Walking into some Los
Angeles neighborhoods
these days
is like walking into a police state.
So far this week,
at least four people have died
in gang -related violence.
Nearly a hundred times that many have died
in the past year.
And more than half the victims
were innocent bystanders.
Gangs have existed in Los
Angeles for generations
an d have traditionally fought and died
to exert their control over
city neighborhoods.
But today, their bloody war
is for control of a multi -million
dollar market.
L .A.'s so -called homeboys
have become entrepreneurs
extraordinaires.
And despite an all -out effort to stop them,
business is booming. Okay,
okay! Okay! Okay! That's not necessary, man. Money to talk.
And the guy's making way
too. That's him.
Except for he doesn't have
his hat with him.
Hustlin', that's what a youngster
was born to do
Rhymin', when I was younger had problems
probably stole from you
Motivation, flowin' through my bloody,
yeah all in my veins
Props to the homies on the block
stackin' nine -steppin' shots
Cause yeah,
we came up the same
Rhymin', that was a clique
that used to be on the streets
Nowadays locked up,
stronger than dope,
unfortunately, some are deceased
Southern side,
right out of California,
homicide, I ain't worried about it
Now the homies keep it the same
Laughin' at these
motherfuckin' lames
on my own side
Talkin' shit, jealous of the gang
Hey, they comin' off,
chasin' forms
Nowadays, just part of the norm
Keep heavy thunder just for the storm
Investigation over the years
Even got people watchin' the G
Worse than these motherfuckin' rappers
in the gang
Year after year, coppin' give me sickness
That's what I was born with,
hard with, scorned with
Wouldn't let me go home for weeks
Just imagine my mother stormin'
Addiction, that goes for makin'
that paper and rappin'
Motivation for makin' it happen
Do it for kids,
I run from my dad and his son
Police estimate that there are now
as many as 600 street gangs
in Los Angeles County
and 70 ,000 gang members.
take them to jail for anything
and everything we can.
It more or less
Prevents that particular guy
from get ting into anything and it kind of
keeps other guys off the street for a while
But never would I say
keeps a lid on it.
How many homeboys
have been killed
in the last year or so?
Less than a year, like five? Criminals
That's what I was labeled
at the age of twelve
Violent, used to fight,
cuss, swing, and rebel
No hesitation,
that's the type of behavior to slay
Leaving my own mother dismayed,
al ways in trouble till her liberty paid
Hustling, making paper
from flipping whatever
Making a cheddar in any weather
A hustler like me be doing it better,
ru ining ever
The hustle continues,
nowadays it's just Fifth Avenues
Different strains all on the menu,
a criminal known for stack
ing that revenue
Damn bitch, that's all I
feel in my heart and soul
Hot tempered till my heart too cold
Took my situation then turned it to gold
Bang, that's what the
yesterly do in the streets
Top of my neighborhood bangers
Real gun, just what you do with a piece
Shag, learned to poop them 211s
Graduated from minor crimes like beer
Runs from 7 -11s to makin' them Gs
To makin' them raps, to makin' them Gs
To makin' them beats,
used to be another number in the system
Now moving numbers like each release
Is that right?
What's the youngest person
to get killed from your
neighborhood?
Munchie, Little Bird.
Munchie? Yeah.
Did get killed up by a shower?
Yeah, he was only 14.
Where were you when he got shot?
Where were you when he got shot?
He was in the garage.
Grimes,
whose street name is Grime,
joined a gang when he was 12 years old.
Now, at age 20, he's in jail.
Is it easy to pull the trigger
on somebody?
Loyal, a criminal's known to
stay true to the rules
Even if I'm in a losing battle,
I'ma ride to the death
And it ain't with my troops
Until my death, I'ma remain a survivor
Only if you knew what I've been through
Walk in my shoes till then you
ain't seen neither
Bones, yeah they gonna keep coming
stuck in the shadows
Obviously I'm winning
cause I'm grinning
While I'm sitting in these lanes
Keep running cause they losing
the battle
Triumph, I'm tossed with my hands
lifted high cause I made it
Others abated, get lyrically faded
Step in the ring with the king,
get slayed quick
Warrior, you see the throne,
yeah you see the crown
L .A. dodging fitted,
posted up in the west
Ain't no motherfucking peasants
that stopping me now
Silence, opposition all get
mighty quiet when I spit it
Criminal killer,
never wanna give a shit
Murder you, end all your affiliates
Big data, they say they wanna get me
But they meet my beretta,
tougher than leather
Criminals that go get her,
run up on me quick
Put ten through your sweater
Magic, that's what I'm tryna be
So I'm making all this music,
three motherfucking CDs
I'm
talking about a lot of people
in the running around out there with
sophisticated weapons
that provide security
and protection for the money
and the narcotics
that's out there in the street.
I'm talking about exporting this trafficking,
not just throughout L .A. County
or even Southern California,
but all over the western half of the country.
I'm talking about launder
ing money,
investing it in legitimate business
to cover up the fact that it's
been obtained illicitly.
And moving tons of cocaine.
If that's not organized crime,
then I'm not a cop.
Organized or not,
like any other growing business,
the gangs are now searching
for new market.
Letting the gangs get your own business.