Ben Owen

This dope boy that obviously all the dope boys in South Memphis knew how much money I'd been spending, and they all wanted to know me. So I was welcomed with open arms out there. And the one that ran Melrose Street I'll actually say his name because he's dead now, Rodney Cotton. He used to go by the name Fat Boy or Hot Rod.

He kind of took me in because he was convinced I was going to teach him how to run businesses. I don't know what he had in mind, but basically put me to work in security at a trap house out there. which was odd because I'm the only white guy in the hood and I'm deciding who can and cannot get into the trap. This went on for a few weeks. What did you see inside the trap houses?

He kind of took me in because he was convinced I was going to teach him how to run businesses. I don't know what he had in mind, but basically put me to work in security at a trap house out there. which was odd because I'm the only white guy in the hood and I'm deciding who can and cannot get into the trap. This went on for a few weeks. What did you see inside the trap houses?

He kind of took me in because he was convinced I was going to teach him how to run businesses. I don't know what he had in mind, but basically put me to work in security at a trap house out there. which was odd because I'm the only white guy in the hood and I'm deciding who can and cannot get into the trap. This went on for a few weeks. What did you see inside the trap houses?

Everything you can imagine. What does that mean? I've witnessed murder. I've witnessed attempted rapes. I've witnessed overdoses. Um... I've witnessed people do unimaginable things that even with my background experience can't wrap my mind around for a hit of dope. Crack in particular. Like what? You won't want to hear it if I tell you.

Everything you can imagine. What does that mean? I've witnessed murder. I've witnessed attempted rapes. I've witnessed overdoses. Um... I've witnessed people do unimaginable things that even with my background experience can't wrap my mind around for a hit of dope. Crack in particular. Like what? You won't want to hear it if I tell you.

Everything you can imagine. What does that mean? I've witnessed murder. I've witnessed attempted rapes. I've witnessed overdoses. Um... I've witnessed people do unimaginable things that even with my background experience can't wrap my mind around for a hit of dope. Crack in particular. Like what? You won't want to hear it if I tell you.

I've seen people do the most debased, dehumanizing things you can ever imagine. Because their addiction commanded them to. They had become complete and total slaves to a substance. And in turn, complete and total slaves to whoever controls that substance. I didn't know the true depths of human depravity until I was out there. Until I lived in it and saw it.

I've seen people do the most debased, dehumanizing things you can ever imagine. Because their addiction commanded them to. They had become complete and total slaves to a substance. And in turn, complete and total slaves to whoever controls that substance. I didn't know the true depths of human depravity until I was out there. Until I lived in it and saw it.

I've seen people do the most debased, dehumanizing things you can ever imagine. Because their addiction commanded them to. They had become complete and total slaves to a substance. And in turn, complete and total slaves to whoever controls that substance. I didn't know the true depths of human depravity until I was out there. Until I lived in it and saw it.

And all of my hope and faith in humanity died on that street. My hope for having a future died on that street. I was going to kill myself out there. I was interrupted. And then ended up in handcuffs again. How were you going to do it? With a knife. I was just going to cut my own throat. It was the only way I could do it. Because I refused to touch heroin after I got arrested.

And all of my hope and faith in humanity died on that street. My hope for having a future died on that street. I was going to kill myself out there. I was interrupted. And then ended up in handcuffs again. How were you going to do it? With a knife. I was just going to cut my own throat. It was the only way I could do it. Because I refused to touch heroin after I got arrested.

And all of my hope and faith in humanity died on that street. My hope for having a future died on that street. I was going to kill myself out there. I was interrupted. And then ended up in handcuffs again. How were you going to do it? With a knife. I was just going to cut my own throat. It was the only way I could do it. Because I refused to touch heroin after I got arrested.

I would not go back to it. I was still smoking crack, but I refused to touch heroin. And I was afraid that if I tried to overdose, because once you've shot up heroin, there's no other way to kill yourself. It's an embrace from God. Like, it's a painless way to go. My fear was that because my tolerance was so high, I would try to kill myself, and I wouldn't, and I would end up addicted again.

I would not go back to it. I was still smoking crack, but I refused to touch heroin. And I was afraid that if I tried to overdose, because once you've shot up heroin, there's no other way to kill yourself. It's an embrace from God. Like, it's a painless way to go. My fear was that because my tolerance was so high, I would try to kill myself, and I wouldn't, and I would end up addicted again.

I would not go back to it. I was still smoking crack, but I refused to touch heroin. And I was afraid that if I tried to overdose, because once you've shot up heroin, there's no other way to kill yourself. It's an embrace from God. Like, it's a painless way to go. My fear was that because my tolerance was so high, I would try to kill myself, and I wouldn't, and I would end up addicted again.

And I would rather die than have that happen. And so I was going to cut my throat with K-bar.

And I would rather die than have that happen. And so I was going to cut my throat with K-bar.

And I would rather die than have that happen. And so I was going to cut my throat with K-bar.

In and out, in and out. But my whole story is punctuated with highs and lows where everything looks great. I wasn't homeless for five years. I wasn't running from that warrant for five years. But all in, I was battling South Memphis for five years. That run stopped when they found me on that warrant. Wow. And, you know, we were talking about Godwinks.