Hood To Hollywood-Celebs Who Rose Above Gang Life

In neighborhoods across the world, young people are too often drawn to the allure of gang life. Some gang members cite the need for a family as the initial attraction to the dangerous lifestyle. Other gang bangers provide explanations such as protection, financial gain, or being born into the culture as the sources of their underworld ambitions. Whatever the reason a youth joins a gang for, in today’s world of high powered weapons and deadly drug trades… it’s a bad choice that usually turns out tragic.

They Over Came The Life

When we see our favorite celebrities, the glamour and glitz often blind us to the struggle and grind that lurks behind. Some of our most honored entertainers have risen from the rough concrete streets, to the highest heights of their industries. The following well known figures prove that with hard work, dedication, and the conversion of street smarts into business acumen, Hollywood sure beats the hood.

From a Gang to a Gang of Fame

Barry White

Barry White is a legendary crooner who is known for the bass in his voice and his perfectly orchestrated R&B smash hits. Before he would help define the sound of 1970’s soul, he was growing up in the rough streets of South Central L.A. He joined the Businessmen, a gang that operated in South Central at the time. They committed various crimes and fought their rivals the Slausons. At age 16 he stole $30,000 worth of tires from a Cadillac lot and was handed seven months in prison. That same year, his brother Darryl lost his life to a rival gang. When Barry was released, he left the life and promised to focus on music. The choice would eventually make him a household name.

Eazy E

Eric “Eazy E” Wright was the first Gangsta Rapper to bring the streets to mainstream America. He founded the Rap group N.W.A. and his Ruthless records imprint would sell millions of records, while popularizing a sub genre of Hip Hop. At the height of his success, Ruthless records was checking in millions of dollars per month. Artists like N.W.A. and Bone Thugs N Harmony were topping the pop charts. Before Eazy E would take the careers of Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Will.i.a.m. to the next level, he was a member of the Kelly Park Compton Crips.

The Kelly Park Compton Crips’ territory stretches from Muriel Avenue in the west to  Stoneacre Avenue in the east, Alondra Blvd. to the north, back down to Greenleaf Blvd. Eric would take the funds he amassed from the illicit drug trade during the 80’s crack epidemic and organize “The World’s Most Dangerous Rap Group.” Decades later, Hollywood would immortalize his legacy with the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton.