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Founding Bloods gang member accuses Jim Jones, Lil Wayne of being fake gangsters, promoting negativity
In a recently posted online interview, founding Los Angeles-based Bloods gang O.G., T. Rodgers, along with other affiliated members blasted platinum-selling rappers Lil Wayne and Jim Jones for perpetuating negative messages within their lyrics. Admitted members of the infamous Bloods, both Jones and Wayne don flaming red outfits in photo shoots and videos, proudly flaunt Bloods’ trademark red rags and regularly make references to their gang involvement in their lyrics.
“The first one that drew first blood was Jim Jones,” says Rodgers. “You ain’t no Blood, homie. You got blessed, but you paid your way to be a part of this.”
Born and raised on Chicago’s south side, Rodgers paid his dues to the streets in blood, sweat and senseless violence. He moved to Los Angeles’ Baldwin Hills (also known as the Jungles) in the 1960s at the age of 12. And with the permission of gang leaders back in Chicago, he formed a chapter of the Black P. Stones in his new southern California home. This new Stones chapter partnered with the native L.A. Bloods gang because both adopted red as their gang color and shared enemies with the Crips gangs, which identified with the color blue.
After paying his dues on the streets of Los Angeles, surviving four gun shots, two stabbings, countless fist fights and dozens of arrests, Rodgers founded Sidewalk University in 1975 in attempts to curb gang violence and promote peace in the streets.
“Respect the hood,” he pleads to Jim Jones. “Respect the homies, and you don’t do that, dog…You can’t even go to certain parts of Harlem without being beat up and chased out the hood.”
Other professed Bloods members agree. “They are sending out the wrong message,” says one unidentified gang banger. “Especially these…millionaires [who] are now becoming Bloods. We look to these [entertainers] to get us out of this [environment]…And you got a [person] who’s in a position to create opportunities…, to make life better- be the same [ones] making millions dumping guns in the hood.
He continues, “Make some change in your hood for the positive. I done been through the storm. I done been through enough pain with this lifestyle…He’s leading a new generation down the same path…And you got some clown that get to go to West Hollywood and the Hamptons, but in his music, he is breeding Bloods.” –C. Wade
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