GUTTA Magazine "The Cecil Jackson Story" In His Own Words"

OF THE NOTORIOUS CECIL JACKSON DRUG GANG Currently serving a life term plus 145 years in federal prison, he tells his story of the drug trade, contracts on his life, & the fedreal investigation which lead up to his conviction.

DEUCIE ROYAL TEE CHARLES HERRON SOUTHWEST CLICK SUPERNOVA ENTERTAINMENT

FEATURE ARTICLES: P1. iN HIS OWN WORDS: The Cecil Jackson Story

p7. Royal-Tee

get to know the front runner of Street Dreamaz Ent.

P8. dEUCIE: qUEEN OF THE UNDAGRIND

tHE USUAL SUSPECTS:

I. gutta magazine organization - the fam P16. Up and comming artist - Alaze back cover. THE RAP UP:

Publisher

Founder OF SoLo Entertainment, HAS THE MUSIC WORLD IN HER POCKET

La’Reuance Allen

meet the artists of the supernova camp

Graphic Design/Web Design/Layout Design

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P17. SOUTHWEST CLICK:

CONTINUING THE SOUTH’S HIP-HOP DOMINATION.

P18. charles herron

starfleet recording’s heavy hitter

Karon Mack, Christopher McKnight, Tyron Arrington, Mark Anthony

Sales/Marketing Sandy Hudson

Contributing Writers

Amy Boteilho-jacobus aka white diamond, Erica Hill, Sandy Hudson

Street Promotions

Vernon Gilyard, Brian “Pep” McManus

Editor

Trasha Black

Photographers

john strayhorne JL Concepts, Tyron Arrington, Sandy Hudson, Chris Jenkins

Contributors

Nick D, Dee Evans, Keisha Douglas, AJ Stoner, Doug Miller, F/L Bonding, Charlotte cares grandmothers, Tone X, J Vanderhorst, Deucie, Charles Herron Photo: Robinson / Spangler Carolina Room PLCMC

leader of gang gets life 5 others sentenced in trafficking case

from drug sales to jail cell, the legendary leader of the “cecil jackson drug gang” tells all.

In 1990, United States District Court Judge Robert “Maximum Bob” Potter sentenced me, a young, twenty two year old African American male, to the terms of life plus an additional one hundred forty five years in a federal prison. The charges stemmed from violating statues US 21 848 “Continuing a Criminal Enterprise”. This highly rated charge is viewed as a “kingpin charge,” which has been passed to certain inmates like mafia members and drug cartel leaders. Basically, it fits the criteria of a drug dealer who has been determined to be the head of a drug group or crew by either confessing that he is the leader or by a number of co-defendants pointing them out as the leader. That was why the initial life term was handed down.

The additional term of one hundred forty five years was handed down for the conviction of 13 counts of possessing, carrying, and using a firearm during/while committing a drug offense. At the time of my conviction and extreme sentencing, I was barely old enough to drink an alcoholic beverage. Authorities claimed that I organized and headed one of the most ruthless drug gangs that the city of Charlotte had ever witnessed, estimating a $35,000 weekly profit in selling twenty dollar bags of crack for two years. They also alleged that the gang that I headed used brute and excessive force to protect our drugs and our drug profits. The government painted a picture where they alleged that we also used that force to intimidate drug rivals and people in the communities with the goal of increasing power and gain respect. (What would you do if contracts were out on your head and people were trying to blow you up with homemade bombs.)

In a mere sense, those were just tremendous catalysts to help seal my young fate. It was a well propelled fabricated scheme to instill in the minds of the public that I was an extreme danger and menace to society deserving to be locked up for the rest of my life alongside the likes of the

Bloods and Crips gang members, world renowned Mafia members, international terrorists in which I have exceeded in prison length for the crimes committed. (Statistics show 192,179 inmates are housed in the United States federal facilities.)

Although, this experience in prison has been a most intriguing and challenging one, it has yet to break me mentally as otherwise designed. Instead, it has made me stronger, a lesson well deserved learned, and mentally aware enabling me to share my story with GUTTA Magazine. I hope to give a constructive insight on the fairy tale, quick hustle come up that from which almost no one escapes and to deter our young adults and generations from the crime plagued streets of today.

Although, this experience in prison has been a most intriguing and challenging one, it has yet to break me mentally ...

We’re in such a day when unfortunately the street culture has been glorified and commercialized to such a degree that it has now captured not only the hearts and minds of the black inner city communities, but also the well-to-do ones who marvel at the gangster and thug label that is swallowing the hopes of our younger generation.

To visualize the lifestyle is one thing, but understanding the consequences that are heavily at risk is the major factor in this game. Reaping the repercussions of your actions is the most important need of this national negative culture as well as determining the ones who are in reality truly living the American Dream by benefiting the most from this love affair with the streets. :: 2 ::

that I organized and headed one of the most ruthless drug gangs that the city of Charlotte had ever witnessed ...

