The Life of Gene Deal: Early Years and Career

Gene Deal shares his background growing up in St. Louis, particularly in the underserved neighborhoods of Wellston, where he faced substantial challenges regarding education and safety. He describes meeting his mother at the age of 12 and relocating to Wellston, a place he characterizes as difficult, with a public school system that often left students ill-prepared. This formidable backdrop would shape Deal's career, which began not as a bodyguard but as a professional New York State Parole Officer, eventually transitioning to an investigator in some of the roughest housing projects in Bronx, New York. His involvement with the music industry emerged later, primarily through his association with influential figures such as Puff Daddy and ASAP Ferg's father, contributing to his reputation as a significant presence within hip-hop culture.