What is Urban Fiction?
“Urban fiction is also known as street lit or street fiction. It is written primarily by African-Americans and is as much defined by the socio-economic realities and culture of its characters as the urban setting. The tone for urban fiction is usually dark, focusing on the underside of city living. Profanity, sex, and violence are usually explicit, with the writer not shying away from or watering-down the material. Most authors of this genre draw upon their past experiences to depict their storylines.” From Goodreads

Do the books just take place in American cities?
“Although not all urban fiction takes place in the United States, the setting is usually a large American city and the prose and dialogue reflect the language used in that area, including American regional dialects, African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), and hip-hop slang. Whether they are set in New York City, New Orleans, or Tokyo, the stories all include a variety of cultural, social, economic, and political facets.” From Genre Basics

Are the books just about life on the streets?
“The category of urban literature encompasses a wide range of books. While the term ‘street lit’ includes fiction and nonfiction subgenres, such as memoir, biography, and poetry, the term ‘urban fiction’ is more specific to novels and may blend with other genres, including romance, erotica, mystery, thriller, and science fiction.” From Genre Basics