What I will display is the life of a so called gangster or thug. But what you don’t know is that this particular lifestyle is much deeper than it appears to be on the surface and so misunderstood by many who seek it and don’t even understand that their freedom and well-being are at risk. Warning! There will be no need to understand the concept once you have entered the system because by then it is too late. Once the net is tossed and you are caught up in it, there is nothing you can do.

February 1967, I was born the eldest of four children all raised by my mother ...

I tell this story from the perspective of someone whose intent is not to glorify the game, especially when it seems like we are winning because the money, the cars, and the women are hollering our names. Instead, I will give you the real and affirmative account from someone who has experienced it first hand and is now paying the price. I will give you the concept of how the game initially was portrayed in the south but which has now turned into a court system craze.

My price is too high regardless of whether or not I was guilty or innocent of the charges in which I was convicted and sentenced. Unfortunately for me, I was misinformed, ignorant, and blind to the fact that it was going to last forever. This is what the game was really about. This was nothing short of a design by the real gangsters, the United States Government.

So mainly in this writings, I explore not the side of getting easy money and women because if you heard one dope boy story you have heard :: 3 ::

them all. Instead the side seldom told is of the realities and pitfalls of living a lifestyle where one rises only to fall. Not only read my story, but read between the lines of the trials and tribulations of my come up. Read between the lines of the shoot-outs. And read between the lines of my sentencing and conviction. Even though you may not have gone through the system, it is likely that a relative, a family member, a friend, or maybe someone you have heard of has and will experience the same trials of the federal court system.

My Story.

February 1967, I was born the eldest of four children all raised by my mother on Charlotte, North Carolina’s lower west side in one of the neighboring housing projects known as Pitts Drive. This area made a strong and healthy name for itself. We all know as the oldest, you are to be an example to your siblings and I was to a certain degree. The area was a low income, single parenting, and drug infested neighborhood for most that lived there. Almost like every other housing project throughout the nation, it had its share of black on black crimes which could be viewed daily and it was heavy with unemployment.

The run down housing complexes were renovated like every fifty years it seems. You broke a window; it took them thirty days to come fix it. The grass was cut once a month. When we tossed the football around, we had to be careful where we threw it. If we threw it too hard or too far it might hit the wet clothes that were hung out on the neighbors clothing lines. In my hood, there was little or no fathers present. Either your father came and went or he was not there at all.

The holidays were a mere joke especially Christmas. The gifts from the local salvation or Goodwill were not as exciting as the toys would have been from K-Mart. My siblings and I played with our neighborhood friends everyday. Basketball, Photo: Robinson / Spangler Carolina Room PLCMC

football, and baseball were fun, but there was nothing like walking the local creek for no reason at all on a hot summer’s day.

Playing knock, knock zoom, zoom (where you would knock on the neighbor’s door and run before they answered.)

ful deer hunting rifle over a parking space. After observing the man’s lifeless body fall helplessly to the pavement, we walked up to the dead man only to view the gruesome sight of blood pouring from his body and the insides hanging from his body loosely. The black shirt that was on the man as he lay on the ground turned burgundy that quick. His eyes were closed as if he was sleeping but we all knew he was dead. I noticed that his pants were soaked by his groan area.

But the area was of a clear color and not blood.

Personally, I did not know either of the men.

To this day, the thoughts of him lying on the ground remains as one of the most unforgettable memories for me and my friends who witnessed the ordeal. The up close and personal sight was the first for me but was far from the last. I guess for someone to loose their life over something as small and insignificant as a parking space should give you something to think about. Not us, we absorbed what was in front of us for good and bad and went on about our business.

Nevertheless, despite the experiences as a kid, with my mother’s guidance I got off to a good start. I was average in my academics and played various sports due to the fact I was taller than most of the kids my age. I was basically doing everything expected of me at a young age.

But I was always looking for something to satisfy this hunger I was experiencing. It was not puberty, but the thought of something more outside of the Pitts Drive Housing Projects. I thought indulging in sports would crave it, but it only fueled my soul to a certain degree. However, with the teenage years came the rebellion which is somewhat common in almost every household.

With the lack of a strong, black positive role model to instill the guidance I needed to stay on the right track, this part of my life was easy to journey away.

Eventually, I strayed away from the guidance and advice of my mother by the time I was 14. Easily being influenced by what I had already endured and what I was witnessing, I

. . . the thoughts of him lying on the ground remains as one of the most unforgettable memories for me . . .

By the tender age of 10, the constant sirens of police, fire, and medic became tunes to my ears to where we were simply immune. Sometimes we heard them so much, that when we didn’t hear them we felt lost. Yellow is my least favorite color due to the fact of all the yellow tape I saw marking off crime scenes in my neighborhood from the night before. The gunshots!

