Gawtti from BOO YA TRIBE speaks with Streetgangs.com

[alexalonso]

When I wrote that Blood article for the Source Magazine last December 2006, I spoke to Gawtti from BOO YAA. Although the article on has a couple quotes of each person I spoke to I transcribed the entire interview I did with Gawtti.

Check it out here: http://www.streetgangs.com/features/gaw ... -yaa-tribe

Also I recently found out about an article by KCET Los Angeles on Gangsta rap and they linked to this interview I did with Gawtti because they like it. Their article is at: http://www.kcet.org/lifeandtimes/blog/?p=191

[MiChuhSuh]

Funny how he straddles the fence the whole interview:

Alex Alonso: Do you think that you might receive some negative backlash because you have a gang neighborhood in New Zealand, in Aukland or somewhere down there, and it turns out that they start bangin' hard and someone gets hurt? Because they were somewhat influenced by Boo Yaa T.R.I.B.E. Do you ever feel it can go negative.

Gangxst Gear by Boo Yaa

Gawtti: It can go either way Alex, that's how I look at it. You got to take it or not. You got to ride with it or you ain't going to ride with it. I can't say it is going to be positive because it is gangsta. It is hard to stay positive so if someone says I wanna be a gangster, but it can go both ways, I can't say if it is going to be positive or negative, you are either going to ride with it or not.

Guess who got caught in his first interview saying that "I used to be in a gang" and "it's not like that anymore"?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH5cLjmdb9w[/youtube]
Oh but wait, that was before claiming was popular

[MiChuhSuh]

^that was 1983

[rocstar]

Lol @ his fat ass breakdancing. Damn near everybody that was trying to do something in the 80's use to always declare "they use to gang bang", it wasnt like it is now on either side straight on site activities. Thats not a big deal and he might have really been trying to stop at that point in his life, he was young everybody go through fazes. Boo Yaa was probably the first Damus to make it officially known they was Damus in the industry. Everybody else waited for Suge before they got flamed up for the most part beside banging on wax.

[MiChuhSuh]

The thing is, I respected that. I respected him saying it's not about banging anymore, and getting involved in a positive activity, breakdancing, to stay out the lifestyle, that is something positive and powerful. Even their early rap was positive and about the music. Then banging suddenly is profitable in rap and then they go back to the ways they just criticized, that sh*t is backwards to me

[rocstar]

The thing is, I respected that. I respected him saying it's not about banging anymore, and getting involved in a positive activity, breakdancing, to stay out the lifestyle, that is something positive and powerful. Even their early rap was positive and about the music. Then banging suddenly is profitable in rap and then they go back to the ways they just criticized, that sh*t is backwards to me

But life is ebb's and flows and real niggas in the game is going to be in it in the long run period. They didnt start banging Damu when it got popular, everybody knew what they was from the start thats the difference. They was banging Damu and everybody out here knew it during their first albums. They started as Damu's so it aint like they going back they still rap about positive shit and stuff that affects their lives. The most hardcore banger around will tell you the shit stupid. i'll tell you it's stupid dont make no sense then throw up my hood and kick it with my homies

[alexalonso]

breaking was really popular and got played out in Cali realy fast back in the mid 1980s, so you dont know what happened in 1984, 85, 86, etc. after the break dancing was played out. They did have a brother that got smoked I believe (can someone confirm) so they loose no credibility with me, but I am a bit biased because I know them personally.

[NICKELS]

BBOY / BREAKING GOT PLAYED OUT TWICE IN NEWYORK TOO .....ONCE IN THE ENDING OF THE 70'S LIKE 78 OR 79 ....IT CAME BACK WHEN HIPHOP WENT MAINSTREAM....AND PLAYED OUT AGIAN LIKE 84.........LOL

[alexalonso]

Did you guys hear that track that I posted on the article with Mack 10?

[Shox112]

shoot us a link...

[Cold Bear]

BBOY / BREAKING GOT PLAYED OUT TWICE IN NEWYORK TOO .....ONCE IN THE ENDING OF THE 70'S LIKE 78 OR 79 ....IT CAME BACK WHEN HIPHOP WENT MAINSTREAM....AND PLAYED OUT AGIAN LIKE 84.........LOL

True but I know a lot of kids still doin it. Old schoolers that teach free classes in the park in BK and young crews that win the big battles.

[MiChuhSuh]

They did have a brother that got smoked I believe (can someone confirm) so they loose no credibility with me, but I am a bit biased because I know them personally.

I have no doubt that they were real, serious, legitimate gang members. And that is not the type of credibility I am talking about.

I'm disappointed that they could have all this work and energy to try to move away from banging, even going as far as moving to Japan for a while, but come backtrack and start banging on their songs again. It's comparable to an recovering alcoholic "falling off the wagon." That's the credibility they lose with me.

I think their relative that got killed was PVCC

[TeeKay]

That video was funny shit!

But other than that, Boo Yaa were way before their time when they first dropped their funk album.

[TeeKay]

Did you guys hear that track that I posted on the article with Mack 10?

Bang on? yeah i got that on the west koasta nostra album

[Sentenza]

Boo Yaa Tribe is one of my favorite groups out there. I like their stuff.

[Hell]

Boo Yaa Tribe is dem samoan/niggaz,ya dig

[MMRbkaRudog]

Yes, 1 of their brothers got killed. Another victim of gang violence, R.I.P..

[KING KONG]

Boo Yaa Tribe is dem samoan/niggaz,ya dig

SAMOAN?AINT THAT AFRICAN?

[TeeKay]

Boo Yaa Tribe is dem samoan/niggaz,ya dig

SAMOAN?AINT THAT AFRICAN?

[atm//TONE]

that shit funny real MUfukas in carson will tell u most of boo yaa never banged at all the homegirl dad grew up with them

[Blackwall]

Boo Yaa Tribe is dem samoan/niggaz,ya dig

SAMOAN?AINT THAT AFRICAN?

Ur An comedian