Fat Cat 50 Cent And the Rise of the Hip-Hop Hustler (pages 43-87)

Similar to any punishment, the time of both Preme and his lieutenant Prince ended and the both went back to doing what they know best. Disappointingly for both men the police also knew how to do their jobs right and landed both men back in jail as well as most of the crew members after a Supreme Team house raid. Tired of the misfortune the crew was having, Preme's once trusted friend fired everyone in the crew and took all the profits. Enraged but powerless, Prince made the decision of continuing his job, within bars. Clearly indicated by the title of Brown's new chapter, the game had clearly changed and disappointingly taken a turn for the worst. Petty teens and admirers of Fat Cat, Preme and Prince where emerging and unlike the original gangsters ( OGs ) they wanted to mark their territory with killings. Causing trouble in the streets law enforcements where obligated to protect their street allies. This though wasn't enough as an innocent witness of a shooting " Green " was killed after testifying. Soon any whiteness was to be threatened with death if they where to testify. Even law enforcement was drawn into this outrageous crime spree and officers where killed as well. Bad enough that part one is over, Brown leaves us with the simple fact that the " want to be " OGs are facing a bigger gang called the NYPD.

Quote: " They used to watch Scarface and The Godfather and they wanted to be that. But the biggest gang in New York is the NYPD so if you hurt one of them you're asking for trouble. That's what the streets got after the killing of Edward Byrne: trouble " ( Brown 56)

Reaction: This quote is included in Brown's book as stated by a former Corley Family member. This quote is powerful and long as he is stating that the fight for power lays beyond the street. It is more often showed in movie than in real life but there is a belief that the police although thought to be more mature has a power struggle as well as gangs to the point where they want to be feared by criminals.

               

Fat Cat 50 Cent, And The Rise Of The Hip-Hop Hustler (pages 1-43

Summary:Ethan Brown begins by introducing the history how the mafia lead to petty gangs and eventually to big time bosses who would stop at nothing to prove they shouldn't be messed with. Taking place in New York the many different neighborhoods where thought to be a reference of your class and your occupation would determine where you live. Like every other state New York had addicts. These addicts where particularly a treat to the mafia because " the Mafia had the best of both worlds: Dealers and middlemen were forced to come to them for products..." (Brown 4). According to Brown the drug addicts where so bad that the thought of a person dying from to strong a substance made them want to try it. Consequently like any epidemic the Heroin one expanded and soon began to collapse. New gangs where formed and bosses such as "Fat Cat" and "Preme" began to leave a mark on the streets. Upsetting authorities both Preme and Fat Cat had a wanted sign hanging over their heads. With the help of informants and rivals the police were able to capture Fat Cat and subsequently Preme. Although both men where behind bars, that wasn't enough to put a halt to their business. This was proven by the successful orders of the killing of Fat Cat's parole officer.

Quote:"And the guys from the projects didn't like the guys from Hollis because they lived in Hollis. It was just animosity" (Brown 7)

Reaction:This quote is stated by Brown when indication how the drama between neighborhoods emerged. I particularly like this quote because it reminds me of how gang members are now. Most gangs build up as a family and end up disliking each other because of silly things such as where you come from. That then leads to killing and fighting, imagine what where to happen if the gangs had problems over important issues!