Nathan C. Heard is considered one of the forefathers of "street literature". Heard's first novel Howard Street, published in 1968, depicts the underbelly of inner-city life of Black America. Howard Street sold more than 1 million copies. Heard also wrote five other novels in the Genre.

Nathan C. Heard started writing while serving a seven year sentence for armed robbery at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton. After his release, Heard taught creative writing at Rutgers and appeared in several "Blaxpoitation" films. During the 1970's Heard wrote a column for the New York Times. Nathan Heard passed away in 2004 at the age of 67