Five Percent) influences. Necessary Evil paints a vivid picture of New York’s gritty urban landscape while giving the listener a chance to experience the highs and lows of being hustler, a father, a son and a victim of many of society’s social ills. I give you the reasons why some evils may be necessary without glamourizing the life style instead, but documenting it as only someone who survived it could.

©2013 Kareem J Hayes (P)2023 Kareem J Hayes