Marriott, R. (1997, May). "All that glitters." Vibe, 5 (4), 54-59.

OVERVIEW

Two rap stars died within a week of each other. On September 7, 1996, Tupac Shakur, age 25, was gunned down in Las Vegas. Six days later, on September 18, Bobby Finch, age 30, was also shot dead. No one has been arrested for either of these murders. It all seems to be part of a twisted exchange in the feuding underworld of rival gangs from South Los Angeles, where no one’s willing to betray the code of silence.

The two Los Angeles gangs involved are the Southside Crips and the Mob Piru Bloods. Apparently, members of the Southside Crips made a trip to Las Vegas intent on killing Tupac Shakur. On the night of the shooting, Tupac was riding with Marion "Suge" Knight in his car. Knight, CEO of the East Coast recording studio, Death Row Records, was a Compton, California native and a member of the rival Mob Piru Bloods. The two were stopped at a traffic light when another car pulled next to them and a member of the Southside Crips opened fire on Tupac.

There is some speculation that rivalry between two recording studios, Death Row and BadBoy Records, ignited this wave of violence. However, it appears that this situation reaches beyond a simple corporate battle. Some Compton residents suspect that this incident had been planned for at least two months. There had been several public confrontations between gang members in the lobby of the MGM Grand Hotel and another incident at the Lakewood Mall. By his actions, Tupac had apparently " ‘crossed the line from gangsta rapper to official LA gang member.’ "

There is a rumor that Tupac’s death has also sparked a wave of gang violence in which thirteen shootings, resulting in three fatalities, have taken place. Bobby Finch was one of those three. Is it just an unfortunate incident of gang violence, or is there something behind all these incidents and accusations? There are currently many questions surrounding the ethics of Knight’s $300 million company, Death Row Records. Investigators are trying to determine whether drug money was used to start the company. There are also concerns about Knight’s legal representation, David Kenner, as Death Row is being investigated for money laundering and involvement with drugs.

Knight apparently has a history of run-ins with the law. He has eight convictions for weapons and assault charges. He is known as a man who operates according to his own law. There is also a lesser-known side to him: he has arranged " ‘Hawaii trips for poor kids in Compton, holiday turkey giveaways, the Mother’s Day extravaganzas.’ " Even so, many believe that this is all part of a "street game." Others who have signed contracts with Death Row Records report Knight’s public side as one who engages in unfair business practices, and forces musical groups to sign contracts and give up millions of dollars in profits to this Mafia-style boss.

In the aftermath of this violence, family and friends of the victims are left to grieve and search for solutions to end this stream of senseless gang retaliation.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. How does society fight the violence for a group of individuals who feel that matters of law and justice are to be taken into their own hands?
2. How can concerned individuals help young people from falling victim to the gang mentality and lifestyle?
3. How does a community reach at-risk children? What measures can be taken to overcome the lure for power and money that the gangs offer?

IMPLICATIONS

• Gang members gather together and form pacts. Gangs meet a certain needs within vulnerable youth who grow up without the role models of parents and teachers.
• The survival mentality, learned in the modeling of the adults, seems to take hold at a very young age. Yet, at the same time, escape from the ghetto becomes an elusive prospect.

Melissa Craig cCYS