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Gangs and Mafias in the United States (Crimes (Extortion (A practice that…

- - - - An industry that has become a mainstream form of music for over decades. Many rappers nowadays claim to be affiliated with gang activities through their lyrics and public persona. Whether it is to bolster their image or increase their exposure to media and fans, gangs have slowly become a prominent tools in promoting young talents in hip hop. Current day notable hip hop artists who are said to be gang members include Cardi B, Trippie Redd, and 6ix9ine, the latter of whom has faced numerous troubles regarding the law and is now a "protected witness" for the FBI. (Allah. 2018)
    - - Sneakers, streetwear, and jewelry have all become modern teenage dream items. Those types of "ghetto rich" image has slowly spread into the mainstream where hip hop groups such as RUN DMC, Migos and N.W.A allowed it to become more and more popular. However, unbeknownst to many, these items were originally representations of gang status. (Inverse Culture. 2018.) (Borders. 2019.)
    - - According to Newsweek, 46 percent of the United States population have tattoos. While many young people nowadays see tattoos as being "cool" and "dope" due to the amount of their favorite rappers and celebrities having distinctive ink marks to their bodies, tattoos have an extended history and relationship with gangs. A symbol of gang affiliation and criminal history as well as representations of life events such as witnessing murder or prison sentence, gang culture has been one of the reasons as to why tattoos have become so prominent. (Franklin. 2010.)
    - - Music, fashion and art go hand in hand. For years, hip hop music videos and movies have been shot with graffitis in the background. Why is that? Graffitis in inner cities are often ways of demonstrating gang territories. With this being said, rap lyrics often talk about the nature of their gang persona, so by utilizing graffitis in their background to demonstrate that makes their work seem more "genuine". (Miranda, Dave, Michel Claes. 2010.)
    - - Modern perspectives of gangs and mafias have been bolstered by the rise of hip hop culture. A historically African-American music genre, hip hop was once a form of art that was utilized for rival gangs to engage in "battles", a way of using clever wordplay and rhymes to put down their opponents. Over time, the gang inspired hip hop culture spread into becoming mainstream to incorporate different themes including fashion, tattoos, and art. (Franklin. 2010.)