Mayor's Anti-Gang Office

STREET GANG SLANG / GLOSSARY

• 13 or XIII or X3 or TRECE
  Thirteenth letter in the alphabet - (M), which symbolizes or identifies gang affiliation of Mexican heritage. Also may refer to allegience to Southern California gangs.
• 14 or XIV or X4
  Fourteenth letter of the alphabet "N"; refers to allegiance to Northern California or Norte Califas gangs.
• 8-BALL
  A reference to a quantity of cocaine.
• 5-O
  The police.
• AK
  Used to denote a semi-automatic assault rifle, such as AK47 or SKS rifles.
• B.G. or BABY G
  Term for a very young gangster, approximately 9-12 years old; Stands for "Baby Gangster."
• BK
  Initials meaning Blood killer; used by Crip gangs to threaten rival "Blood" gangs; the brand of athletic shoes called British Knights are popular with the Crip gang members because of the initials on the shoes "BK."
• BG, BD or BGD
  Refers to "sets" of large Midwestern gangs called Black Gangsters, Black Disciples, Black Gangster Disciples who are a coalition of criminal enterprises under the organized umbrella of the "Folk Nation."
• BLOOD
  The organized umbrella gang over numerous sets of California street gangs. They utilize the color red in clothing, graffiti, etc.
• BUD
  Marijuana.
• BUSTED,POPPED A CAP
  Shot at someone. CK Initials meaning "Crip Killer"' used by Blood gangs to threaten rival "Crip" gangs.
• CHOLA
  Spanish reference for a girl involved in gang activity.
• CHOLO
  Spanish reference for a boy involved in gang activity.
• CLICA, CLIKA
  Spanish reference for set, clique, gang.
• CLIQUE
  A set; a gang.
• CLICKING IN
  Getting initiated into a gang.
• COLORS
  Refering to gang colors. Flying colors means wearing a bandana or clothing that represents gang colors.
• CRAB
  Bloods' derogatory nickname for Crip gang members.
• CRIB
  A person's home, an inmate's cell, room.
• CRIP
  The organized umbrella gang over numerous sets of California street gangs; they utilize the color blue in clothing, graffiti, etc.
• CUZZ
  Friendly slang term used for one another by Crips when talking with other Crips.
• DOUBLE DEUCE
  A .22 caliber handgun.
• DURAG
  (Pronounced doo-rag) Handkerchief or bandanna wrapped around a gang member's head.
• DUSTED
  Under the influence of P.C.P.; often used to refer to a marijuana joint laced with P.C.P.
• FLYING YOUR COLORS
  Wearing your gang's colors.
• G or GANGSTER
  How gang members see and describe themselves.
• GAGE
  Shotgun.
• GANG BANGER
  Gang member.
• GAT
  Gun.
• GET DOWN
  Fight.
• HARD
  An adjective for describing someone as strong-willed; unemotional or uncaring.
• HATER
  A snitch.
• HOLMES
  A person from a neighborhood. Homeboy, Homies.
• HOMEY, HOME BOY
  Fellow gang member from the same neighborhood.
• HOOD
  Neighborhood.
• IN THE MIX
  Involved in gang activity.
• JACK
  Verb meaning to rob or assault someone.
• KICKING IT
  Gang banging or spending time with someone or some group.
• LIGHTING UP/LIT UP
  Shot.
• MAD DOG
  Staring or glaring at another person with intent to intimidate.
• MI VIDA LOCA
  Spanish translation for "My crazy life." Symbolizes what the gang member thinks of their lifestyle. Live for now, don't worry about the consequences.
• O.G.
  Abbreviation for "Original Gangster"; reference for one of the original members of a clique, set, or gang.
• PAY BACK
  Vendetta, retaliation.
• PLACAS
  Spanish reference for graffiti identifying a gang name.
• PEOPLE/PEOPLE NATION
  A coalition of midwestern gangs including the Vice Lords and affiliate groups that have formed an organized criminal group of gangs/sets. Rival the Folks/Folk Nation.
• PIPE HEAD
  Person addicted to cocaine.
• POR VIDA
  Spanish translation: "For life." Means the gang member is in the gang for life.
• POSSE
  East Coast term for gang.
• PRIMO
  Marijuana joint laced with cocaine.
• PUTTING IN WORK
  Reference for a gang member doing a shooting; a murder.
• R.I.P.
  "Rest In Peace." Often seen in graffiti and is a signal of pending violence or violence which has already occurred.
• RAG
  Handkerchief in gang's color.
• RIDE
  Car.
• SET
  Neighborhood gangs; another term used for a gang by criminal street gang members. Most sets are loyal to and fall under a greater organized umbrella entity such as the "Bloods", "Crips", "Folks" or "People."
• SHANK
  Prison terminology for homemade knife.
• SHOOTER
  A person who uses a gun.
• SLOB
  Crip's insult for Blood gang member.
• SMILE NOW, CRY LATER
  Popular tatoo of a smiling face and frowning face. Depicts gangster life.
• SMOKED HIM
  Means to have shot someone.
• SNITCH
  Informer.
• SQUAB
  An argument or fight.
• TAG
  A writer's name (moniker is his "Tag," to write graffiti is to "tag".)
• TAGGER
  A person who writes graffiti.
• TREY EIGHT
  A .38 caliber handgun.
• TURF
  Territory claimed by the gang.
• VATO
  Spanish reference to man, boy, guy.
• VATO LOCO
  Spanish reference to crazy dude.
• WHAT IT "B" LIKE
  Blood greeting.
• WHAT IT "C" LIKE
  Crip greeting.