INTERVIEWS

Iceberg Slim interviews and rare appearances

Robert Beck gave few interviews for a writer who sold so many books. What survives is scattered across old television tape, radio and the press. The films above are the ones found so far. This page says what they are and what is still missing.

Television

The best-known footage is his January 1968 appearance on The Joe Pyne Show, made while he was promoting Trick Baby. He wore a mask on air, which is part of why the clip still gets passed around. It is one of the only moving pictures of Beck from the years when Pimp first made his name.

The collection also holds Black Journal's report on his life and later tributes, including material from the 2012 documentary Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp, directed by Jorge Hinojosa and executive-produced by Ice-T.

Radio and print

Beck spoke to radio stations and newspapers through the late 1960s and the 1970s as each new book came out, and The Washington Post quoted him at length on how he saw men and women. Far less of that has survived in a form that can be shared. As pieces are confirmed, they are listed here with the outlet and the date.

Help find more

Have a tape, a clipping or a date for an Iceberg Slim interview? Send it through the Contact page. Everything here is shared for education and commentary. If you hold the rights to a clip and want it taken down, see the takedown policy.