NCJ Number
234170
Journal
Journal of Gang Research Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2011 Pages: 1-22
Date Published
2011
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article examines three styles of music as they relate to various gangs.
Abstract
We often sing about what we do. From the youth gang and drug dealing culture that has developed in American criminal society three distinct forms of musical expression have come forth from different criminal groups. Seeing themselves as players, African-American youth gang members have adopted Hip-Hop or Rap as their musical style of expression. Performers such as Snoop Dog (Rolling 20's Crips) or Dj Quick (Tree Top Piru Bloods) were former or current gang members. The social bandit tradition is strong among the Hispanics, thus Narcocorrido music has groups singing the praises of Pablo Escobar and the hazards of drug dealing. The neo-Nazis who are awaiting the much wished for "White Revolution" have largely adopted a death mental or hate rock theme that screams a call of White revolution and racial purity. The music of these three very different groups has several similarities: Violence, angst, dissatisfaction with the "Normal Society" and a view that the end justifies the means. These styles of music fuel the passions of those who fight the street wars that occur in the cities of America. (Published Abstract)