Jimel Barnes, the self proclaimed Godfather of the Crips Misspeaks
By Alex Alonso (Streetgangs.Com)
July 8, 2006
Jimel Barnes, one of the Original Crips from Avalon Gardens in Los Angeles is interviewed by John & Ken from 640 KFI in Los Angeles about Tookie. This is a “must listen” interview, because Jimel makes some comical claims, false statements, and calls for the execution of Tookie.
(10 minutes 30 secs)
LOS ANGELES – Jimel Barnes was a very vocal opponent advocating for the execution of Stanley Tookie Williams last December. He was quoted, last year saying, “Tookie really murdered those people, and he went around bragging about it.” What was so unusual about his call for Tookie’s execution was that he was actually a teenage friend of Tookie going back to the early 1970s and because of his position against Tookie, he was able to get some air time on several radio and TV news spots including the John & Ken show on 640 KFI in Los Angeles. It is clear that the radio hosts did not know Jimel Barnes’ background well, but they interviewed him as if he carried a level of credibility on the topic. The radio interview was full of inconsistent statements and contradictions made by Barnes and at times very comical.
The first false statement Barnes made to John & Ken was that Tookie had never known Raymond Washington, the actual founder of the Crips. That’s completely untrue, because Washington met Tookie around 1970 or 1971 and they became good friends. Their relationship is well-documented and common knowledge by those that knew both Tookie and Washington. The fact that Tookie and Washington knew each other and were friends is absolutely irrefutable.
Barnes claims that he recruited Tookie in Compton in 1979/1980 and within 3-years he buffed him up with weights. Barnes makes this same claim in the 1995 book, Uprising in more detail where he states, “Later on after Raymond passed away, I wanted a twin brother, I wanted somebody to replace Raymond, so I went out and found this guy named Tookie and built him up from a little small guy to be a gladiator like me” (p.152-153). Both the statements Tookie made on the John & Ken show and in the book are false because Tookie was arrested on March 15, 1979 for quadruple homicide, and at the time of his arrest he had already developed a reputation that was several years old of being a Crip on the streets of Los Angeles. Additionally, Raymond Washington was murdered on August 9, 1979, so it would have been impossible for Jimel Barnes to recruit Tookie to be a Crip after Raymond Washington had died, because Tookie had been incarcerated already for five months by this time, and the editors of that 1995 book should have caught that obvious discrepancy. Additionally, John & Ken should not have been so naive to give Barnes so much radio time to spread misinformation.
Barnes claimed that he took Tookie from 14-inch arms to 25-inch arms on his bodybuilding program and he further states that he introduced Tookie to Arnold Schwartzenegger 25 years ago (1980) at Gold’s gym in Venice. Very few men have ever had 25-inch arms and using steroids Gregg Valentino holds the record for the largest arms (biceps) that measured from 25 – 27 inches. Professional body builders, also using enhancements can get their biceps from 22 to 23.5 inches, and by looking at all of Tookie’s photos, his arms at best were 20 inches, certainly not the 25 inches that Barnes claims. Additionally, in 1980 when Jimel Barnes claims to have introduced Tookie to Arnold, Tookie was already in jail awaiting trial from capital murder. John & Ken respond naively, “that’s really fascinating,” after Barnes makes the ridiculous statements that he introduced Tookie to Arnold Schwartzenegger around 1979/80. Barnes later states that at the time he introduced Tookie to Arnold, he was a 2-time Mr. Olympia which would take Barnes story back to 1971. But Barnes must have forgot that he earlier stated that he met Tookie in 1979/1980, by that time Arnold was a 6-time Mr. Olympia.
Barnes also told John & Ken of 640 KFI radio that Arnold Schwartzenegger wanted to make Tookie Mr. Olympia, but from 1970 – 1980, Arnold was busy making himself Mr. Olympia, so why would Arnold want to help someone else take the titles that he worked so to hard to retain. That’s like Floyd Mayweather Jr wanting to teach someone to become a world-class boxer to take his titles away.
Barnes claims that he spent 30 years working out in Gold’s Gym and that he was bench pressing 900 pounds during that time. If that were true, Barnes would have been a world record holder of the bench press which is currently held by Scot Mendelson who benched 1,008 lbs in 2006. The heaviest raw bench press was also performed by Mendelson at 715 lbs which I am certain Barnes was never able to bench. At best, Barnes had been able to bench 400 – 500 lbs during his prime years during the late 1970s and 1980s.
