The G-Code (According to Me)

Because some people can't tell the difference between being tough and being an idiot.

I recently watched the news story about 13 people being shot on  the Southside of Chicago, and it got me to think about the fact that there is a lot of confusion over the title of a gangster (other names: the man, real nigga, etc.). It seems everyone is infatuated with being one, whether it be Al Capone, The Triads, the Yakuza's, the Bloods and Crips, or Russian/Italian Mobs.  This has inspired me to come up a 'code', if you will, of my own regarding the 'hood life. Now keep in mind, I'm talking to mostly my fellow mahogany brothers and sisters, but it can also apply to anyone else. Here it is: the G-Code, according to me.

RULE #1: Subtlety is strongly encouraged.

I don't know about you, but everyone that I see throwing up gang signs and such on camera, I almost want to facepalm and cuss them out (or worse), especially when they go so far as to burn wads of cash to prove how 'gangster' they are. Honestly, if I had a gun around them, as soon as the camera was turned off, I would have shot every single last one of them. I'm not saying that I'm the toughest guy in the world, but at the same time, how could you be so stupid? Whyyyyyyyy would you burn all the cash that you just earned? That's everyone's rent for easily the next 9 months. Real gangsters don't recklessly put themselves out there because they know that cops watch these type of videos. If you're going to do all of that, you may as well hold up a sign saying 'ARESST ME' with all of your contact information.

Consider the Colombo Crime Family. They've been able to survive for almost 75 years. Why? Because they do everything under the table. Do you what a Colombo looks like? Exactly. Take the hint and keep it on the down low. In the words of Scarface (the rapper):

...But real gangsta-ass niggas don't flex nuts
Cause real gangsta-ass niggas know they got em...

-Geto Boys, "Damn it Feels Good to Be a Gangsta"

If they can attract less attention than you, that's a problem.

Or, like how Denzel Washington puts it....

RULE #2: Get some aim./Don't ever shoot in the 'gangsta' style. EVER.

One the saddest things in the world is a woman, child, teenager, or other innocent bystander gets hit by a stray bullet. Tragedies like that can draw tears from rocks. Nothing makes you feel worse in your community than to hear about the sweet old lady down the street or the beautiful, smart high school girl being a victim of someone else's carelessness. So, because it is so devastating, under my code, you are required to be able hit a human-sized target from at least 50 yards away. I am so sick of innocent people getting killed because some dudes can't hit the broad side of a barn. Or, as Nas explains it:

 ...I had to school him, told him don't let niggas fool him,

Cause when the pistol blows the one that's murdered be the cool one, 

Tough luck when niggas are struck, families fucked up,

Coulda caught your man, but didn't look when you bucked up, 

Mistakes happen, so take heed, 

Never bust up at the crowd catch him solo, 

Make the right man bleed...

-One Love

He further talks about this dilemma in his song Accident Murderers. The point that he makes (and the same point that I am making) is that you aren't 'hard' just because you blast a gun. You're only hard when you know how, when, and where to use a gun. You also don't have to use guns if you don't want to. True gangstadom is not determined by whether or not you use a gun. Like what Posdnuos said:

...Gun control means using both hands in my land....

-Stakes is High

Another way to stop these coincidental killings are to quit shooting pistols in the gangsta style. You may look cool, but you aren't going to hit anybody shooting like that. Anybody who continues to shoot like that will be shot themselves.

This is all of Garo Yepremian's blunders in the form of a hoodlum.

Oh, and in drive-by's, make the shooter has to hit a moving target with just three bullets. It makes no sense to roll by in a van and spray a hail of gunfire knowing that you hit everyone except the intended target.

RULE #3: Don't ever seek out trouble.

This is the biggest issue in differentiating the gangsters from the wannabes. However, I think I've found a way to do so. Let's take a look at the classic gangster film A Bronx Tale. 

Remember the bar fight scene that the local Italians had with the biker gang?

And remember the main character's (Calogero) friends beating up Blacks riding by on their bikes?

And remember what happened when they insisted on going into the Black neighborhood with Molotov cocktails?

That's the difference between real gangsters and wannabes. Wannabes look for trouble. They sniff it out like a heat-seeking missile. Gangsters don't start trouble, they deal with it accordingly. Know the difference.

Rule #4: Take responsibility for your actions.

This is perhaps the most controversial, due  to the whole "no snitching" policy. You should know the consequences of your actions. You shouldn't be surprised if someone calls the police because you are warring with a rival gang across town and things get physical all of a sudden. Therefore, if you blame someone else for your slip-ups, then you're not really being 'hood', you're just being a bitch-made thug who is hiding behind an illusion.  Anyone can do that. Not saying you should tell on yourself, but at the same time, don't try to intimidate other people into keeping their mouths shut who are outside of your circle. Now on the other hand, if someone in your circle rats you out to the cops (especially after both of you guys get arrested), then you can call that snitching (in which case, killing or beating them is perfectly justified). 

A fake thug's worst nightmare.

Rule #5: Control your emotions.

First off, don't listen to this guy, because he will get you killed and have you lying in a dumpster somewhere. It's quite alright to show how you feel, just don't go overboard with it. If you have paranoia, passion, or anything else that you would like to get off of your chest, do it in a constructive manner. You can't be as effective as you would like to be if you're an emotional wreck all of the time.

Like this guy.

Nothing wrong with a few tears, but it shouldn't get to the point where you seem as if you've been watching Lifetime movies for five days straight.

Rule #6: Be smart.

This is the most ironic, yet most obvious rule that gangsters should abide by. A little common sense and good judgement never brought the biggest crime bosses down (not immediately, at least). Simply put, having intellect is what makes the difference between being notorious and being notoriously stupid. 

The key to "runnin' thangs".

Rule #7: Keep your finances together.

Al Capone, Frank Lucas, among others, were able to become very rich men because they have a business mentality to their street life. Even if you don't "make something" of yourself, know ways to keep your money flowing in. Invest. Read books about money. Shadow people who know how to 'stack their paper'. Why do you think Jay-Z was able to get so rich?

By not always doing this.

Conclusion:

Do I think that this will stop all crime immediately? No. However, I do think that this will make 'thuggin'' more efficient for all parties involved and will create a lot less collateral damage for the rest of us. Instead of being brainless brutes, one can make a come-up (albeit illegal) from the environment that they are in. Remember, often times the smartest person in the room doesn't have any 'official' education, as many gangster rappers have proven.