The
introduction of Crack or “Rock” Cocaine in the early 1980’s, had a
monumental impact on changing the psyche of the Crip and Blood street gangs.
The Crips versus Bloods wars continued, but the allure of making fast money
selling “crack” became the highest priority. Members of both the Crips
and the Bloods gangs,
started selling “crack”.
They utilized the same “selling” methods
they had always used when they sold PCP. Basically selling “crack” from
street corners, parks, out of vehicles, etc. As “Crack” caught on, the
gang members were overwhelmed at the demand. PCP had basically been just
a “ghetto” drug, but “Crack” was different. Gang members had difficulty
“rocking” it fast enough to keep up with the demand. “Crack” crossed all
racial, economic and social barriers. It was not only attractive in the
“ghetto”, but it was equally, if not more attractive, to those living in
the suburbs. This drug was an instant money maker for these street gangs.
Gang members tried to devise various methods
of distributing the “Crack” to accommodate the high volume of
“customers”, without actually standing on the local “street corner”
risking arrest themselves. As a result, a new phenomenon appeared in the
South Central area. “Crack” Houses.
“
Crack”
houses were homes that had been modified to meet the needs of the drug
dealers, plus be a place that would be easily accessible and convenient
for the drug buyer. The windows and doors of these houses were all
re-enforced with steel security bars. The front security screen door was
usually covered with a metal mesh sheet with small holes, and a mail
type slot. This allowed the dope dealer inside the house to see who was
coming to the front door. It also prevented the buyer from identifying
the actual person who was selling them the dope. The money and “Crack”
would be exchanged through the “mail slot”. Note: the drug suppliers
(gang leaders) themselves would never go into these houses for fear of
being arrested.
Generally a few gang members would always be
inside these houses. Their belief was that a few extra gang members
would offer greater protection for their operation, plus if the house
was ever raided by the police the dope could be destroyed easier and
faster. In addition, the extra bodies made it more difficult for the
police to identify the actual individual that distributed the drugs
through the door. This would also make any potential prosecution a
little more difficult.
Operating a “Crack” house was a new learning
experience for both gangs and law enforcement. For law enforcement, the
main problem was being able to enter the house expeditiously, before the
drugs were destroyed. For the gang members, it was all about reducing
the amount of cocaine that they would lose if their house were raided.
Law enforcement entry techniques developed
through the trial and error method. Ever form of entry you could imagine
was considered, and sometimes utilized. From rubber wheeled tank type
vehicles ramming through the houses to vehicles with wenches pulling off
the security bars were just a few. Naturally all of these early methods
took time to set up and deploy. As a result they were basically
ineffective, except for partially destroying the homes which had usually
been rented.
As soon as gang members saw law enforcement
setting up one of these types of warrant operations in their
neighborhood, warning whistles could be heard throughout the area. The
“Crack”, and the dealers were usually gone by the time these operations
were set up and implemented. Over time entry techniques were developed
that were reasonably stealth and very effective. Some small entry teams
could be in a fortified “Crack” house in less than 30 seconds.
The gang drug leaders would initially
furnish the houses with enough “Crack” to last a day or so. If law
enforcement started to make entry they would immediately start flushing
the rock down the toilet. The problem gangs encountered was that they
could usually only flush one time, as the water had normally been cut
off by law enforcement. A number of “rock” houses kept additional
bottles of water on hand should this situation occur, but this was very
cumbersome.
As law enforcement became more effective in
their entry techniques, gang members cut back the available supply of
“crack” to just a couple of hours to minimize any potential loss. They
also found a better way of disposing of the “crack”. They would keep a
large pan of water boiling on the stove. If law enforcement appeared,
they would destroy the “crack” by putting it into the boiling water.
By the middle 1980’s the “Crack” house
phenomenon was beginning to disappear. Pagers were becoming the newest
rage for the drug dealers. The pagers opened up new methods and
possibilities for distributing their “Crack” cocaine. Almost every gang
member had his own pager.
Other noticeable changes begin occurring
during this time frame. Drug distribution “territories”, along with the
Crip and Blood gangster culture, started spreading throughout the city.
Both Crips and Bloods begin vying for some of this new “virgin”
territory. This caused inter gang violence to reach a fever pitch. Daily
shootings became the norm. Eventually, Blood and Crip drug leaders found
a common bond that they could all agree on. “Money”.
Some of the gangs that were in the forefront
of “Crack” distribution were noticeably more visible, more powerful, and
more dangerous. Money was coming into these neighborhoods faster than
the gang members could spend it. Gang members bought everything from
thoroughbred race horses, prize winning hogs, jewelry, to custom low
riders, etc. Money was no object.
A few of these gangs were the:
Mob Piru “Mob James”, “Country Al”, Johnsons, et. al
Wayne Day, aka “Honcho” had also purchased
his own pager service. Various Crip and Blood gangs utilized his
service. Most likely the Blood Gangs did not realize the pager service
was owned by their rival “Honcho”.
Gang leaders, like “Honcho”, “Harry O”,
McGill, McGowans, Johnsons, et. al, had greater dreams. They could see
the potential financial windfall that they would reap if they were able
to distribute Rock Cocaine throughout the nation. They followed up on
those dreams. They started capitalizing on this lucrative nation wide
drug distribution
venture by relocating “home boys” in the
major cities across America. They also knew the feared Los Angeles gang
reputation would help them over come any local neighborhood resistance.
While gang members like “Honcho” were
fulfilling their dreams of a nation wide “crack” distribution ring other
gang members, like “Easy E”, etc., who had pockets full of drug money,
wanted to be singing super stars. They used their drug money to rent
studio time to chase those dreams.
Numerous other groups like “Eight Ball”,
“NWA”, etc. also tried to break into the entertainment field. “NWA”
(niggars with attitudes) were Crip gangsters from Compton. “NWA” was one
of the first groups to be moderately successful with their
“anti-establishment” gangster lyrics. They were also the forerunners of
the successful Compton (Mob Piru, Atlantic Drive Crips, etc.) gangster
rappers that appeared on the scene in the 90’s.
A nation wide “crack” distribution
ring, spread of the Crip and Blood gangs throughout ever major city in
America, and gangster rap was the legacy left by the “crack” dealing
OG’s of the 1980’s.
