None taken. You just gotta do your research on them and read their testimony and the lyrics in their songs. Definition of gang: a group of people with compatible tastes or mutual interests who gather together for social reasons.
They flipped the name to make the negative to positive and to attract attention so people ask "What does that mean? How can that be?" So in your case, it worked cuz you asked the right questions.
They still live in the hood even with their success and have friends that are still gang bangin, but they are on a mission to stop them from doin' the wrong things and testify that even though you live in a certain environment, you don't need to be punkin', shooting, using drugs, dropping out of school...etc. They are living in this world, but not of it. So they still enjoy the music, make great music, back each other up and get the kids to stay in school, get jobs, put the guns away...etc. The "gang signs" aren't gang signs. They represent the West side...taking pride that they are from California. The other sign is GG (Gospel Gangstaz). Just a street way of sayin' their name. There are a lot more hand gestures in baseball. I know its' hard for people to understand at first, but you just need to look at the big picture and not think stereotypes. The people in their environment understand where they are coming from.
In fact, the name "Camp 8" comes from the idea of renewal and starting over. To turn away from your old way of living and what you lived for. That's why shoes will be donated to the homeless and underprivileged youths to encourage them to work to get out of their situation. These guys are legitimate business people now and the guy on the far left is an electrician for Boeing now even though he's from the streets. Food for thought.
Last edited by Baldwin : 01/25/2011 at 02:19 PM
Call me a geek, or maybe even nerd, but face the facts, we da ones be rulin' this world!
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