Who can forget the gunshots? They were more common than anything on Pitts Drive.

After the last night gunshots came the sirens. Though we were pretty normal kids in a sense of participating in the same activities as any other kids, there were things that separated us. As we got older, we were somewhat advanced. The games got old as we were getting older, which meant our young minds started exploring what was going with the older crowds in the projects.

So my younger brothers and I paid strong attention to what we were seeing; the constant exposure to the negative criminal element as the drug dealers, gambling, and the violence that the community was offering us. There was a particular incident as a kid I have never forgotten. While my friends, my brothers, and I were playing sandlot football, we all witnessed a man shot to death with a 30/30, a highly power:: 5 ::

quickly gravitated toward the streets where the very people I should have been avoiding were located. The drug dealers and hustlers of the community became my role models. Emulated and fascinated with the things they had the cars, the clothes, the jewelry, and the women.

All those things were what I wanted for myself and what I had been craving. Being persuaded by the daily things I saw, I then convinced my inner self that the game was where I wanted to be. I entered the game, my hand was dealt, and I was going to play to win.

It was the mid eighties when I was roughly 16 or 17 when marijuana (weed) was the big and profitable drug of choice. The nation along with the rest of the world was smoking it (97.8% of today’s nation has at least tried marijuana.)

Eventually, as is typical of many inner city kids who grow up in a community infested with drugs, violence, and crime; me being a product of the environment and also attracted to the lifestyle and the potential to get fast and easy money, my decision was made. In 1986, I ditched high school where I was a sophomore member of the varsity basketball team and quit my daytime job where I worked at the local corner store. For me of course, my days of scrubbing floors for that little or nothing pay was over.

When I ditched school, I would cycle back to the projects to watch as the hustlers would conduct their drug transactions. I started out as a holder (someone who holds the drugs in case the police would roll up.) I would stand away from the hustlers until they needed me to come re-up them. In my new job, I was making fifty dollars a day.

Then it seemed I was promoted quickly to full-time employment. My promotion consisted of me conducting hand to hand transactions making a real profit. I would get a weed package of nicks ($5 nickel baggies of weed stuffed in to small brown envelopes) from my supplier (one of the older hustlers in the hood) and sell it at profit. (Continued on p.11)

6 in cocaine gang

could get life terms

Photo: Robinson / Spangler Carolina Room PLCMC

:: 6 ::

oyal Tee and his partner Diesel J. Are taking the scene by storm.

Along with promotional director J. Know Truth (Power 98 WPEG), they have started the Charlotte based company Street Dreamaz, and Royal Tee’s album “Alumni” will soon be released. The single, “Love Thing”, has received exceptional feedback so far. S.D.E’ motto, “We Make Dreams A Reality & Without A Vision We Perish.” is certainly coming true for this aspiring artist.

Royal Tee, a.k.a. Ade’ Adisa Vanderhorst, was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, where he was first introduced to hip - hop music at age seven. Ade’, meaning Royal priesthood, is one of the few young artists today who was inspired by the pioneers of hip hop. Old-school artists such as RUN-DMC, Big Daddy Kane, Nas, JAY-Z and LL Cool J have led Royal Tee to work on his own original style - “the ability to invent and create new (and fresh) ideas”.

This talented young man, along with the support of his family, has proved that hard work does pay off. Royal Tee’s recently mixed CD “They Not Gon Like US,” mixed by “The Incredible” DJ Polo is currently on rotation on Sirius Radio Channel 42 and is circulating on the streets of the Carolinas. Together, Royal Tee and The Incredible DJ Polo have just finished a new mix tape, “Crown Royal - Welcome To Crown Town!” featuring Cham, Alicia Keys, Omarion, Young S. Dub, Jus. K, Lex Dime and Kalako. Royal Tee has also recently completed two tracks (“Monkey Roll Remix”, Let’s Do It.”) with Atlanta recording artist, Kalako, which are receiving national attention. The single “Monkey Roll” Remix has placed 2nd on the American Idol Underground charts this summer. He has opened for such artists as Lil Jon, Ludacris, Mystikal and Trina, and performed at the Alley Hoops Jam, Taking to The Streets Tour and Power98 SUMMERFEST ‘06 in Charlotte where he performed alongside such artists as Little Brother, Doug E. Fresh, Yung Joc, Rick Ross, Three Six Mafia, E-40, Bohagon, Young Jeezy and S. Dub. When Royal Tee isn’t busy in the recording studio, he is working with Street Dreamaz’, marketing for famous Def Jam recording artists such as Young Jezzy, Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Ludacris, Bobby Valentino, Little Brother, Cuban Link, Lil Kim, Mike Jones, Paul Wall 3/6 Mafia, Lil Flip, Bow Wow, Omarion, Kalako, N.O.R.E and Juelz Santana. The hard work of his entertainment company has earned them a Southern Entertainment Awards nomination for “Street Team of the Year”. The awards ceremony will be held in Mississippi, January 2528, 2007.

