Robert Beck, known professionally as Iceberg Slim, was born in Chicago in 1918. He later became a writer after a career as a pimp. His 1967 memoir, Pimp: The Story of My Life, achieved significant commercial success, particularly among Black audiences. The book was reprinted 19 times and sold nearly 2 million copies by 1973, establishing him as a notable author. Beyond his memoir, Slim wrote novels including Trick Baby. He died in Los Angeles in 1992.