Customer Reviews

Inside the Crips: Life Inside L.A.'s Most Notorious Gang

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Before I read this book, I came and read these reviews, and I wondered why are people talkin about monster's book, when this is about Colton's book. Now after I have read this book I see why, this book is very similar, just replace killing crips with killing bloods, I could have even sworn I remeber some passages that are the same,(EX. How the prisoners treated the busters in jail), and there are some people mentioned in both books, besides that, I thought it was an intresting book, it gives very detalied descripsions about what goes on in the life of a crip. A lot of people don't realize that growing up in gang neiborhoods, being in a gang isn't so much by choice, my father grew up in San deigo, he had been around some of the gang members, lil brothers and cousins. When he was old enough, he was asked to join the bloods, when he said he'd think about it, they chased him home, everyday until he decided that he would join. These books give a lil insite to their world and lets people see what's it really like, in these streets, and gives knowledge to the young ones hoping they would choose a different path. Although I thinks Mosters book is a better read, this book is also very good, if intresed, you should definetly read one of these books.

Ice T sets the tone for "Inside the Crips," writing in the forward that "masculinity is at a premium in the 'hood; wealth is defined by violence, aggression, and strength. Gang wars are no stupider than other other war. Crips are even more powerful in penitentiaries - prison doesn't teach good citizenship. It teaches violence."

Carlton Simpson, author and central figure, is the son of a former professional baseball player (7 years with L.A. Dodgers). Carlton's father left home when he was four, and he was abused by his mother; Carlton nonetheless received love and strong guidance living with his grandmother. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough - he left after a Little League game to be "jumped into" the Crips, and then shoot two bloods - all at the age of ten.

Expelled from school for selling drugs, his grandmother tried sending him to two others, with no success. Carlton's education ended with the 8th grade. Numerous shootings and jewelry store robberies later he is caught, and sentenced to seven years in juvenile. Out in half the time at age 19, he continues his destructive behavior.

Gang warfare is greatly intensified within prison confines - one wonders how anyone makes it out in one piece. Guard abuse and brutality adds to the danger. Regardless, upon release Carlton returns to his modis operandi.

Six months after being released, Simpson is again arrested and sentenced to 24 years for robbery and attempted murder (shooting and seriously wounding a bystander who tried to stop him). At age 33 Simpson is again paroled, having supposedly gained insight on the pointlessness of ganbanging, while blaming White people for much/most of his problems. (Particularly disturbing is his wife's leaving him after he began reforming in prison - Carlton was sounding "too White.")

"Inside the Crips" ends with Carlton working for Ice T (an acquaintance during his early years). Unfortunately, that is not the end of the story, however, Carlton has again been arrested for participating in a jewelry robbery and is awaiting trial. This would be his third strike, if convicted, and the end of what could have been a useful life. (One uncle was a lawyer, another an LA policeman.)

I have to say I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it,I found it to be exciting,and it gave me a look into another type of life alot of people can't dream of living. This book inspired me to work with youth that need to learn another way of living. Ann Pearlman and Colton Simpson together have told a true life story that would make a wonderful movie. This book leaves you wanting to know more!

As an ex gangmember myself, my "review" is really a "critique" and is from an entirely different perspective. First off, when I consider/read this type of information, my first objective is to consider the source. In this case that would be "Li'l Cee". And he is well respected within the gang ranks and one of the few who has the street and prison rep(reputation) along with the literary skills to write such a powerful piece. Second objective, is his story credible or is it just a good piece of fiction? Well, I've personally walked the line (did time) with Li'L Cee and know and/or witnessed alot of the incidents he spoke about as well as did time with the individuals he spoke on and everything was as he wrote. There was a couple of exceptions & that was some names were changed to protect the guilty. From this insider's perspective, this books gets 5 stars.

I've read Kody Scott's 'Monster' and Terrell Wrights 'Home of the Bodybags' all great reads and this is no exception. Book kept me interested and I finished it pretty quickly.

for anyone who reads these gangbanger autobiographys, you will enjoy this one.

This book is by and large a terrible read. The editing is poor and the story suffers from it. The book is hard to read, do to the inability of the author or the editors to maintain the characters identities. For instance Monster Kody the author of his own auto-biography is refered to as Big Buster, Monster Ken and Monster Kody. Sometimes various gang monikors applied to a single character appear in consecutive paragraphs leaving the reader confused forcing you to scramble back and verify that you have not missed a sentence or two. The same occurs when the identity of Huckabuck from the Rollin 60s is merged with a character of the same name from Harlem 30s. When Huckabuck is discussed and later dies, the reader is not informed which of the two characters we are reading about. I would suggest buying this book at a discounted price or check it out of the library but don't waste your money buying it at full price.

INSIDE THE CRIPS is a good argument for paying attention in class. That's because the author of this book is currently in jail for writing it. Colton Simpson was arrested because his written descriptions of being a wheelman in various jewelry heists matched up nicely with some of the L.A.P.D.'s unsolved cases. Being in California, once he was found guilty, he faced a sentencing of 30 years to life because of the state's "3 strikes" rule.

If you'd like to learn about Colton Simpson's previous two strikes, read this moderately entertaining book. The writing tends to be a bit over-the-top, but to me, its "behind the scenes" glimpse at the Crips was interesting.

But Simpson should have have known that not only can the police use anything you SAY against you in a court of law, they can also use anything you WRITE. (Didn't his publisher's legal department warn Simpson of the risks he was taking?)

Little Afrika Bound In Texas, written by Maceo Rodgers it's the book everyone needs to read, because it's the first time Pir5u-Bloods ever came out with there side. He is like a big Tookie he gives in depth history about a life style that been hidden that is now exposed to the world. He has gien 30 years of his life to this life style. You can find Maceo at : Amazon.com/maceo rodgers. He dealt with both side so its no bias here when you copt htis book supporting the geatest biography written by Afrikan American

Wish i could say more, but i just started reading it. So far it's a great story and am looking forward to the rest ot it.

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.