With all of the momentum surrounding such a talented artist, Royal Tee still finds a way to “be patient and stay humble”. He believes that by working hard and “paying his dues in society”, he will continue to let his originality and example lead the way. He hopes to provide service to other aspiring artists as well as continue his own music career. Remember this . . .”Royal Tee got the streets on smash!”

At only twenty - two years old, Deucie knows success. Founder and CEO of SoLo Entertainment, this strong-minded, highly independent artist has begun break down the mold of redundant Emcees. Describing herself “skillful, motivated, strongminded, and straight-forward”, Deucie brings her unique style and personality to the “Rap game” of the Queen City.

Born on the “Westside” of Charlotte, North Carolina, Deucie started singing and writing songs at age ten. Her passion for Rap music led her to seek out artists that were truly original - no gimmicks, no ghostwriters - just talent. This search for what Deucie calls “raw talent”, has become Solo Entertainment - emerging, “hungry” artists eager to pave their way onto the Charlotte music scene. Sparked by Deucie’s

independent personality, the artists create an individualized, original message through their music.

In addition to running SoLo entertainment, Deucie currently has three of her own mixtapes blazin’ the streets of the “QC”.

The most recent , Queen O’ Tha Undagrind Vol. 1, is one she feels showcases her some of her versatility. Deucie believes that as an artist you should “always stay true to yourself . . ., (and) deliver a message with every song” Two more mixtapes are scheduled for release in 2007.

Deucie has poured her creativity and soul into SoLo Entertainment. To Deucie, Solo Entertainment represents “one person, one life, and many visions.” These visions include community outreach, life man-

agement skills and even fashion design. With everything that Deucie does, her creative personality comes through.

With her strong talent and even stronger personality, Deucie and Solo Entertainment hope to achieve big things in the Charlotte music scene, because as Deucie herself says “No one can write your life like YOU”

Born and bred in the Metro Detroit area, F. Dux was captivated with the hip hop music scene; mainly gangster rap. At age 11, he embraced this poetic movement of power and freedom as he traveled down the path of adolescence. Forging down roads filled with negativity, struggle and murder, F. Dux decided to speak his mind. The murder of Joseph Gill De’Angelis (Joey D), led the young man to write about his life - filling those blank white pages with powerful ink. Those snapshots, along with the help of self-produced music scores, translated into into the sound known as F. Dux. Since establishing himself with the other aspiring artists of SuperNova Camp in Charlotte, Dux looks forward to a continued opportunity to share with the world his understanding, experience, and passion.

Amanda Dun

Amanda Dunn has undeniable talent. Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Amanda started singing at age five, and her natural ability to sing quickly became obvious to everyone. Amanda was absorbing the soul from the soul. She was a born performer, and spent her youth enjoying the spotlight through dance, gymnastics, and cheerleading. She began showcasing her vocal talent at church functions and weddings. This led Amanda to local and national talent conventions, where she won 1st place for her debut with Canadian recording artist De Marco at the New York international Model And Talent Association Convention in the summer 1999. Influenced by such industry greats as Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, and Alicia Keys, Amanda has always kept her own unique style and stayed true to her Charlotte roots. She recently was selected to sing the National Anthem for the Charlotte Bobcats at Bobcat Arena. Performing alongside the SuperNova Camp artists, Amanda’s opportunities keep growing. She has expanded her talents to acting and has landed a Pepsi-Cola television commercial and has become a model for Pantene Promotions. Amanda is ready and excited to bring her natural talent of entertainment and artistry to the world.

Overflow - the original, 1 of a kind, F. Dux - the ferocious street vocalist, the smoothed out, natural R&B of Marioso, and Amanda “Diva” Dunn. These are the artists of SuperNova Camp. Playing venues such as Neighborhood Theater in Charlotte, Comerica Park in Detroit, an all day cancer benefits and and a sold - out Tulalip Casino in Washington State has pushed emerging artists like F. Dux, Marioso, Overflow and Amanda Dunn into the ever growing Charlotte music scene. These uniquely talented artists, Overflow, Dux, Marioso, and Dunn are growing and expanding their careers in the creative arms of SuperNova .

