East Coast Bloods & Crips, Authentic Or Misrepresentation?

Are Bloods & Crips outside California accepted from by the originators?

I can literally go back 10 maybe 15 years ago, Bloods and Crips were only found in Cali. With the acception on Little Rock Arkansas, (Bangin In Littlerock). But the origins are in Los Angeles, and Compton. Spread down to San Diego, and wiggled its way into Northern Cali.

However, I can honestly recall other parts of the country looking West and NOT understand and at some times, making fun of this thing of ours. No problem, the west coast was never into the gang culture the way it’s depicted in the classic film “The Warriors” . We, although loved that film, but the dress code and “theme” attire we thought was kinda corney. But they was with the ish.

Hip Hop played a huge role in this migration… Early on west coast rap was dominated by Crips, Eazy E, Above The Law, Compton’s Most Wanted, W/C, South Central Cartel, Coolio and more. So anyone influenced by West Coast rap, could easily want to immulate the “Cali Swagg”. When Crip walking became mainstream, misused, and misunderstood, that was the first sign of gang culture being gentrfied. Bloods have always been apart of Cali hip hop, just weren’t popularized as much. You would HAVE to be from Cali to recognize that. DJ Quik, Mack 10, Young Soldierz, & 2nd To None.

The politics behind red and blue is so much more complex then our east coast counterparts. The demographics for Crips alone is very complicated. So complicated, that a large percentage of Crips from San Diego, Sacramento aren’t fully aware, based on the fact that outside of LA, rivals hoods aren’t that close to eachother as they are in Compton, or South Central. San Diego for example… Skyline Piru, the closest Crip Hood is miles away, while in LA the 60’s arent too far at all from two rivals, Inglewood Family, and 8 Trey Gangsta. 60’s being Neighborhood Crips, 8Trey being Gangsta Crips… On sight enemies.

Now in New York it’s not as complex. UBN, United Blood Nation, a well known Blood set in NYC. But along with adopting our culture some one failed to notify these Damus (Bloods) that UBN is a Cali prison situation for Bloods, to unify while on that yard. Crip hoods like 187 Eastside Crip Warriors… yeah Warriors, formed in 2003. 2003!? By 2003, hundreds of west coast gang members lost homies consitantly and still losing them today. Its a real situation that cannot be mimicked if you aren’t wise to it’s politics, it’s history etc.

New Yorks Hoova Duece, (a set from the movie South Central) did they at any point understand, Hoova’s beef with everything NOT Hoova. And Blue Note Crips, another prison faction here in Cali. The name found it’s way to New York, and now thats a set. Wouldn’t you want to know all the rules to the game before you stepped onto the field? It takes what had been around for decades seem, watered down, unauthentic. At no point did hispanics from Cali decide they wanted to be Latin Kings. Thats a hood in NY that has a real long history, casulties from war, and authentic.

I have visited New York in it’s new gang era and I was shocked to see Bloods & Crips sharing project buildings. That was crazy for me to witness. Please do not misunderstand me, I’m not insisting they go nuts kiling eachother, its just not what a person from Cali, in the gang culture is used to.

18 years ago, Bloods and Crips were a joke, for killing over colors, now every rapper outta Harlem, Bronx, Brooklyn is either a B or a C. Tekashi, 93 Bloods. Totally made the red flag look like a movie prop. Being a Blood, Piru, Brim, Crip, to us here is a REAL lifestyle,,, not everyone on the west, but it’s a Cali thing for sure. In a way it’s misrepresented on a high level. In every city accross the America it’s gangsta ish taking place, no question, So can’t take that from anywhere. But when cities like Portsmouth VA. Atlanta GA. now have Crips and Bloods embedded in their cities just seems “UNAUTHENTIC”.

If I decided to start claiming Gangsta Deciples, I could NOT just start claiming, San Diego GD, how could I rep a hood, I’m not laced on the history, it’s rivals, it’s culture, etc. It’s Not to be played with for any reason. Now will Bloods and Crips outside Cali just stop bangin? No sir not at all. But since they in the car they should become familiar with the driver.

At the end of the day… rep this thing of ours like ya’ll started it. With respect, We are not a fad.

Peace.