"Real Do It's" - Also going by PBlock and Eight Ball / Stewart Gang In the vicious streets of Chicago, Illinois is a gang located in the 68th and Stewart mainly possessing Gangster Disciples, they have no specific gangs under them. Their neighborhood stretches from 67th to 68th to 69th from Stewart to Throop and even Peoria. The gang is substantially an African American gang. They reside around the lowend area but like other street gangs in the area they have been running their block for 6+ years. EightBall have been around since 2013, much of the new generation in the gang are young members who gain their rank from sliding on their enemies. Most of the members learned everything about the life and style from their family members and even friends with some members of the gang having brothers, fathers and even sisters who got down with the set and the program and started gangbanging.
EightBall have managed and have maintained control of their territory for years and it doesn’t look like it will stop anytime soon as the gang is still growing in numbers and continuing to go strong. One of the earliest and fastest-growing cliques of the EightBall is the Baby Do It's. It's a younger clique founded after the young kids around 67th to 70th came together, they often can be found on 67th and also around Ada with this clique being predominantly filled with members 12+ who had personal ties with each other since kids they are known for getting money by any way possible whether it be drug dealing or hijackings. There are multiple known artists that hail from this group. Melt gang members commonly put MG at the front of their names representing their locked soldier.
They are known to go at it heavy with the Doggpound, OBlock, Frontstreet and Lamron, the original forming of the group was to protect his fellow friends from rivals in the neighborhood. Eventually, it would lead to creating EightBall gang. EightBall has an interesting history and can be considered one of the first Chicago street gangs to be headlined in news with the death of Robert "Yummy" Sandifer. While they reside on Stewart, it is a known fact that in the late '90s, EightBall were key contributors toward the drug trade all throughout Chicago, Illinois and especially the Englewood area. They were caught countless times attempting to smuggle drugs out of state. It is suspected that EightBall were estimated to have made at least $250,000 to $400,000 monthly in cold hard cash. Their main goal was to make money by selling as many different strains as possible of drugs like crack, cocaine, marijuana, and ecstasy. Despite their relatively smaller numbers compared to other Chicago gangs, EightBall are starting to gain more notoriety and have been seen causing havoc in their area.
They have close relations to EightBlock, Tyquan World, Gutta Gang, and others making them their closest allies. As time went on and they gained notice in their neighborhood. This made EightBall create chaos in the streets of Englewood. They would begin to pick sides in the war between Tyquan World and O'Block and this would come with many other beefs and would lead to them rivaling Frontstreet and DoggPound, and The Snakes / 800, the younger generation claim BDK and MCK heavily. The current generation of EightBall has taken over, and others in the area known to stay away to the warzone that EightBall operates out of. Even though they still sell drugs, they also do other illegal things like robbing gas stations and small stores, stealing credit card info, and cleaning dirty money to fund their fancy lifestyles. As EightBall attempted to distance themselves from other gangs and focus on money endeavors this led to them becoming a high value target within Englewood.
━ "67th to 70th We Run It"
"Baby Do It’s", also going by Do It Gang. This clique is the youngest group under EightBall , a clique of young and ruthless gang members. EightBall represents their group heavily a lot of them attempting to gain rank. The ages of the members who claim Do It's varying but mostly ranges from the ages of 12-18 years old, and they share the same enemies as the other cliques under EightBall . Although they operate differently, they are closely allied and considered the same amongst other EightBall members. They are known to cause many conflicts among their rivals and don't back down from any issues as they look to be seen as a more ruthless set out of all of the sets under EightBall .
They are an exceptionally violent set that has been this way since its early years and has no signs of slowing down. EightBall are trying to find their own way and will do anything to make money. Most of them are actively gang-banging, and notorious for doing "stickups" as well as murder for hire. On June 23rd, 2020, one of the most respected members from EightBall , Terrence "Tee Savage" Little was sentenced to 8 years in prison for two murder charges dating a couple months before he was arrested. While he was offered a plea deal and to testify in court against his accomplices for a shorter sentence, his love and camaraderie for his fellow EightBall affiliates caused him to refuse it and take his case to trial. Unfortunately, he lost and was found guilty on all counts. While being incarcerated he would find the "Do Its".
