Gods & Gangs

The Boogiemonsters, Jim Brown, The Bloods & The Crips

In this episode we take a look at the impact that both religion and gangs have had on hip hop in order to find out which religion or gang would win a Verzuz battle. You’ll have to listen to the episode to get that answer but below are some fun facts that I stumbled across while working on this episode. Listen to this and past episode here.

And if you’d like to weigh in on this topic please feel free to leave a comment.

THE BOOGIEMONSTERS WERE A GOSPEL RAP GROUP?

When you think of religious rap you probably don’t think of the Boogiemonsters but apparently the group became 7th Day Adventists while recording their debut album and starting including some of that ideology into their music.

It kinda makes their debut album hit a little different in hindsight and it simultaneously explains their second album God Sound as well as their disappearance from the rap world.

Vex Vordul is still making music and if you want to hear his side of the story check this podcast out.

I was also alerted to the presence of BB Jay aka the ‘Pentecostal Poppa’. He’s done songs with Mary Mary but here’s one of his songs.

JIM BROWN’S GANG TRUCE

Jim Brown is a well known football player, actor and activist who passed earlier this year. He’s done a lot in his life but sadly most people will remember him for meeting with Donald Trump alongside Kanye West.

The thing thing that isn’t captured in that photo is why he was meeting with Donald Trump. He was there on behalf of his Amer-I-Can foundation. The foundation exists to promote social change and one of the most noteworthy things they’ve ever done is brokering a historic gang truce in 1992.

It’s important to note that the Rodney King riots broke out shortly after the truce but the unity between the bloods and crips gave way to an album titled Bangin on Wax.

There were two volumes of the album but sadly a lot of the artists featured were killed due to gang violence.

Meeting with Donald Trump in any capacity is a sure fire way to shoot yourself (or legacy) in the foot which makes his scene in I’m Gonna Git You Sucka feel prophetic.

RESEARCH:

The Untold Story of The Boogiemonsters
http://www.strictlycassette.net/2012/04/riding-storm.html

The Watts Truce:
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/the-watts-truce-1992/

Bangin on Wax LA Times Article
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-27-ca-522-story.html

PS - If you’re looking for some new music I posted up a few beat tapes that I’ve enjoyed over in the Rec’s N Effect section.