Gangland: Turf Wars

On Thursday night (1st Sept 2016) I watched the first episode of a two-part series on Dry Snitching.

"Jokes... but it should of been called that."

Gangland: Turf Wars (Channel 5, Thursday 10pm), a Channel 5 documentary, which was made to show the lives of gang members in London, giving full access to the world of gangs and drugs in the UK.

Now I'm of the older generation, "See no evil, Speak no evil." 

"Keep your mouth shut and do not divulge the secrets."

via GIPHY

When did people forget the Jamaican motto: "Walk and Live, Talk and bombaclart dead."

This concept has definitely left the building.

I wish I could blame Channel 5, but I can't. This poor reflection on the black youths, was provided by the black youths themselves. Channel 5 did not force them to speak on everything that has happened and is happening in the gang culture.

During the filming the narrator said that they were able to gain access under one condition, "that the gang members filmed themselves."


So I do not understand why these guys didn't take that 'Go Pro camera' and film some fun sh*t, some non-gang related sh*t.

"Nahhh, cause everyone wants to be a superstar - by any means necessary."

This documentary seemed to be focused more on the black community and their connection with gun crime and gangs in the UK. There are gangs of all races, but they chose to focus mainly on the black gangs?

It's always easy to play the "blame game", but who told them to take out there guns for the cameras, display their drug holding skills and translate the street code.

Some people may think that this program was a racist, degrading view of the black community and that Channel Five are glorifying the gang culture.

Below is a picture of the co-creater of Gangland, Paul Blake. Blake is described on the internet as a black mentor who specialises in developing black talent - Is this the black talent he wants to develop?

Maybe these guys thought there would be doors opening after this programme aired - "Cell doors maybe...lol."

Maybe these guys were exploited, but they made that decision for themselves.

Paul Blake, Co-producer of Gangland.

Secondly, there is nothing glamorous about sticking things up your ass.

There were no German whips on display, no jewellery flashed and no flossing in fancy clothes.

"Unless you want to speak about Jordy and his 90's looking pictures."

Former gang member Quincy was the only person who had a story. He was that guy that turned sh*t around and came out the other side. He'd served his time and wanted to make a diffrence, but it looks like no matter how hard a man trie to change the police will always be watching you waiting for you to F up.

This video of Quincy being searched by undercover police for no clear reason was recorded the same day the documentary was aired, which makes you wonder what have the police seen/heard?

What information did the police have to make them carry out this stop and search?

Now we can use shows like these to encourage the gang culture and think it's a great world or we can look at it and say, "We need to stop and use our skills for something good."

It's only going to end two ways - Death or Jail.

The way these guys spoke, if they channelled that energy into a real business they would be a success.