Barnes also told John & Ken of KFI radio that Tookie was still a Crip while on death row. That was a story that San Quentin Warden Vernell Crittenden started last November 2005, then later retracted. Tookie had not been involved in any criminal activity in prison since 1993, and during the last 12 years of his life on death row, he had not been disciplined while in San Quentin Prison. All his telephone calls had been monitored as all death row inmates are, so not only is it impossible to “call shots” from death row, without prison officials eves dropping on the conversations, it was untrue to label Tookie an active Crip gang member from his death row cell. Barnes knows this is not true, but his dislike for Tookie was so intense he was willing to make false statements that would further malign Tookie’s persona.
Barnes claimed that he and Washington started the Crips, but it was Washington who was the founder of the Crips while calling on a circle of his friends to join into his new movement. Tookie founded the West Side Crips, and Barnes formed the Avalon Garden Crips well after Washington started the original East Side Crips, but they all want to take the credit for one of the most popular street gangs ever formed.
Barnes has lost all credibility on the topic and should not be taken seriously and he is not welcomed by his own peers. He misspoke in the 1995 book, Uprising, and 10 years later he was still spreading the same fictitious stories. What is true, is that Barnes has harbored a jealous envy of Tookie for several years but now that Tookie is dead, I wonder if Jimel Barnes has found peace with himself and enjoying the satisfaction that one of his boyhood friends has been executed.
Visit Other Related posts:
OG Westside Crip explains early purpose of Crips & difference between Baby Crips & founders
Original Westside Crips of South Los Angeles
Edmund talks about growing up as a Mad Swan Blood during most violent decade
Original Westside Crips talk about being railroaded during murder trial of Robert Ballou
Original Westside Crips talk about being convicted of murder 40 years ago
Bloods: The Rise of the Bloods Gang DVD
Change the Conversation about Tookie to the merits of the Case
Stanley Tookie Williams, Could be First Gang Member Executed in California
Jamel is the most ridiculous Crip that there ever was. Amazing, sounds like a hater.
Jimel still runnin from dem Wallnuts since 93RD street school
how u know Jimel lying? his lips movin
That is fed up that Jamel Barnes wanted Tookie executed. I bet he probably did the same ish back in the day!!!! I would truly understand if people didn’t respect him after his comments! I even heard that he got knocked out back in the day by one of the founders of the Bloods, and they said that the dude wasn’t even half the size of J.Barnes.
He got knocked out y Taboo in Athens Park. That is a fact. I saw it with my own eyes. Jamel came through the park with a crew and said either you get down or lay down and Taboo said nah blood that ain’t happening. Taboo 6’00” 170lbs soaking wet. Knock out! One punch!
I read that Mike Concepcion initiated Tookie Williams into the Crips?
all jamel is doing is letting everyone know that the story behind the crips is some bullish. all of them are lying. if you research the crips, 1969, and the FBI’s war against the southern california black panther party, you will see that ish aint adding. i agree with jamel the Tookie should have been exacuted. he forgot to mention that he (jamel) should be exacuted too.
punk Ni66ah is a snitch f that foo
He talks a lot of ish, but the interview is heavily edited by someone with alterior motives to maximise sensationalism
the interview was not edited, it played on live radio.
man shut up
Isn’t he also the real Santa Claus and Jesus Christ???
A THAT NIKCA JIMEL FULL OF ish HE CONTRADICTED HIZSELF TO MANY TIMEZ BOUT TOOKIE AND RAYMOND,HE IS DA FOUNDER OF DA AVALON GARDEN CRIPS 888ST (1971) BUT HE FOUL FOR LYIN ON BIG TOOKIE LIKE THAT AND HE WAS HANGIN BANGIN WIT TOOKIE IN DA EARLY 70’Z GOIN TO THA WATTS FESTIVAL LETTIN PEOPLE KNOW DA CRIPS R KCOMIN HE A REAL chick ASS NIKCA FOR THAT THO…..IM FROM EAST SIDE KITCHEN CRIP GANG DA FIRST CRIP GANG FORMED ON CENTRAL AVENUE AND 87TH STREET THA FOUNDER IS BIG SKCULL DA 7 STAR GENERAL WE DA FIRST CRIPS ON DA EAST SIDE OF SC LA TO BRANCH OFF OF DA EAST SIDE CRIPS (1969) ORIGINALLY BABY AVENUES FOUNDER RAYMOND WASHINTON A.K.A RAY RAY….BUT DA ORIGINAL AVENUES WAS DA MUNSON FAMILY ROBERT AND CRAIQ ORIGINAL KITCHEN CRIPS DA MUNSONS IS A KNOWN KITCHEN CRIP FAMILY LIKE DA LEE’S THA FOUNDERS OF MY SET KITCHEN CRIPS,NIKCAS NEED TO LEARN THEY HISTORY I GOT MY HISTORY FROM MY TRIPPLE OG’Z NIKCAS BANGIN AND DONT KNOW DA HISTORY BEHIND IT……. 12116st KITCH87 CRIP GANG S LOKCSTA SWAYK,TOASTK,THRILLAK,APPLEPIEK,PUSHUPSK,FLOPPZK,BOOTYHOESK,WSPK,VTPK,DLBK,135PK,NHCCK,115BUSTAZK,
MY motha I dont likein Cing say it CUZ 873 52 HGC till i live
KITCH87 CRIP GANG 12116st~87st~95st NHECK,FSBJ,MSBK,MGBK,APBK,AMGBK,DLBK,BHWBK,BWBK,92BBK,52PBK,WSPK,VTPK,135PK,115HCK,NHCCK,BK,PK,CK,OK,ABK, S LOKCSTA 12116st “K~I~P” SKCOODER 1,KENDOGG 1,K~NUTSO,HIMEY,KCARTOON 1~3,LONZO,CHOPP 2,DROOPY1,116IXERS
welll first here’s my obvious reason why the f you even going to join some ish like that?