"Melt Gang" is an older clique founded after the imprisonment of Melt, this clique being predominantly filled with members 17+ who had personal ties with Melt they are known for getting money by any way possible whether it be murders, drug dealings or hijackings. There are multiple known shooters that hail from this group. Melt young members are going heavy at O'Block and FrontStreet members and are involved in a heated war. After the imprisonment of Melt younger members would begin to heavily push Melt Gang to keep his name alive.
They have seemed to have formed after Terrence Little got out of prison and was created in the early 2010s during the gang epidemic. as their main adjective and activities were selling drugs, mainly crack cocaine, powder cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs to make money. They were mainly hustlers, and drug dealers, however, they changed, keeping their original main focus, to raise havoc in the streets of Englewood, Chicago and grow as a set under EightBall . Melt Gang was made by a younger affiliate by the name of Christopher "CNo" Carter, the close friend of well-respected member Justin "JMoe" Carter. Since Melt was from EightBall , every year of Melt's imprisonment is when members remember him. Another common hashtag seen by affiliates of said gang is #MeltGang which is seen through videos, stories and pictures of members showing their respect to the member.
━ Taking Over The Low End?
EightBall was one of the hardest hits by government underfunding as the CPD worked to decrease expenses in some regions. The impact of the government's underfunding resulted in an even further reduction in quality inside the Englewood area, including filthy tap water, safety issues, and an overall decrease in the area's quality. This drop prompted rents in the Englewood to fall even further. Residents of the Englewood were mostly uneducated, extremely poor, drug addicts, or gang bangers, which increased the number of renters who joined the EightBall for a sense of safety and security in their surroundings. The EightBall manipulated residents in the area into idolizing the gang life that they were a part of life and selling the benefits of joining. Throughout the early 2000s, the EightBall represented something other than their founders' original intentions, with the street gang focusing more on attending to conflicts with street gangs in adjacent neighborhoods than anything else. The 'old code' was destroyed as younger generations of 20-year-olds were taught a different way of life, a way of robberies, kidnappings, shootings, and vandalism. Crime rates surged between 2004 and 2012, with Englewood experiencing the highest number of gang-related shootings. Gang battles were common, and the EightBall were not hesitant to fight back.
Most of the children & young teens in the "EightBall" didn't have what is known as a father figure or no guidance due to the fact of their fathers absents in their lives with struggling single mother's living off low-income complexes including houses with Section 8 in the Englewood area, & The Cook County monthly check for income for inference EBT or Food Stamps. Even with some of them having more personal problems, living in group homes, being in foster care, & even run a way. Overtime Higher Ranks from the set such as Big Homies from the ages 21-30 would send younger age groups of males from ages 10-17 around the neighborhood who called themselves wanting or trying to be from the hood on store runner missions or skits or door knocking.
Such as stealing liquor from local corner stores, robbing & looting local vehicles and parking them down the block for them (The Big Homies) to use later on, Hiding the older affiliates dope and guns when the police came around, selling drugs on the neighborhood's corners and ETC to gain their rank for themselves in other words there put on. There "Hood Names" came about and were given to them off things that explained them or things did as habits.
Members of the EightBall can now be found in considerable numbers around the Englewood. Four Years ago, the EightBall wanted to keep their street cred around Englewood so they started trafficking drugs and weapons. After a raid in their projects in 2019, around 27 members of the EightBall were detained on drug-related charges. Police raided a home next to the Stewart on August 3, 2019. When police arrived at the housing, six males ran out the back door and were promptly put to the ground by officers approaching from behind. Officers advancing from the front pushed the rest of the crew against the wall. The police then conducted a search of the building, seizing nearly 40 pounds of cannabis and 8 kilos of methamphetamine 7 grams of morphine, as well as a variety of drug paraphernalia goods such as vinegar and baking soda and triple boilers. In the same room as the narcotics, they discovered one S&W M&P15 Rifle, a M&P15 Pistol, and nine 9mm handguns. Those amateur skits were placed into roles to test the young teens' limits and see what they were capable of. These activities easily corrupted and poisoned these young boys' minds and mindsets making them believe that doing the wrong was right, with doing these things of such inconsiderate manner it never really affected them as that was what they were raised and in-graved into them since being around the "EightBall ".