Overflow is not the typical emcee. Commanding every track with power and emotion, his character and charisma come through - the mold of a hustler. Born and raised in the suburbs of Seattle, Overflow hustled in the local music scene for three years. He completed a demo, and began making his way in and out of local recording studios, laying vocals and becoming familiar with the scene. When the opportunity arose to relocate and work with SuperNova, Overflow did not hesitate. He began networking in Charlotte, and a year and a half later, in the summer of 2002, he produced and recorded his first full length album in collaboration with Shannon Wright (Debonair, The Wright Family). Overflow has landed singles on 2 independent film soundtracks, and has launched his own website, www.overflowproductions.com. He has worked with such top industry producers as Rush (Notorious B.I.G., 50 Cent), Perion of Body Head Ent. (Mystical, Roy Jones Jr.), and Fanatic (Beyonce, Michael Jackson) and his work has shown up on New York’s Hot 97 with DJ Enuff, NY’s Kiss 98.7,California’s Jamin’ Z90.3, and the Carolina’s own Power 98 and WUAG. Overflow has been invited to open for Twista, Jadakiss, & Trina, and has opened for Yolanda Adams and Fredd Hammond in collaboration with The Wright Family. Recently, Overflow has expanded his horizons to the modeling world and is working with DC based modeling agency Backlight Entertainment (www.backlightmodels.com) and Styles Entertainment. Overflow knows no boundaries - this hustler has triumphed - using his drive and talent to make great things happen.

Marioso started his musical journey like many other southern R & B artists - singing in the church choir.

Throughout high school, Marioso traveled to local churches sharing his gift of gospel music with anyone who would listen Everyone did. He earned the coveted lead soloist position in “Voices with Vision,” a nineman gospel ensemble from Gastonia, North Carolina.

Marioso also wrote and arranged songs for the group, which quickly gained popularity. This experience led him to work with Rev. John P. Kee and Desi Howard.

Working with SuperNova Entertainment has given Marioso much exposure. He is currently recording his first demo and is collaborating with both Overflow and F. Dux. His debut single “Can Pretend,” was in the top 10 most requested songs for ten consecutive weeks on the college radio circuit in the Carolinas. Marioso’s follow-up single has recently made its debut. Marioso is well on his way - developing both songwriting and life skills to create the music that lies deep within his heart.

it was the mid eighties when I was roughly 16 or 17 when marijuana (weed) was the big and profitable drug of choice.

Business was a booming success and continued to excel. In and out the customers would come.

One part of the housing projects was a unique section where most of the business was conducted. This horseshoe shaped area was a convenient spot to do deals, sort of like a drive through at a McDonald’s. It was next to a church. I guess one can say that the church paid the game no attention and the game paid the church no attention. When your eyes are closed to reality you never see the big picture. The only picture I was seeing was the almighty dollar. The volume of traffic was at a fast and high rate, which meant there was more then enough money for everybody who was hustling on that block.

So I started off as a mere nickel and dime dealer. The money came at an okay rate. In a days hustle, I made more than enough to buy new Jordan’s; I would buy every color in the store. The latest trends that were in the mall, I would buy the entire rack. But gradually, I graduated to bigger and better things. In my younger years, I was accustomed to the poverty part of life but now I was reaping the materialistic things of a fast buck. No more sleep for dinner nights and no more of one pair of shoes in a year’s time. This, I felt in comparison to my prior aspiration of wanting to do something more legitimate in life such as college or the military seemed to be an acceptable trade off to anything legitimacy had to offer. I never realized the extent to which my whole life would be changed because of these events as well as others that would follow.

The weed business had started off just as I said, fast and quick money. For a minute I thought I was a business man in a sense. The hustlers in the neighborhood didn’t care if I hustled on the block just as long as I was buying weed from them. I was okay with it until I found :: 11 ::

out I was getting pimped. That is one thing about the game it plays so many parts. But by this time, my clientèle was in the streets. I was purchasing an ounce from the neighborhood hustlers at $80. So I found a cheaper connect for $50 an ounce from an older cat. The old coon basically watched me grow up in the projects.

He also watched me hustle as well. He was a cool dude who had been around for a long time and was well respected in the streets and in the neighborhood. One day he stopped me at the corner store and told me to come see him. I took him up on that offer and never looked back.

He made our relationship short and straight to the point. He was about business. He tried to school me to some real hustling tactics on how to carry myself, how to keep a low profile, and save my money. In a nut shell, nothing I wanted to hear. After seeing how he was eating, I wanted to be in his shoes. I wanted to be the man.

What I purchased, he fronted, and that’s when my money graduated. Once the purchase was made, I then bag it all up into nickel bags into small brown envelope, and then hit the streets for my profits, taking no shorts. I loved living by that creed, but it was only mere greed for the dollar. My daily agenda was to make money nothing more, nothing less that was the bottom line. I went from ounces to pounds in a matter of days and the other neighborhood hustlers watched. At 18, I thought I was running things. I had my crew of captains rolling with me; my money was coming in daily.

The only picture I was seeing was the almighty dollar.

The volume of traffic was at a fast and high rate,

Photo: Robinson / Spangler Carolina Room PLCMC

But as any young individual who has never really had nothing, that craving was back again. I wanted more and then I wanted more. The only exception and black eye to this game would be when the competition aspect of the trade crept in, which unlike more legitimate businesses that compete over a market through TV ads, the game is usually dealt with through gun play. This was the case when I was told by the older dealers that I could no longer hustle on the block independent of them. Something they should have understood about me was that despite being young in the game I wasn’t trying to hear that.

