As you read Wretch, Pitiful, Poor, Blind, and Naked you get a sense that it’s Gene Thornton, Jr. telling his story from his heart and not from the mind of Malice, his former rap moniker, because in the book he is so transparent about his life. He talks about his early childhood and young adult life before becoming an emcee. The majority of the book is about the rise, the struggle and the revelations he learns as a member of the hip hop group The Clipse. As you may know, all The Clipse cds have religious symbolism in them and the book is a reflection of that. He shares his introduction to Jesus Christ and how his spiritual leaders and devoted wife have gotten him through difficult periods of his life. The book does reference biblical scriptures, but you don’t feel like you’re being preached to. I found myself intrigued to find out the outcome of the issues he dealt with in his life. Overall the book is about redemption and understanding the real value of life. It was a good read.
By Harold Cates