Author: James Beasley Jr. in Conversation with Siddiq Moody-Jihad

After spending a quarter-century behind bars, James Beasley Jr., one of the most successful cocaine dealers in California during the 1980s, shares his memoirs in the hope of discouraging those who might consider a life of crime.  

Beasley Jr. was born with gangster roots running three generations deep in his family from Hunter's Point, the epicenter of San Francisco's Black underworld. A hustler from the start, Beasley dove headfirst into the cocaine trade when crack cocaine emerged. Determined to forge his own path, Beasley created a powerful crew called the B-Team to rival the A-Team, which had been established by other family members.   

His story spans from the gritty floors of housing projects to the lavish suites of penthouses. It takes you from rundown drug dens and street wars to secret stash houses, million-dollar homes, the Grammys with the Jacksons, heavyweight championship fights, and the birth of Death Row Records. A businessman at his core, he was at the forefront of the real estate boom, acquiring several properties across California and Nevada. However, betrayed by outsiders and charged with federal conspiracy, Beasley was eventually sentenced to 30 years in prison along with other members of his crew. The path he has traveled, marked by extreme integrity, was one meant to break men. 

Siddiq Moody-Jihad has for more than a decade helped organizations in sustaining and perfecting the paradigm for their target population in delivery of services, advocacy and grant funding. He has worked in the fields of restorative justice, victim rights and advocacy, social justice, re-entry services, didactic group therapy and harm reduction. He founded, designed and developed the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department, In-Custody Treatment Program “Roads to Recovery,” is a founding member of the Five Keys Charter School and has received proclamations from the California State Senate as a “Change Agent" and recently from San Francisco Board of Supervisors as “ Community Leader and Activist” ( 2023) . Siddiq is a die hard “49er faithful” since the days of John Brodie - Kezar Stadium the hey days of Joe Montana and Super Bowls.

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James Beasley, Jr. -  Website | James Beasley, Jr. - Instagram