So I ignored the initial warnings the dealers had put in the streets about hustling on their so called block not knowing it would be a matter of time before the street beef would come. The simple fact is that my plans were far from being changed from getting money. They assumed that I was young and more of the laid back type and they thought I was a mere push over. Even when the threats were delivered face to face, I still ignored their warnings. I had no experience in street warfare and was totally outnumbered by them but I determined that they were not to keep carrying me like a sucker. What they forgot was that I was a product of the same environment from which they had come from. Shootings and killings were common in resolving disputes not lip boxing. So just as the streets had been incorporated into their well being it was as well incorporated into me.

So I copped me a couple of semi-automatic .45 Magnums for my protection. The matching chrome and pistol-gripped handles with nine in the clip and one in the head (the chamber) twins sat pretty and perfectly in my left and right palms. To get more acquainted with my two new loves on the late nights, I would let off shots of my own just to witness the sparks exit. Now I was ready for war; any war. It only took the right situation to bring it out of me which unfortunately for these dealers would be the moment

that they tried to make good on their word and I heard the whistling sound of the bullet as it barely missed my head.

Not knowing how the next man might have handled the situation, I handled mine by getting my hands on some of the most dangerous firepower known to the streets such as the 9mm Uzi and Ak-47. If the threat ever repeated itself I would be prepared to deal with it as need be.

So not long afterwards as expected the situation did repeat itself, except this time the result wouldn’t be the same and there would be no running away from the problem. So we had a street battle over a piece of property that didn’t belong to any of us, and these dealers proved not to be as tough as they had always appeared.

I shot one of them and the rest scattered like bitches which was not only an act of surrender, but also a statement that they were giving up any future claim to the block they had once attempted to run me off of. It was them who would no longer hustle on that block again.

So despite my humble beginnings as the type who would never get in the next man’s business or do harm to another, I learned fast in this dirty and grimy game of the streets that motherfuckers will test you. When this happens you have to be ready and prepared to take it there with them or end up as in the words of Little Kim, the weak lamb that gets devoured by the lion in the concrete jungle which is real. So drama was brought my way and I dealt with it and so this was my first taste of the game and the violence sometimes associated with it.

But if you thought the weed business was bad, it could never compare to what was to come when crack cocaine exploded on the scene (from 2000 to 2004 almost one million pounds of cocaine was seized by the United States.) This relatively new, inexpensive, and, highly additive form of cocaine with potency level so great that for those who dared to experiment with this high their lives would never be the same again.

14 indicted in weapons Photo: Robinson / Spangler Carolina Room PLCMC

Drug investigation

:: 14 ::

So despite my as the type who would never get in the next man’s business or do harm to another, I learned fast in this dirty and of the streets.

The crystal-like, hard rock appearance never discriminated from its user (in the late eighties early nineties, the elusive cocaine trade was a major multi-billion dollar business in the United States alone.) Those who were mainly heavy cocaine and weed users were searching for that new high and found it with her. Rock cocaine (from the 1986 to 1996, crack cocaine was one of the most highly used drug of choice in the United States) by its intense high and inability of the user to come down from it was a phenomenon of the likes that had never been before in terms of the drugs ability to take control of the users mind. Whereas things that most people would find to be of primary importance such as their child, parents, bills, careers, whatever, they were second to last when it came time to get high. It was as though the rock took people who were hard-working before the crack craze and turned them into junkies whose only existence focused on getting high by any means necessary, which often times included robbing, stealing, or women prostituting themselves sometimes with the consent of their husbands.

An ugly scene no doubt was the rock trade, but no matter how ugly it got for the user and the community, to a dealer it was a multi million dollar goldmine. This would bring many of us young and old up from poverty seeking to cash in off this growing market which on the west side of Charlotte would include the major drug holes of Kenney Street, Fairview Homes, and Pitts Drive, three hoods that that although are no longer in existence today because of there negative effect on the community, during their time were major distribution centers for the sale of crack cocaine. So in this heartless game of the streets, no matter what the effect the drug was having on the user, to the dealer the crackhead was viewed as the most important element to the game’s success since without him/her there would be no demand and no dope busi:: 15 ::

ness. And recognizing that success in this business is predicted on others drug dependency you had to be either so cold and uncompassionate about the plight of others that you didn’t care or blind yourself to the destructive effect that the product you’re selling has on others and was destroying lives in droves.

But the love of money has always caused people to do things that weren’t necessarily right, the rock game being just one of them. So being young and ambitious and trying to get a piece of the American dream that had missed so many who had worked their entire lives to end up with nothing, this seemed at the time to have been the right move for me to come up financially, although as they say it isn’t always good money.