Which in script was to in-light them to be solid to their people & loyal individuals and stay down sticking to the source, (The Code) never switching up or having remorse. As time went on and "The EightBall Gang" Older affiliates were setting stamps, standards, rules & regulations leaving their foot marks around the streets of Chicago, going In and out of the county jail making the 70s more relevant known doing anything to make a name for themselves. A-lot of the older affiliates were going down for major charges such as Murders, Burglary, Possession of Deadly Weapons, Possession of Illegal Drugs, Gang Injunction, Home Invasions, Grand Threat Auto, Manslaughters, Homicides and things of that nature. Which by any & all means cause the next generation to step up and patrol the "EightBall " and Turf. With no other choice that's what the younger affiliates did with them being the ages 10-18 taking up a hectic role that could potentially end their lives.
━ "See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil"
Now days, EightBall complicates have been filled by killings, Gang activity, and Drug circulation, home invasions, Store robberies. This gang had not been constantly understood to terrorize close-by communities however was initially developed to be a preliminary development to safeguard their community from the gangs that initially triggered havoc in their neighborhood; robbery their elderly, bullying residents, and chasing after children house. This would certainly begin to end up being a primarily not special community.
The young people Englewood, their option of Gang knocking is because of a range of elements that consisted of a damaged house, Injury, abusing moms and dads. These combined efforts constitute an ambitious plan aimed at changing the Englewood area into a center of opportunity, resilience, and community pride. The neighborhood hopes to reinvent its future by addressing the fundamental reasons of gang membership, developing constructive relationships between law enforcement and citizens, and creating avenues for education and economic development. While the obstacles are great, the EightBall tale is one of perseverance and development, demonstrating the possibility for good change when communities band together to combat gang violence. The goal is that the once-struggling community would eventually emerge as a beacon of improvement, showing the power of common effort in overcoming challenges. Because Englewood, Chicago is such a rundown and low-end area, the Chicago Police Department does not take gang violence lightly. A gang's ability to survive in the Lowend Chicago dangerous area neighborhoods depends heavily on its ability to maintain a low profile and avoid social media. This is because operations by the FBI on gangs known to reside in the area virtually always result in the closure of much of the gang culture that exists there. The neighborhood is home to low-income apartment buildings despite being a very affluent area. The area is destined to be overrun by gangs and other forms of human violence because the housing in the area draws low-income buyers.
This would certainly concern a stun to the young people ages 12-17, they're well taken in in it by the age of 16. ladies, weapons, medications and more are not the just points that include this way of life. Lots of moms see lots of gang shootings in their location which can outcome in the fatality of their kids. Lots of murders in Sangamon Ave to Ada Street are children from ages 15-20 they are either seen in a coffin or seeing a cell for the remainder of their lives.
Since a lot young generation was being put to jail they started a little tagging spree and still have it to this day and you can see teenagers hanging all over Englewood and they never stopped which became a small group and they're the best at it inside EightBall , From the group can be found all throughout the Lowend, mostly seen on Sangamon & Throop to Emerald, The group are well respected in the community and can be found lurking around the streets always with a pipe in hand.
━ The People V. Dontay Williams
The 19-year-old man charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a Chicago police officer in Marquette Park early Friday, the defendant is expected to appear in bond court Friday, according to officials. Dontay Williams, 19, a resident of the 6800 block of South Stewart Avenue, faces a heavy first-degree murder charge, in addition to felony charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon with no FOID card and aggravated discharge of a firearm near a school building, and failure to cooperate and resisting arrest, authorities said Friday. The suspect also faces two misdemeanor charges, for simple assault and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence respectively, officials said. The community has gathered up to mourn the death of the slain police offer, Saturday. The 19-year-old was taken into custody on the scene, by Chicago Police. The man was said to be a Gangster Disciple from the local "EightBall Gang".
