In the vast expanse of literary evolution, few stories resonate with the tenacity, resilience, and groundbreaking achievements of an author from Goulds, Florida who has traversed from the dim corridors of confinement in 1998 to basking in the luminescence of global recognition nearly three decades later in 2024. This is not just a testimony of pain, loss, struggle and sacrifice; this is not just a story about a gifted author who turned his obstacles into stepping stones to literary success, when no one believed in his gift. It’s an odyssey that encapsulates the spirit of human perseverance, creative brilliance, and an unyielding commitment to the literary arts, molded by his grandfather, Master Sergeant Luther L. McCray who has been commanding excellence since he was five years old, replacing “The Cat in the Hat” book with National Geographic, Reader’s Digest and Writer’s Digest magazines. Despite the odds against him he never gave up, no matter how much it hurt. The protagonist of this narrative is none other than the enigmatic Larry Wilson, a Class of 1995 Miami Southridge Spartan, known as award-winning, Bestselling author Dapharoah69, a figure known for stimulating then educating through a compelling body of literature that touches nearly every genre, including non-fiction such as “Pharoah,” and “The Kingdom,” his memoirs with the Forward written by the incomparable Lee Hayes.
The inception of this remarkable journey dates back to July 27th,1997, a pivotal year that saw the devastating loss of his best-friend/brother Chad Render to gun violence and the loss of his freedom a year later at the hands of the same perpetrators because he cooperated with the authorities to bring his best-friend’s killers to justice.
In June of 1998, at age 21, he wrote a multi-book vampire series (that was supposed to be a forty page short-story) in three months called “The Law of Beasts,” under the pen name Ja’Breel Le’Diamond with Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation 1814” and “The Velvet Rope” albums on repeat. The year 2000 would become a pivotal point in his life. He ventured into publishing, gaining his first writing credit as a content creator for “Outer Visions magazine,” a prison publication under the direction of Mrs. Tommy Marsters that became hugely popular, and a second writing credit for an anthology he co-edited and mass produced in conjunction with Charles White, called “Voices From Within.” His poem and short story, which was featured in the book, not only marked his foray into the world of publishing, but the book garnered attention as Body Positive Magazine’s Book of the Month spotlight the same year.
However, the achievement was merely a prelude to what would evolve into a prolific and influential career that no one saw coming. He published his debut novel on MySpace when he was homeless, called “The King of Erotica Book 1: the Throne.” He became a super blogger with hundreds of #1 blogs in the writing and poetry categories. He was Meak Productions Talent Agency’s first literary talent, becoming Mr. Meak Productions Talent of the Year and was nominated for three Transparency Awards. He was also one of CLIK Magazine’s top 25 sexiest, most eligible bachelors and was the cover feature for Conversations Magazine.
Fast forward to February 2009. As an independent author he made waves by achieving what many deemed improbable—having not one but three books, “The King of Erotica Book 1-3,” simultaneously grace the Barnes and Noble.com Top 100 Bestseller’s list as an independent author. Sharing this coveted space with luminaries such as Steve Harvey, President Obama, and Stephanie Myer showcased not just commercial success but an indelible mark on contemporary literature. New York Times Bestselling Author E. Lynn Harris personally selected Dapharoah69 for his “Basketball Jones” Literary Cafe in May 2009, became his mentor, publicly endorsed him and reviewed his book “Call Her Queen Hatshepsut” shortly before he died in July 23rd, 2009.
Dapharoah69 turned down a $1 million dollar contract with a major publishing house the same year because he wanted to own his name, copyrights and control his voice, so he remained independent. He was sought after and interviewed by numerous Blog Talk Radio programs as an end result of his decision.
This period heralded more than just commercial triumphs; it was a testament to unwavering passion and diversity in creativity. Beyond books, his life story took on various hues as he navigated roles seldom walked in tandem. From being cast as an inmate in Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton’s “Bandits” (2001) to embodying a police officer in Tyler Perry’s “If Loving You is Wrong,” (2016) to being an athlete in “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip,” (2016), to a featured role in Rochelle McCray’s sold-out stage play “Identity Theft,” his journey defied conventional boundaries.
