Hybrid Gangs and the Hyphy Movement: Crossing the Color Line in Sacramento County

Crips and Bloods-traditional gangs whose mere names conjure up fearful images of violence and destruction-are no longer at the forefront of the gang reality in Sacramento. Instead, influenced by the Bay Area-based rap music subculture of Hyphy, gangs calling themselves "Families," "Mobbs," and "Camps" are believed to be creating a new, hybridized gang culture. Employing grounded theory methods of qualitative data analysis, this paper examines four key areas in which this Hyphy-gang relationship is being portrayed: media created by people within the Hyphy movement; news sources covering Hyphy; trial transcripts that focus on offenders and victims who are believed to be involved in the Hyphy movement and gang culture; and police reports and media releases concerning this relationship. Ultimately, I am concerned with addressing one key question: How new is this "new" reality? This book addresses scholarly concerns with a historical and scholarly review of the literature, and addresses law enforcement concerns with four appendixes in the back of the book that delves into the world of African American gangs in Sacramento County.