This is one of the most controversial albums ever recorded. Not a statement… It’s a fact. This was the album that started rising gangster rapper Sir Dyno and imprisoned the majority of the Nuestra Familia gang of Northern California.
This tape titled “G.U.N.: Generations of United Norteños — XIV Till Eternity”, was actually a recruiting tool for the prison gang which spawned a massive five million dollar plus FBI investigation known as Operation Black Widow. In all, 21 people were indicted in the FBI’s three-year investigation into Nuestra Familia. When it concluded in April 2001, it was one of the largest take downs on a prison gang in US history.
This recording was released in 1998 which sparked a lot of controversy and rallied many youths to join Norteno gangs. The recruiting tool was executed to perfection. I resided in Salinas at the time and recall everyone listening to or owning this album. It really surprised me how many people took to the lyrics and content of the music. In my opinion this clever idea really did resonate with youngster of the time. The appeal caused many misguided individuals to join the Norteno gang movement which created an environment for heightened gang violence against their enemies.
It is always difficult to know the intentions of artists. Even if the artists in this case had no plan to recruit, it is possible that people in Salinas interpreted it in that way. This is the nature of art. It is interesting to see that while the words in this clip overtly promote unity within Norteno groups, some non-members found it inspiring to try to join up.
I lived on 24th Street (@ Folsom) in San Francisco from 1992-2000. The Mission at that time had lots of Nortenos and a few Surenos, and plenty of affiliates and hangarounds. It is easy to see how this album could function as a recruiting artifact for kids in my neighborhood at that time, even if no one intended that.
It’s always interesting to see how cultural productions spin out of the control of the creators.
It wasn’t an album for recruiting. It was a calling for unity and for the in-fighting to stop. WTF you talking about. If you really knew anything, you wouldn’t of typed NONE of that! Nortenos don’t “recruit”. You have to really want it. It’s not a friggin’ club you just sign up for. Show some respect! You have NO idea what really went on, and it shows. You WERE NOT THERE!