and second that fer is wrong cause I have a 35inch bicep no wait that’s my d#$k haha….
hover is groven crip cazy cus
crips started in 68 and in the memory of RAYMOND WASHINGTON east side crips was supposed to unite.some crips said no so they cecame enemies and the rest cecame EAST COAST CRIPS.1st59st62nd66st68st69stj.bone89ip89st97stQ102st118st190st.True legends of the east side of los angeles.
DamN you left out 76st ECC? wE Originated EastC76st CRIPPiN CUZZ
crip in peace big took.true crips never live.u r a legend.
phuk jimel barnes cuhh…tookie RIP…crippin started on da eastside of long beach..phuk smell a,twats an compton 187..phuk all wets an samoans
the first crips in lbc were the insane angels and the us boys.crippin started in l.a.on the east side.and expanded everywhere else.
man i know “gangbangin” is over now 4 a fact when u got clowns like this disrespecting another C.R.I.P. jus because he didnt get his title an reconition as tha crip founder “CUZZ” u on some ish that happened over 20 years ago man lets talk bout the future and the present day in time and if “TOOKIE”could trade places with yo bitter azz he probaly would but i tell u this homeboy i dought it if “TOOKIE” would be doing this hoe ish you exploiting all over the radio and dont get me wrong i have heard of jamel but this dont sound like the one i heard of so im gonna give the benefit of the dought and say this is jus a “smoker” on the radio that got paid a 10 dolla hit to say he is jamel jus cuz he was one of those busta ass Ni66ahz that got kicked off they set or probaly slaped or raped by tookie way bac in the 70’s and now its his time to shine….but if that really was jamel:always remember this no matter how much u try to exploit another Ni66ah GUESS WHAT AFTER YO 15 MINUTES OF FAME IZ UP AT THE END OF THE DAY U STILL GONNA BE A Ni66ah TO THOSE WHITE FOLKS U TRYING TO IMPRESS BY PUTTING DOWN ANOTHER Ni66ah……ohh AN by tha WAY keep C.R.I.P. out yo bitter ass mouth
Rip ride ,,,Tht ways some real sht u, said. R.I.P Tookie
this was really Jamel Barnes, he went on KABC TV news woofing this same ish. It;s really him for real.
crips dont live we multiply f jamel
how u know Jimel is lying? his freakin lips r movin
Hey everyone I attended Fremont High School in 1972 and Edison Jr. High in 1968 and remember Raymond Lee Washington from first hand knowledge and I can tell you that Tookie was not an aquaintance of Raymond this was a story invented by the african americans who lived on the west side and were not affliated with the origins of the gang. while I myself was an athlete and show no bias I can tell you any member of the 69, 68, and affliated east coast sets can verify this information as these guys descend from Raymonds original set (ask any (2+g’s) Additionally most o the information out there is any where from 40% to 99% accurate with some notable acceptions: (case in point ) while I did not belong to any gang I begrugdingly admired Raymonds fighting prowess as I observed Raymond travel to the area of the Pueblo del Pio Housing Projects in an attempt to fight one on one with “Snake” of the Pueblo’s gang (1969) In conclusion I only recount these observations to shed light on these folks out there who attempted to sidetrack the beginnings of the gang by superimposing the memrory of Tookie (notorious non fighter) with that of Raymond Washington a panther inspired warrior who sought out fights in a Kimbo Slice manner………Rob!