This indicated that Williams self-identified with EightBall on each of these occasions, and Williams had tattoos consistent with being a Gangster Disciple gang member, i.e., a small tattoo on his neck with a Pitchfork. The underlying proceeding involved three trials. In the first trial, the Illinois District Attorney charged the defendant with attempted murder (count 1, Pen. Code, §§ 664/187, subd. (assault with a firearm) (count 2, § 245, subd. (a)(2)); possession of an assault weapon (count 3, § 12280, subd. (b)); and kidnapping (count 4, § 207, subd. (a)). The amended information alleged that the attempted murder was committed willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation, in violation of a) Section Two juries convicted defendant and appellant Dontay "Donny" Williams of attempted murder, assault with a firearm, and possession of an assault weapon. He appeals from the judgments and contends that (1) the prosecution committed prejudicial misconduct; (2) the trial court erred by refusing to dismiss two jurors; (3) the trial court erred by refusing defense counsel‘s request to instruct the jury on attempted voluntary manslaughter; (4) the trial court erred when it instructed the jury with SANCRIM No. 361 (failure to explain or deny adverse testimony); and (5) the trial court erred when it overruled a defense objection to a hypothetical question posed to the gang expert. (6) The trial court erred in calculating the length of the sentence for the gang enhancement on the count for possession of an assault weapon; (7) The trial court erred in failing to award present custody credits; and (8) There was insufficient evidence that the defendant was the shooter. (9) The abstract of judgment should be corrected to reflect the proper sentence on the count for possession of an assault weapon, and (10) the case should be remanded because the abstract of judgment does not accurately reflect the oral pronouncement of the court.
The firearm used in the murder was reportedly showcased in the video of co-gang member by the name of Lil Rod titled "No More Talking" where Williams can be seen flashing the murder weapon whilst disrespecting rival gang members. CPD would crackdown on the gang and arrest 5 alleged gang members recovering 3 firearms, all possessing a button on the back or a "switch". We agree that the trial court imposed an incorrect sentence for the gang enhancement on the count for possession of an assault weapon and 664. We also find Modified entitled to presentence conduct credit. In all other respects, we affirm the judgment. Rivalry in the defendant Chicago area is a hotspot for illegal activity, which also means there are many gangs. Among the majority of gangs in the area, EightBall has always had rivalries
8Mob / 8 To Da 8?
The younger generation of the EightBall are currently young and dangerous crash outs and are known to stand ten toes for their hood, protecting it all times. Yes, they are very young age children, but they are dangerous non the less, they would always be seen recruiting new members. Hot heads, from 68th & Stewart are very active patrolling through 67th to 70th toting pipes in hand. They can often be seen on social media disrespecting their opps and taunting them. This generation is heavily involved with beefs with neighboring gangs, their beef with O'Block has been building daily with the affiliates from each side recording themselves walking through the others hood.
In the early 2010s during the up bringing of many younglings affiliated with 808Mobb and 8Ball, members of the two groups would go to the same school antagonizing and fighting their rivals together, & eye catching on the outside looking in before it was time for the younger affiliates too really have the chance to see what they signed up for with the life of gangbanging. Due to them being young like any child would they've over time they got immune and adapted to their environment wanting to be like the male figures they had closest around them looking up to them as Ideal role models. Most of the children & young teens in the "2010s" most of them didn't have what is known as a father figure or no guidance due to the fact of their fathers absents in their lives with struggling single mother's living off low-income complexes including houses with Section 8 in the Englewood & Cook County area monthly check for income for inference EBT or Food Stamps. Even with some of them having more personal problems, living in group homes, being in foster care, & even run a way. Overtime Higher Ranks from their specific neighborhoods would send younger age groups of males from ages 10-17 around the neighborhood who called themselves wanting or trying to claim the hood on store runner missions or skits. Such as stealing E-40 beers from local corner stores, Robbing & looting local vehicles and parking them down the block for them (The Older Homies) to use later on, Hiding the older affiliates dope and guns when the police came around, selling marijuana on the neighborhood's corners and ETC to build a name for themselves in other words there put on. There "Names" came about and were given to them off things that explained them or things did as habits.
