There's no doubt that the Greater Philadelphia Region is filled with organized crime.
The question is whether or not the Crips & Bloods have entered the landscape?

I guess I should start by saying that I'm a La Salle University educated sociologist with a strong concentration on urban issues, particularly in our area. I wrote a paper several years ago detailing my theory on why traditionally based Los Angeles gangs had not operated in Philly. My view was basically that the LA gangs were unable to penetrate the mid Atlantic coast because it was already a saturated market with the immense reach of the Italian Mafia and other ethnic centered crime outfits. Additionally I believed that the groups had no influence here because I grew up in a time when Philly, not LA was the gang capital of the country. I walked blocks as a kid in the early 70's where you had to keep in mind what territory you were in. North Philly's The Valley was notorious. In G-Town we had The Ville and on and on and on. I never even heard of a Blood or a Crip until N.W.A. stepped on the scene.

From my schooling and research I was able to find Bloods and Crips as far east as Pittsburgh but not further (I visited Pittsburgh recently and talked to locals about the groups and their influence there).

In the years since I wrote that paper I've heard differing accounts of Bloods and Crips operating in Philadelphia. My question is not if there is anyone affiliated with these groups here but whether they are here or not in numbers and doing business? It's no secret that Philly's Kurupt has been tied to the Crips. I've also met members of both groups who are transplants living here but keep it on the DL. Of course there are the pimply, suburban wanna be cull de sac kids who tie bandanas to their heads and claim alliance but are really nothing more than an annoyance that you want to smack with their Project Pat CDs. That said, people swear to me that there are Crips and Bloods in our area right out in the open but I promise you I haven't seen it with my own eyes even once. That doesn't mean it isn't going on but I spend time in the environment that these groups would traditionally travel so I'm at a loss.

I know there are cells now operating in New York City, and believe me that blows my mind in itself! John Gotti really is dead.

This is where y'all come in with what I'm sure will be a lively debate. That's the whole ideal...

Share your thoughts Bloods & Crips in Philly right here

Article by Funk Wizard Snow
Editor- PhillyHipHop.com
July, 2002