FRANK LUCAS Ep. 4 | “Superfly”

Infamous America

Black Barrel Media

Society & Culture, Documentary, True Crime, History

4.7 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 22 April 2026

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Hard times arrive for Frank Lucas’s heroin business. In the early 1970s, Harlem gangsters start dying, disappearing, or going to prison as a DEA-NYPD task force rounds up the leading players. Frank is forced to resort to desperate – and macabre – measures to keep his heroin pipeline intact. A rival gangster named Nicky Barnes asks Frank to join a Harlem syndicate called “The Council,” but Frank stays away even as his Thailand connections crumble. Check out these great books about Frank Lucas, Bumpy Johnson, and Harlem crime: “Harlem Godfather” by Mayme Johnson and Karen E. Quinones Miller “Original Gangster” by Frank Lucas and Aliya S. King Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Use this link for Free Shipping and 365-day returns: Quince.com/infamousamerica Thanks to our sponsor, Mood! For 20% off of your first order, use the promo code INFAMOUS at Mood.com Join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: blackbarrel.supportingcast.fm/join Apple users join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes, bingeable seasons and bonus episodes. Click the Black Barrel+ banner on Apple to get started with a 3-day free trial. On YouTube, subscribe to INFAMOUS+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: hit “Join” on the Legends YouTube homepage. For more details, please visit www.blackbarrelmedia.com or @blackbarrelmedia on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Isn't life grande?
0:01.9	And making it better just got easier with Starbucks new protein cold foam.
0:06.7	A little something, something to take your favorite drinks up a notch with 15 grams of extra protein.
0:13.2	Turn your usual iced caramel latte into a smooth iced caramel protein latte.
0:18.5	Add a delicious swirl on top of your drink, just like that.
0:23.3	Protein never tasted so good
0:25.0	with Starbucks new protein cold foam.
0:27.6	Subject to availability his ascension. Prior to July of
0:56.1	1968, Frank had been a relatively small-time thief, a part-time heroin dealer, and then a low-level
1:03.0	member of Bumpy Johnson's organization. But after Frank developed a heroin pipeline to Thailand
1:08.8	and built a distribution network in record time.
1:12.3	He achieved incredible wealth and power nearly overnight.
1:16.8	One of the first gangsters who wanted to challenge him was a guy called Tango.
1:22.0	Tango stood 6'5 and weighed close to 270 pounds.
1:26.3	He was bald and aggressive and he wore what Frank called those mafia undershirts,
1:31.7	the classic white tank top style undershirt.
1:35.1	Frank heard that everyone on the street was afraid of Tango,
1:38.0	and Frank wanted to give him a test.
1:40.4	Frank told one of his crew to approach Tango with a deal.
1:44.0	Would Tango be willing to sell maybe $5,000 worth of heroin for Frank's operation?
1:50.0	Tango eagerly agreed and took the product without a second thought.
1:54.1	He sold the heroin, but a week later, Frank heard that Tango wasn't handing over the money.
	...

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