Those amateur drills were placed into role to test the young teens' limits and see what they were capable of. These activities easily corrupted and poisoned these young boys minds and mindsets making them believe that doing the wrong was right, with doing these things of such inconsiderate manner it never really affected them as that was what they were raised and in-graved into them since being around the "EightBall". Which in script was to in-light them to be solid to their people & loyal individuals and stay down sticking to the source, (The Code) never switching up or having remorse & only being truthful to the "EightBall". As time went on and "EightBall" Older affiliates were setting stamps, standards, rules & regulations leaving their foot marks around the streets of Chicago, going In and out of the county jail making the 2010s more relevant known doing anything to make a name for themselves. A-lot of the older affiliates were going down for major charges such as Murders, Burglary, Possession of Deadly Weapons, Possession of Illegal Drugs, Gang Injunction, Home Invasions, Grand Threat Auto, Manslaughters, Homicides and things of that nature. Which by any & all means cause the next generation to step up and patrol the "EightBall" and Turf. With no other choice that's what the younger affiliates did with them being the ages 10-18 taking up a hectic role that could potentially end their lives.
Generations of the "8Mob" are known to flaunt and brag about shootings and taunting their rivals via social media. With some of the current rappers from the "8Mob" being locked up due to getting caught up in their careless actions and past they are always someone new stepping into the music life and always looking to continue where their fellow affiliates once left off at. You could say this is all they know, without having any guidance and due to the fact that their older homies are currently locked up doing serious time they don't know the difference of what's right and what isn't. Those a part of the "8Mob" feel like they're blackballed, and don't get as much respect nor recognition as other rappers from Chicago due to where they are from. They are seen taunting and dissing their rivals in songs in any chance they possibly can get, they don't tolerate disrespect and are known to get into it with numerous sets around the Chicago area.
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Weapon control in Chicago has been a main topic of discussion. Chicago, like many other major places in the United States, has struggled with issues related to gun violence. The presence of illegal firearms on the streets of Chicago has been a significant concern for law enforcement, community leaders, and residents alike. These illegal firearms often enter the city through various channels, including straw purchasing (where someone with a clean background buys guns on behalf of those who cannot legally purchase them) and trafficking from states with less strict gun regulations. The illegal firearms contribute significantly to the city's crime rates, including incidents of gang-related violence and other criminal activities. Efforts to address this issue include law enforcement crackdowns on illegal gun trafficking, community outreach programs aimed at preventing youth involvement in gangs and violence, and advocacy for stricter gun control measures to curb the flow of illegal firearms. The city has implemented various measures in an attempt to address these challenges, including both local and state-level regulations. Gun Laws in Chicago:
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Current Day / Them BabyDoIts?
You can find most of the members in the street gang actively gangbanging and getting active up on 68th and Stewart to be exact, most of the older homes are either attempting to stop the gang beef in the area or sadly gave up on street life because of the younger generation not caring what anyone says. They are actively getting into altercations with rival gangs in the area daily, most of the members that are still banging to this day are around the ages of 16-21. They usually get most of their money from selling narcotics and scamming people on the internet.They don't take any disrespect from anyone they are willing to do what it takes, by all means, to show that they are not the street gang to play with. That being said, more people started to try to buy instead of robbing them, they showed some kind of fear towards the gang.
The gang was also known to not be nice to their consumers. They were sheisty, they were known for taxing the amount of the drug and some of the members of the gang also took the consumer's money and sold fake/laced drugs in return Years and years later, members of the gang started to get incarcerated and eventually someone ratted on the gang and multiple members of the gang got taken to jail.
The hood had to cool down for a little and they had to rebuttal and re-group to start putting the product out on the streets. The street gang eventually came back harder and they started to take over more blocks and the daily profit majorly increased. The gang started to rack in more money but you know what they say, the more money you make the more problems that you start to have. The gang ended up getting into it with many others as they got jealous of them and wanted to make the same
Generations of "8Ball" are known to flaunt and brag about shootings and taunting their rivals via social media. With some of the current rappers from the 8 Ball being locked up due to getting caught up in their careless actions and past they are always someone new stepping into the music life and always looking to continue where their fellow affiliates once left off at. You could say this is all they know, without having any guidance and due to the fact that their older homies are currently locked up doing serious time they don't know the difference of what's right and what isn't. Those a part of the 8Ball feel like they're blackballed, and don't get as much respect nor recognition as other rappers from Chicago due to where they are from. They are seen taunting and dissing their rivals in songs in any chance they possibly can get, they don't tolerate disrespect and are known to get into it with numerous sets around the Chicago area.
