The RundownThe 157 FreebandGang (FBG) is an African American set that consists of Mickey Cobras, Black P Stones, and Black Disciples operating primarily in the Harvey area of the Southside of Chicago, Illinois. Their main territory stretches from 155th to 159th on Marshfield Avenue and Paulina with a significant presence on WopBlock at 157th and Marshfield. The gang's organization solidified following the death of a member named Freeband in 2018, which catalyzed the unification of the area. Many members of FreebandGang identify with the Jayskiway or JayskiWorld, honoring a fallen member, Jayski, and they often throw up J’s in tribute to her. With a membership exceeding 200, mostly shorties, the gang's influence is extensive throughout Harvey and the surrounding southern suburbs. FreebandGang has several notable allies, including 9Block/9b, LexBlock, Flexxgang, and DMG (DetroMoneyGang), However, they also have numerous rivals such as KBK, EBO/JBlock, TyonWorld, SGTK/1400, STK, OMS, Faceworld 069, BOCO, Cheeba Gang, MTB, WooGang, EBMT/EBG, LSG, OTB, AsaGang, and Taliban. Prominent members of the FreebandGang include Freeband Melo, Freeband Pdae, Freeband Tayski, Freeband LilMoe, Freeband Zero, Freeband Sean, and Jayski. The gang's youth-dominated population is characterized by increasing, often disregarding the older gang members, which contributes to more hostility and violence compared to other local street gangs. They are heavily involved in various criminal activities, including drug trafficking and arms dealing, with operations spanning from marijuana to large quantities of cocaine. Additionally, they engage in "flocking" or house robberies, further intensifying the gang's notoriety and aggressive reputation. As FreebandGang's numbers grow, so does the level of violence and frequency of violent incidents, making them a formidable and dangerous presence in their neighborhood. The gang was initially formed to facilitate the distribution of crack and other illegal drugs within their territory. However, the rapid and smooth expansion of their operations attracted jealousy and competition from different gangs, leading to conflicts, altercations, and eventual wars that cemented their identity as an organized gang. The influence of FreebandGang extends into the local community through both fear and a sense of belonging. The future of the 157 FreebandGang remains uncertain. While their influence and numbers continue to grow, so do the efforts to counter their activities. The community remains caught in a cycle of violence, with the gang's presence. In the local music scene, drill music musicians connected to FreebandGang share their personal stories and struggles, demonstrating the gang's cultural influence. Through its influence on younger generations, this music frequently promotes gang life and feeds the vicious cycle of violence. This particular type of music highlights the financial challenges that the community faces and gives a voice to those who lack one, despite the harsh realities.
Easter On 157th ━━━#LLDemSpillas ━━━
FaceSumGang [FSG]Face Sum Gang is an African American clique from the 157 FreebandGang that was made in modern times, the clique was made in 2016 by the younger members of the gang, FSG normally stays on 155th and Paulina, and the clique normally stays around the other cliques. This said clique is comprised of primarily Mickey Cobras. These affiliates are known to be menaces in the Harvey area, this said subset is a type filled with young ones from ages ranging from 14 to 17 years old, these guys are a ruthless and dangerous set of young men that will do anything it takes to get it out of the mud. The gang is known to be doing robberies, and little licks on anyone they see to make their money. The said clique has significantly increased the crime rate in the Harvey neighborhood since its founding in 2016. This known clique of the 157 FreebandGang (FBG) was founded in response to the death of Kiante "Freeband Ki" Mays, a member of their affiliate set who was tragically killed in a gang-related incident. His death sparked a deadly mentality among the clique, leading them to adopt an aggressive stance towards rival gangs and the community. Influenced by a mixture of grief, anger, and retaliation, FSG quickly became notorious for their involvement in multiple high-profile crimes, particularly murders and armed robberies, their actions have not only increased conflicts between rival gangs but have also made the community feel unsafe and afraid, which has visibly raised the crime rate in the area. Local law enforcement agencies have struggled to contain the rise in violence associated with this clique, with many young members being both victims and aggressors of violent crimes. The tragic legacy of Kiante "Freeband Ki" Mays continues to influence the Face Sum Gang, as they carry on his name through acts of violence.
WopBlock
A well-known tight-knit clique that was created within FBG, the WopBlock consists of fairly young affiliated members ranging from ages 17-22. This group's sole focus is making money by engaging in criminal activities like drug dealing, home invasions, stick-ups, and other illicit activities. WopBlock has a significant presence in the media and is extremely common to see on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, driven by the younger members of the gang who are adept at using social media. Chicago, IL, particularly the Southside, has very low-end areas that WopBlock exploits for their operations. These areas are often used to produce drugs and hide weapons, serving as stash spots for all drugs and dirty money. Despite the city's allocation of about 200 million dollars for Section Eight housing, the Southside community still suffers from deep poverty, and there appears to be little improvement. Due to WopBlock's actions, there are now more tensions between the various gangs in the area. This has resulted in many gang-related fights, conflicts, and violent incidents, many of which involve innocent bystanders. There have been numerous attempts to mediate an understanding between the warring gangs, but these have often failed, and the animosity still exists today. WopBlock members are known for their flashy lifestyle, often flaunting their wealth on social media, which further fuels their notoriety and attracts law enforcement attention. Their involvement in the local drill music scene also plays a role in perpetuating their image and influence.
