The difference between dying and living is a small margin; when you're in the life style of taking risk. Gang banging is a high risk game that many young brothers and sisters take risk every single day.Truth is most of them aren't ready by any means... Most are followers. Wanting to be apart of something, than you have those that are down about the business. Then you have cats that are natural born leaders, cats that are intelligent, savvy, charismatic, manipulative, and a savage. I just describe our congress.... Nevertheless, I was a natural born leader. In 1990 I started an East Side Blood Gang, with suburban upper middle class teenagers. I must admit I didn't plan on doing any such thing as to start  a set with mostly white boys; wow! It started by me being at an Eldorado High School football game. Sitting in the stands I spot a small Mexican kid, and a chunky white boy. Mexican kid name is Freddy, in which I gave him the nickname "Lil head," and for the white kid his name is "chummy," I'm looking at these two youngsters; wondering what did they know about that red rag lil head, had hanging out his back pocket. So I decided to ask him; he didn't freeze up or anything, he stated he was a blood I then asked him what set does he claim; no one he told me. He liked being a blood... I respected how he handled himself. Lil head then asked me what did I represent? I told him Crenshaw Mafia Bloods, I can see that immediately sparked his interest. He wanted to know more about the blood life; so I taught all that I knew, and gave him history on gang banging history. He was hungry to know the life style; he then introduce me to more of his friends, that would later become apart of the family. These youngsters from the suburbs became riders, I had built the strongest blood set on the East Side; proof of that is when you get other blood sets hating against you; because your neighborhood is getting more recognition then there's, and we only been out less than a year. 

The difference between prey and predator; there is no difference. They both seek to survive their existence; that was my true essence to the street life. Is to survive my existence, I often think about moments in my life; when time had been placed on some one else's life for there's. God was giving me a choice to make. From the time leading up to me going to prison; I has lost all hope in myself. I wanted to die, I had become a shell of myself; a drug addict, a fiend.... I robbed any and everybody! When I came around people would automatically tense up. I knew it was cats that wanted me dead, and then there was those that still had some respect for me. The truth is, Jesus had been walking along my side in every wrong doing I ever did; he protected me from harms way. I had ran off with bears dope one afternoon a brother that I once slanged dope with; this wasn't my first time I had did this; I wanted to get high, I took off again. At that time McWilliams street was the hot block in the West Coast Blood neighborhood; I went stairwell to roll me a caviar to smoke, while I was smoking bear come around the corner, with a 25. Caliber in his hand. The feeling that came over me was to rest. Not one word was exchanged, he looked at as though he saw some one else. My thought afterwards was he felt sorry for me. I just remember the look wasn't of someone having pity. As quick as he came around that corner, he left just as quick. What makes me believe Jesus was with me;  many more of this incidents occurred over time, and each time I wasn't harmed. I'm thankful!!!!

Melle Mel

I was at Winnemucca conservation camp when I received the news; that my brother and best friend had been killed. This was 2003 ten years ago, and in that same year in lost my Grand father. Melle 35, and my papa 97;  two months apart, being locked up will test a man's will. My thoughts were why ? How? Who? Did this to Melle? I'm talking about the most Realest person I knew. Until this day he still is; he always told me how he felt whether bad or good. Hearing that another blood killed my brother, left a bad taste in my mouth. It still does for a lot of reasons; those reasons will be expressed in my book. The cat that took his life roamed the streets without any repercussions being handed to him. I knew then that I would have to change my life style. A few of my comrades that I rolled with had changed their lives; Oneway became I deacon, Woody turned his life around; all the O.G's were retired from the game. Yet you still had a few proclaiming their loyalty to Piru's! You know the ok' cliche' action speaks louder than words. I can say without a doubt, I would have without hesitation brought hell and my fury to my brothers killer, if I were out doing this time of death. The one thing about Melle and I we would of died for each other; tested and approved. The he disliked about me is how I became when I was a drug addicted. He asked me one day can he back Assassin, hell can I get Tony Hickman back! I can say this when I write the chapter about Melle and I it will be a page turner. We had adventures together; no one rode like us in Piru's history! I'll close now my emotion is  starting to get the best of me. R.I.P MY BROTHER.... CRENSHAW MAFIA 2 THE HARDWAY

My bandana, Prison & God

Twenty four years in Neveada State Prison, what Judge McGoriarty sentence me to on Sept 19, 1995,  for Robbery with the use; after spending a year in the county jail; fighting othe cases in four different court rooms. I was charged with more gang related offenses; than the law should allow. I found myself between a rock and hard place; where two female witnesses was going to testify against; for a Robbery that I had committed. In this case I took measure of having my home girls come to court, so she understood why their presence was needed. When I entered the court room the court room the witnesses were there, and so was my home girls. Low down got up at sat by her; they shared a few words; they got up and left the court room. When my name was called I stood; the judge asked the D.A where her witnesses, she proclaimed to the judge that they were sitting here moments ago. The gang officers that arrested me were there. Puzzled they left the court room looking for their witnesses; they re-entered the court with more of a frustrated look. I could only simply just smile at them. I knew it was one less case that I had to fight. The judge surprisingly didn't grant the D.A a continuous. My mindset was to fight each one no matter how long I had to stay in the county. I knew they didn't have anything on me when came to gang enhancement charges. The one robbery I had pending would be my ticket to prison.

fatherhood as a single parent

Father hood is less talked about; mainly because 80% minority males grow up without a father in their lives. Today is much different in my opinion; in what have I observed in the last 4 years I see more minority fathers being fathers.... Living in house. Here's what I don't know; how many men are there that are raising children as a single parent? We have women that has replied to my brothe Phil and I project, of wanting to interview; and do documentary on this topic. I already have an interview with a gentlemen named Cree Turner; I look forward to sitting down with him and having his point of view. I understand the other side of not having a father truly being a part of my life. I want and need to know; what made these men step up to the plate. My curiosity is Moreso, discerning reasons; I had to step into fatherhood, to having being blessed to seeing my daughter borned. And my wife having two children from another marriage. Look forward to getting comments, or stories you think I would love to hear.