Over 30+ "8Ball" members are currently incarcerated and locked up within Cook County ran penitentiaries, Cook County jail is suspected to hold 115,000 inmates and up to 1,000 staffed guards holding a diversity of multicultural street gangs all held in one roof, Cook County is known to be one of the most dangerous penitentiaries in the Cook County. Due to the increasing number of "8Ball" affiliates being locked up every year a prominent group of members within all gangs that contain Gangster Disciples and or Vice Lords come together.
The Hood Turnt / Ducking Da Law?
The current day members of Melt Gang are currently on the radar, and hot up on the CPD radar due to numerous crimes such as robberies, shootings and car jackings. They are known to be posted up mainlines and can constantly be spotted posted up outside on their block. C.P.D units were primarily deployed in high-crime areas with a heavy gang presence, such as in the Melt Gang hood. C.P.D units employed various strategies, including proactive policing, surveillance, and intelligence gathering, to target and disrupt gang activities. The unit focused on identifying and apprehending gang members, confiscating illegal firearms and drugs, and gathering information to prevent potential gang conflicts. During the late 90s C.P.D units were a major problem for gangs and even managed to make and cause some gangs to be defunct due to raids and sets losing a shit ton of members from the set for numerous crimes they did in the streets. Members of the Nineties, get active and don't hesitate to get active either numerous people from the set even have family members apart of the gang / set.
Over 50+ Melt Gang members are currently incarcerated and locked up within the Chicago jail system in the Penitentiary. The jail is suspected to hold 115,000 inmates and up to 1,000 staffed guards holding a diversity of multicultural street gangs all held in one roof, The jail is known to be one of the most dangerous penitentiaries in Chicago County. Due to the increasing number of "Gang Members affiliates being locked up every year a prominent group of members within all gangs and from different sets who don't get along with each other in the streets at all.
Members of Melt Gang, are known for being turnt and known for start issues with other hoods in Chicago, hence is the main reason why they end up behind bars and end up doing crashout type of things. These young teens attempt to showcases themselves and prove themselves to older homies and people who been doing this before them around their hood / set.
[Englewood, Chicago, IL 60621]
Tucked away in the streets of Chicago's dynamic South Side sits Englewood, a
community steeped in history and resilience, its story intricately woven into the tapestry of Black America. Originally settled by German and Irish immigrants, Englewood’s demographics shifted through the decades, eventually transitioning to a predominantly Black neighborhood. During the 1950s it boasted a vibrant commercial district and an increase in Black families moving to the area. But the commercial district reached its peak in the late 1960s. After Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968, Englewood’s economic power declined.
Over time, the community continued to grapple with economic struggles, disinvestment, fallout from predatory contract sales, declining businesses, and rising crime rates, all stemming from historical factors including racism, redlining, and white flight. These systemic injustices perpetrated deep-rooted inequities in the community.
Despite these adversities, Englewood's spirit persevered – a testament to the unwavering strength of its residents. In 2014, amid these challenges, Grow Greater Englewood emerged as a dynamic grassroots organization committed to revitalizing the Englewood community through urban agriculture, environmental development, and community empowerment.
-Shootings, about Englewood-
Based on census data collected by the city of Chicago in 2008–2012, the poverty rate for Englewood is 46.6% of households below poverty and 28% of people 16 years of age and older are unemployed. In 1960, Englewood had 67,216 African American residents who made up about 69% of its population. Englewood is a large residential neighborhood known as a long-time hub for Black music and culture. For years now, people have been fretting about Englewood, a Black neighborhood tucked in Chicago’s storied South Side. Numerically, it’s hemorrhaging Black people.
Like other parts of the South and West Sides of Chicago making a neighborhood already seen as poor and crime-ridden even worse off. It has become the poster child for the population slide Chicago has experienced over the past two decades, facing some of the biggest losses in the city. But the arrow of change doesn’t always point in one direction. In 2013, there was a burst of concern about gentrification in the form of a spanking new Whole Foods planned for the neighborhood.
