Ozone Mag All Star 2011 special edition

lifestyle and think it’s cool. A lot of people start off in it when they’re young, and after they’ve been through so much, they’re like, “Fuck this shit, I wanna get out of here.” I’m 21 and I’ve been doing this since I was 12. After so long, you really just wanna get out of this shit. You see there’s no way out. You gotta shake that shit off and realize [life] is bigger than gangbangin’ in the neighborhood. You gotta look at the bigger picture.

Chino: A lot of times, it’s family-inherited. My grandpa’s been to the joint and probably his grandpa too. Every kid looks for that fatherly attention or role models. You’re just a kid and don’t know what direction to go, so you want someone to look up to. We’re livin’ in the hood so a lot of times your parents are busy workin’, tryin’ to get us out of the hood. You end up playin’ ball with the dudes on the block and they stay hustling. They teach you that shit and you pick it up. It passes down to every generation.

Is there anything else you want to add?

Lefty: My message is that you can do the right thing in any situation if you try. I was at my lowest point in my life, and I coulda ended up in prison. I tried to put my effort into something positive and I got into a better situation overnight. If you try, shit could be different.

Don’t never give up and always keep your head up.

Chino: I want to stress the point that you’ve gotta be thankful for what you’ve got. When you ain’t got it, it makes a big difference. A lot of times we take stuff for granted and end up in a predicament and forget what we’re really tryin’ to do. I just want to help my people and take care of my family and do something positive so I can show the next man a way out. I’m just gonna try to remain humble and do this to the fullest.

Te Money: We’re just tryin’ to promote positivity, not just in L.A., but state to state. To all the gangbangers across the world: we’re getting along, and you guys should do the same. Put all your positive energy into yourself and your family.

Where can people find out more information about your music and your movement?

Te Money: Our website is www.TheGangEnt. com. There’s links up there to Twitter and Myspace, and we’ve got our music, photos, and interviews up there. // OZONE MAG // 71