crip

Crip Theory: Cultural Signs of Queerness and Disability (Cultural Front)
$23.00
I read this about a year ago. It has taken me this long to digest and appreciate this intriguing book. When I first started to talk about it with older gay men, the reaction was visceral anger. Naturally, homosexual men have struggled against being classified as pathological, celebrating the elimination of homosexuality as a disorder from the psychiatrist's catalogue of pathologies. Some see it as a step backwards from the march toward assimilation, a goal which I do not share.

Yet, there has to be a realistic discussion about seropositivity and the struggles of those who likewise seek access but are barred for other 'disabilities.' Further, there are parallels to be found in class struggle, particularly the need in the U.S. for a national health plan, employment, housing, and the whole lot of things for which people are seeking 'access.'

The author here claims 'crip' in the same way that some claim 'queer.' They are labels applied to segregate out and strip people from access to the very things needed for survival. There is simply too much in common between the various and numerous abject peoples not to notice. Not least, the way in which those terms can be turned around, claimed, and used to resist.

This having been said, I am doubtful how much can be achieved in a classroom. As the old saying went: class consciousness is knowing which side you are on; class struggle is knowing who is there with you. This is a step toward recognizing allies.

Inside the Crips: Life Inside L.A.'s Most Notorious Gang
$15.95
Having grown up in and around Los Angeles, I enjoy reading about different experiences in this vast city. I particularly enjoy reading about individuals who have been involved in some form of gang life. Because like it or not, L.A. is intimately connected to the gangbangin' lifestyle.

Colton's book details his life from his youth living with a mom that dislikes him to his first experience being jumped-in to the Crips gang to his gradual climb up the "OG" ladder with all the requisite crime and violence to his time spent in county jail and state prison along with the betrayel of some of his homies and his heartbreak with the opposite sex.

His experiences are vivid and Colton is honest in expressing all the ugliness that he and his family/friends went thru. I wished there was more than just one photo and also I would like to know more about his latest legal trouble that he briefly aludes to in the "afterword" section. Nonetheless I enjoyed the book and recommend it to all who are interested in the L.A. jungle warfare.

N-Hood Compton Crips [Explicit]
$0.99

The Left Side, Vol. 1
$17.98
if you're looking to find what was on the past Crips/Nationwide Rip Ridaz albums on this CD, then don't bother reading the rest of this review. You will not find what you are looking for on this CD. This CD does have Crip rappers on it, but it's not like the other Crip cd's released from Warlock Records, Dangerous Records, and Pump Records.

To me, this cd is weak. i was expecting some hard hitting, crunk, gangsta beats, w/ hard lyrics, like Eklypss of Doomsday Prod., or C.O.S. i bought it cuase it had Brotha Lynch Hung on it, and also cuase of the T.Y.S.O.N. track "Real Crip" on it.

this cd is mediocre. i've heard better Crip artists before... do yourself a favor, sleep on this one. it ain't worth the $. if you really want it, pay under $5 for it, cuase that's pretty much what it's worth. the only tracks i'm really feelin on it were "Real Crip" (which isn't even the best one), "Blue Chuccs" (which would be alot better if it didn't use Nelly's "Air Force Ones" instrumental in the background.. i hate the repetative DJ scratch in the background every 2 secs. the song has great rhymes on it, but i can't get w/ the beats. the scratch annoys me.), "Recognize A G", "One Touch" (which sounds similar to a Young Jeezy song), and "We Get Off".

i'm disappointed in what's spose to be a bangin Crip cd, is not. how are you gonna have a Crip cd that doesn't include Crip artists like: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Blue Ragg, etc...

this cd is weak....don't cop it too fast.