“The city is just tearing them down and letting them be." “We have a lot of homeless people here. Why can’t we make homeless shelters out of these abandoned homes instead of just tearing them down?” Said by a local resident up in the Englewood area, who has been a homeowner in the area for around twenty-years and still counting at the moment.
At the same time, violence was rising, a trend that has continued. Englewood is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Chicago. The neighborhood experiences an average of 646 crimes each year. Of these crimes, 501 are property crimes and 145 are violent crimes. This translates to 36.08 violent crimes and 124.66 property crimes per thousand residents each year.
Gangs have existed in Chicago for more than 100 years, transforming from predominantly white immigrant groups to Black and Latinx ones. The Trace analyzed annual reports published by CPD from 1965 to 2019, and found that the department rarely attributed murders to gangs or organized crime until the mid-’90s, the height of the “superpredator” era. Over the past 30 years, most of Chicago’s historic gangs have deteriorated because of federal racketeering and drug prosecutions. The breakdown in leadership structures — and the city’s destruction of public housing projects — resulted in gangs splintering.
-Hoods, Southside Activity-
Before the rise of Chicago gangs there was only a small black presence on the city’s South Side. Originally, the South Side was a place for the city’s white population, but after urban renewal of the city’s historic black community of Bronzeville, or known locally as the Low Ends, with the placement of housing projects. The black community began to expand first into neighborhoods like Englewood and Back of the Yards, then followed by communities like Auburn Gresham, 95th Street, and Roseland and West Pullman, which both would become known as the Wild Hundreds, an area that became a hotbed for Chicago gangs.
The South Side also has a long history of Chicago gangs. In Englewood, the Gangster Disciples were created on South Green as the Supreme Gangsters. The Back of the Yards neighborhood once consisted of all-white and mixed gangs, like the Gaylords and the Renegade Saints. While in the South Side Chicago hoods along 83rd, 87th, and 95th streets the Black P. Stones have had a dominant presence since the 1970s. From the Vice Lords to the Gangster Disciples, from the Four Corner Hustlers to the New Breeds and the Black Souls, the West Side might not have received the recognition from the media as the South Side, but within the streets of the Chicago ghetto there is little difference between either section, as the West Side is the birthplace of numerous Chicago gangs.
Chicago gangs of the West Side date back to the 1950s and 1960s. Gangs were originally created for needed protection from other races, but would later become involved in local politics and efforts to better the community. One of the largest gangs in the country are the Vice Lords, who originally began during the 1950s in Illinois juvenile facilities before starting their foundation in North Lawndale. With the destruction to Chicago’s original black community of the Low Ends’ Bronzeville community, as well the black community of the Near West Side, the black population relocated into the heart of the West Side. Starting along Madison in East Garfield Park, the community would eventually make its way into North Lawndale and West Garfield Park, followed by the Austin neighborhood by the 1970s and 1980s.
Product Of My Environment / Love The Streets?
Members of Melt Gang are known to speak about shootings and also known for taunting rivals and those who they are in tune within their music. With some of the current rappers from Melt Gang being locked up due to getting caught up in their careless actions and past they are always someone new stepping into the music life and always looking to continue where their fellow affiliates once left off at. You could say this is all they know, without having any guidance and due to the fact that their older homies are currently locked up doing serious time they don't know the difference of what's right and what isn't. Those a part of Melt Gang who are active in the music scene have done songs with several known hood such 8 Block, as the two hoods and sets are cool with each other and have been for some years now hence is the reason why you can see rappers from each hood being on songs with each other dissing other hoods in Chicago.
As they are constantly going back and forth with them on social media platforms and all over in general. They make issues known with no hesitation, if it's that with you that they'll let you know instantly as they are known to be active up in the streets and can be seen heavily dissing all over Twitter and even Instagram with rival hoods and sets. They are heavily active in the music scene and on social media platforms especially active in the rap game. A few rappers from Eight Ball are BigChaseEm who have been dropping music for sometime now as they can be seen dissing several different sets all around Chicago in their music and in their songs from time to time as they don't hesitate to make it known if they have an issue with you.