A rule breaker and risk taker in the arts, his fearless literary journey wasn’t confined within pages or screens alone. In 2016, he ventured onto fashion runways, becoming a contract winner at the Miami Fashion Board’s modeling contest—an accolade acknowledging his multifaceted talents beyond writing, ranking in the top 10% out of every mall in Florida. His strides across different domains continued with notable appearances including dancing for multi-platinum recording artist Gavin Degraw during ESPN Prime-time’s Orange Bowl Halftime Show in 2019.
Recognition came from prestigious corners. On Dapharoah69’s birthday, the late Stephen A. Maglott immortalized his resilient journey three years in a row for his Ubuntu Biography Project, which documents the artistry of LGBT movers and shakers, writing him into history.
He received awards like Book of the Year for “Call Her Queen Hatshepsut,” and Male Author of the Year (2010) from the AAMBC along with the Men of Integrity Award from Utopian LLC and the Certificate of Recognition from the New York State Senate (2016) for his career achievements—a reflection not only on his creative endeavors but also his impact beyond literature. Numerous authors and writers across all spectrums credit him as their inspiration for writing their first books or screenplays, igniting a wave of copy cat content creators that tried to emulate his writing style.
His influence extended through mentorship and guidance too—as seen when he edited and formatted three debut novels for emerging authors like Artavius Veasey’s “A Living Testimony,” Lashonta Mccray’s “How The Sunflower Blossomed Through The Storm,” and Daj2020’s “Emotions,” (he also we the Forward for all three, including Allyson M. Deece’s “Why Am I Different”), showcasing selfless commitment towards nurturing new talent within the literary community, showing them how to be their own publishers.
In 2023, he was inducted into Meak Productions Talent Agency’s Hall of Fame. Amidst these varied experiences, March 2024 became another milestone with the release of “The Law of Beasts Book 1 -Act 1: Khovahsh–Introducing Alicia Chay,” a dark fantasy that delved into vampire lore with finesse and depth. He dedicated the book to the memory of his brother Lonnie Wilson, Chad Render and his cousin Nikita Rolle. This masterpiece received critical acclaim including a five-star review from Online Book Club and Cyrus Webb’s Conversations Live Magazine—Webb also penned its Forward—a testimony to its narrative prowess which led to its nomination for Book of Year by Online Book Club, a book written twenty-six years ago before there was a “Twilight,” “True Blood,” or books 5-13 of “The Vampire Diaries.”
The entire twelve book series received nearly 400 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards, certificates and honors by the writing communities on Wattpad two years before it was commercially released, with The Adept Pen (he had three Finalist entries) giving him the 1st place “Master of Worlds” Award for his unmatched world building, and deemed him the only participant (out of 200+ global entries) with a score higher than a 90 out of 100 for grammar, punctuation, plot and dialogue.
Most recently, he was chosen by an anonymous panel of judges to be inducted, along with ninety-nine other honorees, into Artist Feature Magazine’s “Creative 100” Class of 2024 for his exceptional talent and unwavering dedication to his craft. It becomes evident that his journey transcends personal achievement—it symbolizes hope, resilience, and unbridled creativity against all odds.
What began behind bars nearly three decades ago has culminated into an illustrious saga witnessed by over eighty million online readers worldwide—a testament to where determination coupled with talent can lead. Every step narrates parts unique yet interconnected within this grand tapestry woven over twenty-five years; each thread imbued with lessons learned under adversity transformed into unparalleled success.
His fan pages on social media platforms such as Instagram (@dapharoah_69 & @thelawofbeastsseries) along with websites (x.com/dapharoah69 & dapharoah69.com/), run and managed by his husband and biggest fan John Wilson, continue serving as conduits connecting him with fans worldwide—ensuring that while milestones may have been achieved, this literary voyage is far from over; rather it ventures forth into new realms awaiting exploration through words that stimulate then educate—a brand ethos steadfastly adhered to throughout his tumultuous journey adorned with accomplishments both within and beyond the literary Odyssey of a phenomenon.
Published by: Khy Talara
