The Pulse of Entertainment - July 8, 2025

The Pulse of Entertainment: Legs McNeil Director New Documentary ‘Pusherman: Frank Lucas and The True Story of American Gangster'; The Real Story of the American Gangsta is Now on TUBI

by Dr. Eunice Moseley

 

(July 8, 2025) - "He represents the real Godfather of Harlem," said documentary director Legs McNeil (The Uncensored Oral History of Punk) about his new documentary "Pusherman: Frank Lucas and The True Story of American Gangster." "I hope people enjoy it...get to know Frank Lucas. It's a good story."

The new documentary tells the life story of the real Godfather of Harlem Frank Lucas. It has been released and is currently streaming on Tubi and available on DVD and Blu Ray exclusively via MVD Entertainment. The Frank Lucas documentary is narrated by journalist Mark Jacobson, whose New York Magazine article inspired the blockbuster film "American Gangster," and hosted by Legs (Roderick Edwards McNeil). It is officially released in Canada but is available worldwide via Tubi.

"I thought it was a fascinating story." Legs said. "I then called Diddy's father who dealt heroin for Frank. I did an interview with him, and then I called the guys. I've been friends with Mark for 45 years. He told me about the story of Frank Lucas. So, I knew about his thoughts on Frank (from his New York Magazine article). Last year I saw that it was published in a book called ‘American Gangsta.' I called Mark and said, ‘This would make a great movie.'"

The "Pusherman: Frank Lucas and The True Story of American Gangsta" film is co-written by Legs and Burt Kearns. It has interviews, rare recordings, and first-person accounts from people such as Michael Daly, Fab 5 Freddy, Mark Jacobson and Richie Roberts. It is suggested that the documentary is a correction of the media's take on American gangsters like Frank Lucas who use to get his heroin from Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle "gangstas.' The documentary has already won Best Documentary by New York Movie Awards, Best Documentary by London Movie Awards, and the Official Selection by Florence Film Awards.

"It matches the original story that he reads on camera," he pointed out to me. "I thought why not bring the written story...but tell it better. Mark spent a lot of time with Frank Lucas."

Frank Lucas was a big influence on the drug trade in New York City, and Leg's is challenging Hollywood's' version of the American Gangsta with the documentary of the person who really was at the top of New York City's drug industry. The American Gangsta film, inspired by Mark Jacobson's article, made $255 million and has Denzel Washington playing who would have been Frank Lucas. The "Pusherman: Frank Lucas and The True Story of American Gangsta" is executively produced by Ed Seaman, associate produced by Alexis Arakelian, and produced by Legs, Burt Kearns, and Leyla Turkkan.

"Ed said he could get it on TUBI," Legs added. "He is the executive producer. He gave me money to finish it."

Legs McNeil started his career as the founder of Punk Magazine. He went on to hold the position of editor of SPIN Magazine, and the Editor-n-Chief of NERVE Magazine. McNeil is the co-author of "Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk" which has sold two million copies and is published in 12 languages. Legs McNeil also authored "The Other Hollywood: The Oral History of the Porn Film Industry" and two other books.  www.tubitv.com/movies/100038883/pusherman-frank-lucas-the-true-story-of-american-gangster

 SYNDICATED COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Business Management/Public Relations Strategist and Consultant at Freelance Associates and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENTS: "Uplifting Minds II" Entertainment Conference (ULMII), founded by Eunice in 1999, is into its 26th year. Next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom Saturday April 19, 2025, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and Los Angeles via Zoom Saturday, November 8, 2025. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference offering a Professional Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and National Talent Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $20,000 valued in prizes/product/services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com RSVP for Zoom Access at EventBrite.com or email info@thepulseofentertainment.com.