Natural born hustler

D St. Festivals, bang bang gang, and hurt'em bad. West side had some great moments; Jackson Street was live and vibrant! Blacked own businesses, it was less headaches back then it was happy times for me. I can remember going up to The Cove roof, and watching the festival from there. My comrades and I; would kick back and seeing everything unfold.  There's nothing like a live band playing music; you can feel every note, and every beat from the percussions. Then you had D.C Rider doing his thang. 88.1 Kcep was our station! My favorite DJ was lady essence.... That sultry voice made my day. We had Moms Kitchen; throwing down with those collier greens! Up the street was Hamburger Heaven, my thing there; was taco burgers. I lived those! Man I tell you the West was the business; all the black celebrities came to the West because of the clubs and lounges. Moulin Rouge historic.... Town Tavern, we're talking about Bobby Blue Bland, Jhonny Taylor, B.B King, and many other blues singer performed there. The Brown Derby, community store owned by Miss Sweet; she was one the most nicest women I ever met. There was always something to do; whether it be going to the City pool, or up & down, that's where we went to ride our bikes. There was always something to do.... Hanging out at Butler sisters house or the Richard sisters house we found something to do

My first time witnessing gang rivals go at it; was In Madison Terrace, between the O.G's and Playboy's. I was literally caught in the middle of it. Watching everything unfold; I must admit it was exciting. Seeing some of the cats I knew from the neighborhood put in work; this is the business! The  O.G's was started by Sir Pope, a youngster from L.A.... They were crips (crabs), and the Playboy's originated from Las Vegas, Nevada; which was started by the infamous Slick Rick and Big Ted. Two well respected cats that were born, and raised in the Jets. This was the late 70's & early 80's.... Most all gangs in Vegas, were crips; there was only one blood gang in North Las Vegas, the Hoodsmen.... And the Playboy's were neutral.
You talk about the biggest crip set, it was the GQ's which stood for gentlemens quarter's; you also had West side GQ's and Cindy Sue GQ's.... The GQ's would become my rivals. I had more fights, and shootouts with them then any other neighborhood. Even that being the case; I literally despised the Gerson Park Kingsmen's (GPK) this may sound ridiculous. Nobody liked the Gerson's; they had the shadest reputation of all the sets I knew. I admit I loved giving them the blues.... We had our share of battles; there's a lot bad blood between us; I got a little ahead of myself, back then we were the bang bang gang; we rode bikes, and was more associated with the West Side GQ's; Villian ran that chapter of the Q's.... We all grew up around each other. It was what it was until Mickey (Le'P) came from San Diego in 81' Piru's were formed in Madison terrace. And as they say; the rest is history.

Natural born hustler

It was 91' when Todd ( showmink) Johnson, was killed on The infamous Jackson Street. I was in North town, which north Las Vegas; at a party that the Hood was throwing. The Hoodsmen were the first blood set in Vegas, and the only one in North town. I rode with P.C he had the candy red impala. I remember showmink coming up to me; giving me a hug, and telling me he loves me. Without second thought I shared those same sentiments. I never thought I wouldn't see my best friend again. One of my few comrades, that were true. We made plans to go to party that was happening on the west. When P.C and I decided to head back to the west; we took Carey; I could here sirens blaring, there was party in Del Manaco; some cats had got shot.   A feeling came over me, I told P.C something happen with one of our comrades. The wailing sounds of sirens engulfed the city that night. To our right was Regal Estates and Del Manaco, I seen the lights of the ambulances, we took a left on H St. Heading towards Madison Terrace, my gut was turning I knew something wasn't right. When we reached Owens and H St. I seen the lights of ambulances and police cars. I didn't give P.C a chance to turn into Madison Terrace, I had open the door; running down Jackson St. Everything literally went black around me. All I saw was Tone P holding Showmink, and Emt's pulling Tone P away to let go of  Showmink's body. He was pronounced dead at UMC.... I had this calm anger, that didn't involve me hurting anyone. My anger was directed towards God; I felt it should of been me. I had done so much dirt up to that point in my life. He was only 21..... My question remained WHY? For the longest. 

My life story is exactly, what the the title states. I grew up on the West side of Las Vegas, Nevada; one thing for certain Vegas isn't all lights and glamour. It was given the right moniker; Sin City.... My Bandana, prison, & God is the title of my book. Through my blog I will give my readers a taste, of what my journey entailed. The 37 years  I lived in Sin City, I seen many of things, and done a lot. I'm fortunate to have made it; lords knows I've been to many funerals.
I've done my share of putting in work, selling dope, playing women, and conning people. I was natural born hustler on the streets, of Sin City; I grew up fast, and learned quick on how to survive. Gun play and robbery was my forte' that was my adrenaline rush. I was a fiend... I had become my own habit. Devoted myself to the neighborhood, my rag became my badge! My comrades  became my second family; making money and blood life, became my reality.
Dying young was a consequence to living this life; prison was a certainty. Witnessing what I saw at the ages of 11, 12, & 13..... Part of me knew I wanted to live this life. I put my dream of playing football, on the back burner. To become a well known gang banger; I was given the name Lil' Assassin, named after my O.G.... J.B Assassin; 
I had gained the respect of my comrades, especially my O.G's; my brother Melle   Mel and I had become riders for the set.... Taking no prisoners.