You’re full of ish and lying through your teeth, their are East Coast OGs that are still around who grew up banging with Raymond and Tookie, stop spreading lies,
so are you saying tookie never use to fight and he was not a member of the drips they all have picture’s with raymond in 71
REAL TALK “Rob” all I’m gone say is this,
I’m 46 years old, haven’t been back in my set since I was 17, 1982 when my mom’s was murdered, now I can’t never go home, washington, gave me the nickname “K9” when I was 8 years old in 1973 cuz I was always fighting, and he watched over me an my lil sis, everyone loved my mom and my pops was one of the panthers in the hood. this went on until that day they took him from us, and the reason I can ever go home again…
I never met tookie during all this time, and he kept my little ass around all the time…
F#%K THAT HATE’N ASS Ni66ah………
CUZ NEED TO KIC BAC AN SHET THE F#%K UP…CUZ GOT DROP’D BY A BLOOD Ni66ah IN COMPTON….FROM ATHENS PARKS…”TABOO”
pk pyro ker hover groven never losen crip crazy cus
CUZ A SHERMHEAD
I am a 3rd generation member of the Rollin’ 20’s Bloods.
I was a youngster but I do remember Tookie and Jimel from back in the 1970’s.
I have seen them in Los Angeles back in those days (considering as big as they were they were hard to miss.
I go back to the 70’s when they use to be at the movies downtown on Broadway every saturday.
A lot of what he is saying is questionable, but I do know Tookie along with members of R/A/C founded the BNCO from death row and although he may have grown to be outside of the immature senseless activity of the gang banger, he was still active in prison Crip politics through the Blue Notes.
I dont like jamel barnes is 103rd grapestreet eastside watts varrio cuz we dnt do dat stuff wat he on n memphis cuz tony grey frm cali my ooog cuz
Hi could you please come to my home and shoot me, not k me and my dog. I just want my brother to appreciate me more. My address is 69877 Pomegranate Lane. Cathedral City, CA 92234. Thank you and God Bless you. Patricia
This is a great example of The total BS i encountered while doing research on Raymond Washington. Barnes Claims to have started the Crips with Raymond Washington, which is a complete lie and well documented as such in this interview. Looking forward to publishing I Am Raymond Lee Washington in Feb of 2015.
Jimel is homeless in downtown L.A.
Jimel was never there at the formation of the Cribs in 69 and he was never present at the alliance between east and Westside in 71 Jimel was recruited after OG Buddha (who became a crip in 73) which means he can’t even claim original membership like Herc, sweetback or Melvin.
Jimel harboured bitterness and enmity towards other crips particularly Tookie, he was jealous of the OG and coveted everything he had from his women to his looks, his hate is strong despite the fact that Took saved his life so many times he was calling for his execution.
What most people don’t realise is that Jimel was not a Westside Crip he was recruited by Raymond who challenge him to fight and because he knew he wouldn’t win he acquiesced and became a Eastside crip, He broke away after Raymond got locked up.
Now he like Michael Conception is enhancing his prestige by claiming to be founder. This fool even says he founded the BLOODS, in the eighties he started smoking crack now it seems he barely has any sanity, he’s lost his muscles and all credibility and repertoire even from OG Avalons.
For real crip history Alex needs to be speaking to OGs like Melvin or Sweetback, they were some Big Took’s most loyal cousins
But cousins are usually biased..
I dont like jimel Barnes that Ni66ah a straight bustard him and Arnold Schwarzenegger punk ass he just wished he was like tookie Williams Barnes stay in Van Nuys California I be seeing him but this my first time reading this I’m never speaking to that muthaphucca again
This jimel Barnes is a straight liar, wanted to get my number to help my career and said he was the founder of the crips! Lmaoooo old crazy lunatic . I knew he was lying and I disregarded him. Lying for a date .
He Samson also said in one of his youtube comments that he KO’D OUT Raymond Washington because Mama Washington didn’t want her son to ruin his life being a Gangster.
He also LOL said Opera is his Niece and Obama is his Uncle and He was Tyson Bodyguard and so on.
Huge fan of your channel mate.Streetgangs is an Awsm Channel . Subbed and liked ? ?. But tell me one ting?Why do most people let Samson Into their Boxing Gyms and interview this guy if he wasn’t connected to some Big time people?Nobody has confronted this guy and they sit down and listen to his ish.He must be Connected with some Big time players still as of today..OR people wouldn’t surround this dude everywhere he goes and Films him.People would just tell him to Fook Off ND take a hike but they don’t. That’s confusing to Not just me but a lot of comments in youtube iv read.
Thats not a photo of Jimel Barnes. That is clearly Tookie.
That is a photo of Tookie because the article is about Tookie too.