GUNS & GREED: CRIME AND CAPITALThe Chicago Police Department has been closely monitoring the activities of the Freeband Gang, a street gang operating primarily between 155th and 159th Streets along Paulina in Chicago. Recent investigations have revealed that younger members of the gang are heavily involved in narcotics and firearms trafficking, utilizing encrypted messaging services like Telegram for conducting illegal transactions, particularly around their High School. These activities not only involve the selling of large quantities of drugs such as marijuana and cocaine but also the distribution of illegal firearms, often taking place during school hours and on school premises. The gang's use of digital communication platforms to facilitate their operations poses significant challenges due to encryption and anonymity features. In response, the Chicago Police Department has intensified surveillance and collaborated with the school administration to enhance campus security and educate students.
Further actions recommended include investing in advanced digital forensics, conducting targeted raids based on gathered intelligence, and developing youth intervention programs to prevent gang involvement. These measures are critical to dismantling the gang's operations and reducing their influence on the community, especially among young individuals. The ongoing activities of the 157 FreebandGang (FBG) pose a significant threat to the safety and security of the community, especially the youth. Immediate and coordinated efforts are essential to disrupt their criminal activities and mitigate their influence on young individuals. Furthermore, there is a strong push for developing and promoting youth intervention programs aimed at deterring gang involvement among local youth. These measures are crucial for disrupting the gang's criminal activities and cutting down their influence on Chicago’s youth, aiming for a long-term reduction in gang-related violence and crime in the community. The Chicago Police Department is pushing for tougher laws to stop illegal guns and drugs from coming into the city. By tackling the supply, they hope to make the city safer for everyone. They are working closely with federal agencies, local governments, and community groups in this fight against gang violence and its harmful effects on Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Interviewer: "Do you think there's any hope for change, for breaking this cycle of violence?"Local Interview involving a resident from 157th and Marshfield Avenue area.
"It's all typa shit around hea, some latin kings, the BD's, and some GD's. As a nigga that done lived hea for the last twenty-sum years... K Money gang... the FBG's is the most dangerous gang past Marshfield and Paulina 'til you get down to 149th. Oh, it’s deep, man. You know, every day, you wake up, and it's like, you gotta make sure you know where you stepping n shit. Like I said, we got all sorts here. The Micks’s – that’s the Mickey Cobras – they ass heavy around hea, especially the younger ones. Them 157 FreebandGang (FBG), they don’t play. They consist of Mickey Cobras, Black P Stones, and Black Disciples, and they got this shit locked down tight between 155th and 159th. See, it used to be you knew who was who. Folks had some respect, you know? Now, it’s these young bloods, they ass wild, man. They don’t listen to nobody, not even their own old heads. This new crowd, they're into everything – drugs, guns, robbing houses – you name it. Makes it tough for regular folks just tryna live."
Interviewer: "Have there been any efforts to mediate or reduce the violence here?"
"Efforts? Yeah, I guess there’s been some. Community leaders, churches, they try to reach out, do something for the youth. But it’s like a drop in the ocean, you know? The money and the power from that life, it pulls strong. Plus, with enemies on all sides, these kids, they feel like they gotta stay strapped, stay ready. Doesn’t leave much room for peace talks."
"I wanna believe there's hope, man. But it's hard. These kids, they grow up in it, seeing violence, seeing their friends and family get caught up in it. It's like a cycle, you know? Until something big shakes things up, I don't see it changing anytime soon. Maybe if there were more opportunities for these kids, more ways out of this life, things could start to shift. But for now, it's like we're stuck in this never-ending cycle."
FBG Chronicles ━━━The group has been involved in a very violent feud with a rival gang, TyonWorld, since 2022, resulting in a series of violent confrontations: one member of 157 Freeband Gang was shot, another incident resulted in the death of an adversary, and a third clash left an enemy wounded.
In a notable incident from April 2023, a known figure from 157 Freeband Gang known as Munchie, or Lil Munchie, was targeted as a primary suspect in the killing of an off-duty police officer on 81st Street. Despite the officer being off-duty, the incident was officially recorded as an on-duty fatality. It is said to be that Lil Munchie and his associates were engaged in a criminal rampage at the time, indicating that the officer's death might not have been a targeted attack but rather a tragic outcome of their criminal activities.
157 Freeband Gang is deeply involved in numerous low-level criminal activities, related to those seen in areas like 63rd. Their main drills expand from street-level robberies to complicated scamming and drug trafficking schemes. In addition to these, they occasionally engage in auto theft, credit card fraud, and identity theft to increase their status in the world of crime and increase their sources of revenue.
Their unexpected interest in digital crimes, particularly in scamming and hacking, demonstrates a willingness to adapt and get with the current criminal environments, enabling them to take advantage of new income sources outside of traditional street crime. criminal cash rewards are increased by this change, but it also makes it more difficult for law enforcement to find them and shut down criminal enterprises. Even with its bad reputation, the 157 Freeband Gang is still quite powerful in the community because it uses money and intimidation to keep its position.
157 Freeband Gang also has a very powerful cultural influence, especially through their connections in the rap music scene. Members of the gang have been known to collaborate with local artists, using music as a platform to boost their image and spread their story. This blend of music and criminal fame creates a legendary presence in the area, inspiring a mixture of admiration, fear, and loyalty amongst the younger locals in their hood.
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