... no matter how ugly it got for the user and the community, to a dealer it was a multi million dollar goldmine.

The rock game would be nothing like any of the other drug trades that had come before. Two things in particular separated it from those. For one, there was a new and younger breed of dealer who was controlling the block and was more ruthless, without the understanding and proper grooming on how to handle the game and everything that came with it. They believed instead that all problems should be dealt with through the barrel of a gun. (Continued on p.20)

CONSEQUENCES

CRIME

CIRCUMSTANCES

THE SYSTEM

TRUE STORIES

“Bear witness to the change that is about to take place in the music industry”. His name is Charles Herron.

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:: 17 ::

Twenty-five year old Charles Herron was born and raised in the projects of Bronx, NY. From a young age, Herron was fascinated by the hip-hop culture of the city, and the young artist quickly immersed himself in all aspects of hip-hop: rapping, breaking, and “turntabilizum”. At thirteen, Herron and his family moved to Florida in search of a better life. While living in Tampa, Orlando and Brooksville, Herron became interested in different styles of music.

This led to Herron’s decision to focus his attentions on his “craft”.Upon graduating from high school in Tampa, Herron attended the Full Sail Center For Recording Arts, in Orlando Florida, where he studied Psycho Acoustics (The Study of Sound), and earned an Associates of Science Degree in Recording Engineering. Herron became more and more involved in the legal, technical and professional aspects of the industry. Soon after graduating, Herron moved to Daytona Beach, and together with his brother, built their own recording studio, Starr Fleet Recordings.

With Herron’s knowledge and the support of his talented staff, he believes that “...he is the future”. His first commercial release, *UNWORTHY*, has sold over 10,000 copies independently, and he has earned the 43rd spot in hip-hop and the 207th spot overall on the myspace.com music charts. His other recordings include Armageddon’s Weapon, Herron. the lost demos, Purple Top, 8thiest (HERRON BOYS L.P.), Mainline (Herron mixtape Vol 1 & 2), and the Star Fleet Compilation Album, Supremacy.

Herron hopes that his popularity will continue to grow.

Influenced by life and the lessons he has learned, Herron hopes that his music will inspire others to believe that life “is never as bad as it seems”. His powerful lyrics and talent has earned him a widely growing fan base. “No one can stop him; no one can stop (Charles Herron and) the FLEET”.

word of threat to judge prompts steps

And secondly, you had the user of the rock cocaine who as I said earlier because of the sensational nature of the high would be willing to do anything to supply their habit, sometimes robbing which would no doubt play a significant role in the violence that was taking place in the game.

A perfect example of what I am referring is a robbery attempt on me one night gone bad.

We stood on Pitts drive talking with hustlers when a car pulled up and out came this robber/killer drawing his gun in an attempt to rob me to get high. He was trying the wrong group, and before he was even two feet from his car, we drew our guns and a shootout was on. He was shot, but luckily managed to get back in his car where his driver and him got away. BUT not before in his aimless shooting he had shot an older man from our neighborhood in the head killing him. His only error was being in the vicinity where the attempted robbery turned shootout took place.

So despite making lots of money, the explosive mix of guns with the chaotic drug dealer/ hustler, would become the undoing of a game that seemed so promising at first, but would later prove to be disastrous. The game became less about what we were supposedly there for in the first place (the money) and more about violence and settling the score with rival crews.

So sadly, this was how things were in the streets during this era despite constant warnings from others, particularly old timers. They would often tell us how wrong our approach to the game was and what the results would be. However, even they would never understand that an irreversible cycle had been created not of our own making but by a complex set of elements weaved together by our own government. They would and still do dictate when and how guns and drugs are allowed to be flooded into the black and poverty stricken communities.

Photo: Robinson / Spangler Carolina Room PLCMC

Many authors and authorities, including the United States Congresswoman Maxine Waters, assert that it was the work of the US government, knowing full well the effect drugs and guns would have among the underprivileged. These discouraged people were waiting and willing to use and sale drugs which in turn, destroyed them. So despite hearing the wisdom of the old timers, it seemed we were destined to stay on this destructive path destroying not only others, but ourselves as well.

. . . So despite hearing the wisdom of the old timers, it seemed we were destined to stay on this destructive path . . .

So in the midst of playing my part in this game, I went about my money and business doing what I knew best, until this beef erupted between me and this other drug crew. (W**** B****, according to the government’s case as well as this dude testifying from the witness stand.). This crew would attempt to kill me; not with a gun, but instead with explosives tied to a brick and metal so that it would have a mangling and killing effect. They would have succeeded in doing just that had they not forgotten the detonator. They had to return to the scene to get the bomb and attempt to finish me off, but were instead stopped by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police when the bomb was discovered. I am truly grateful that this happened because most likely I wouldn’t be here to write this piece if it hadn’t. Nevertheless, this incident would bring us to the attention of the federal government and would eventually lead to us becoming a target for investigation. :: 20 ::

Now while all of this was going on, the then current President George W. Bush Sr. was plotting a response to what he felt was a crisis in America with gun violence associated with the drug trade.