If members of Eight Ball have an issue with you, they'll make it known up in a heartbeat as they are seen dissing heavy on all platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and even in YouTube vlogs and videos up in general. There are members of Melt Gang, jumping off the porch as early as fourteen gangbanging doesn't have a limit or age to it. These younger kids and teens are always looking to get active as they follow the footsteps of social media and their older homies out here.
You could say they are who they hangout around / be with from time to time. They'll only continue to follow up in their footsteps in life. Growing up around a Chicago neighborhood isn't like growing up in any other hood. It's filled with nothing but straight gangbanging anywhere you are at, you are bound to run into sets as they are posted up all around.
You can constantly hear members of the Eight Ball Gang use certain lingo such as on Foemen, on GD or on the Eight as that is how they rep their affiliation to the hood and set. Most people get into the ganglife and style due to having family members and older homies or friends in general who push the same thing. People tend to follow what their peers are doing and tend to follow up in their footsteps leading down to the same, which is going down the wrong path and being a part of a lifestyle that is dangerous.
[WordFromTheTrenches takes a tour around the Eight.]
WordFromTheTrenches, takes a tour around the neighborhood of Stewart Ave which is a known area of a gang that goes by the name of Eightball. They speak about several topics, such as Gun Violence, the birth of Eightball and how the neighborhood has been and changed over the last couple of years. How the area, just continues to get worse and worse by the day with all the careless shootings and robberies and gang violence alone. GENTRIFICATION played a big apart and impacted the neighborhood all around . it's evident that the newer, younger members are driving the gang's activities and decision-making.
This younger generation's approach to gang life is characterized by a different level of audacity and disregard for authority. Their actions have contributed to the gang's disintegration, as they embrace a more chaotic and unpredictable lifestyle. While the older members may have had a degree of strategic thinking, these younger individuals are more impulsive and inclined to pursue immediate gratification. Despite the decline in overall gang activity, the group's reputation still commands fear and respect among law enforcement and rival gangs.
Their primary sources of income are drug sales and internet scams, reflecting their adaptability and willingness to embrace technology to further their objectives. Over time, the reputation of the Eight Ball Gang has evolved into a mix of notoriety and ruthlessness. Some individuals in the community, out of fear and self-preservation, opt to purchase drugs from the gang rather than resorting to theft. This fear stems from the gang's willingness to employ any means necessary to establish dominance in the area, as well as their reputation for being unscrupulous with their customers. The period of relative quiet due to arrests and internal challenges has allowed the gang to regroup and reorganize. When they returned to the streets, they did so with renewed strength, securing more blocks and significantly increasing their daily profits. However, this growth came with its own set of problems, as they found themselves entangled in multiple disputes with rival gangs and criminal organizations operating in the area.
The Eight Ball Gang neighborhood underwent a significant transformation due to gentrification. Chicago made a decision to establish several new schools in the Southside district catering to the people with more money you could say, in the region, leading to an influx of investors and affluent families. As a result, a substantial amount of land was acquired in the area, and numerous older homes and apartment buildings underwent extensive renovations, turning them into high-end residences that were no longer affordable for long-term residents. Families who had lived in the neighborhood for generations struggled to keep up with rising rent prices, and many had to leave their homes due to the relentless gentrification wave.
Their stronghold, which was once firmly established in the neighborhood, was rapidly changing, and the community's fabric was forever altered. The gang's membership dwindled along with the neighborhood's population. Those who remained were determined to maintain their territory and way of life, even in the face of significant adversity. More and more members of the Eight Ball Gang were getting caught up on silly cases and charges which made membership of the gang slowly decline one by one. The gang members who stayed had to confront significant hardships, not only dealing with rival gangs but also the economic difficulties that gentrification imposed on their doorstep.
They also speak about the relationships they have created from the music scene, they have been on the rise as of late within the music as they have been dropping hits after hits and putting on for the hood as a whole. Gangbanging is all they know as they tell the vlog, been doing this as early as age fourteen and never looked back as they followed the steps of their older homies.
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