He summoned all the United States Attorneys, lawyers for the government, to Washington, DC. Bush Sr. instructed these lawyers to return to their respective states and prosecute dealers who carry guns under a previously passed law, the Sentencing Reform Act. With the passage of this law, the government had delivered a critical blow to the hustling lifestyle although many including myself who were caught up never knew and never saw it coming. With sentences for federal crimes significantly increased and parole abolished, meaning you did day for day unless you cooperated even if you had 30 years or life which is common in the feds.

. . . they elevate our participation in the game by labeling us gangster while concealing their own participation . . .

This in essence meant a legislative assault on the game particularly on the black urban element. It was a law so ruthless that it would not only change the federal system from mostly white to almost all black, but also set the stage for the erosion of the most basic principle of the streets; honor and loyalty. This law caused those who would once kill for one another to now take a stand against lifelong friends and family members for time reductions, thereby making the prosecutor’s job of incarcerating easy.

Nevertheless, this act had essentially drawn a line in the sand which would separate the bitch ass niggas from the real ones. So out of this so-called gangster lifestyle emerged a culture of snitches, where they were rewarded, and a refusal to cooperate was punished in the worst way by the criminal justice system. Now those who were fast to bust caps were now trying to kill traitors from the witness stand. The funny thing is was the traitor had been given total immunity for their testimony only to return back to the streets just as vicious as the person they were telling on and ready to commit even more crimes and sell more drugs, basically with the government’s blessings.

Many individuals would learn that they were not as gangster as they thought they were. Most are under the mistaken impression that standing behind a gun and shooting and killing someone that the government would rather see dead or in jail anyway makes them “gangster”. Selling drugs that the government has allowed to be put there in the first place for purpose of destroying the community makes them “gangster”. But being gangster is more than serving as a pawn as someone else sets the conditions because as this saying goes “knowledge rules the world and ignorance bares the burden”.

This means that the wickedly wise in high places and a corrupt government, creates schemes and conditions which cause us, the poor and unsuspecting, to carry out their agenda on the ground.

When it’s all said and done, they elevate our participation in the game by labeling us gangster while concealing their own participation, although they are the creators of most of the problems we are facing. Young Joey said it well in Soul Survivor “they give us the work and throw us in jail”, which is what the game is really about. The true motive and plan is not annihilating the drug game or stopping the streets from hustling, but regulating this thing so that they (Continued on p.26)

The continuing criminal enterprise for which I was

charged was originally intended for big boys like Noriega or those who were bringing stuff from across the waters. :: 21 ::

Photo: Robinson / Spangler Carolina Room PLCMC

can lock people up to keep up with the fastest growing billion dollar prison industrial complex that is becoming increasingly us and to continue to benefit from the billions of dollar funneled into the economy from the drug trade.

So to me, real gangsters are those like Bush in the White House and those in the halls of Congress who sit back with hatred in their hearts for us. They never admit it though they legislate racist polices, such as the Sentencing Reform Act. An act that would help to expand the prison industrial complex making blacks and Hispanics primary commodities in this growing market wherein the Rat (snitches) is placed at the top of the food chain, as a necessary component of this elaborate scheme. So these political bandits use the stroke of a pen rather than pistols to accomplish their agenda against the streets when all the time they were the ones who created the condition that exist with our communities, black on black crimes, high incarceration rates, dope dealing, high HIV rates, etc.

Nevertheless, being caught up doing your thing and also seeming to be the object of so many people’s fascination, you would start to have delusions of power thinking that you’re on top and winning when all the time you’re losing because the game is not yours. And so as you look back on things now as a fully matured man you can see the trap that was laid for your demise which would cause you to do dumb shit and also cause your eventual fall. So as we stay on watch for those on the street level that would try to take yours or do you harm, we would never recognize the greater threat that lies ahead from the real gangsta, the feds who are working their plan to deal with what they see as the nigga element.

So what I got from my participation in the game was the honor of becoming the posterchild for this new federal initiative in Charlotte

where the feds would go after the streets, a departure from how they use to carry it when it was basically about white collar crime, bank robbery and things like that. At a news conference announcing our indictments, they would call this a new and unique approach to getting drug dealers who carry guns off the street knowing that they consist of young black men. They would charge me and my cousin E*** W***** with operating a continuing criminal enterprise plus 13 counts of using and carrying a firearm during the crime. My brother O**** and my other co-defendants would be charged with conspiracy to posses cocaine as well with numerous gun violations.

The continuing criminal enterprise for which I was charged was originally intended for big boys like Noriega or those who were bringing stuff from across the waters. But for the purpose of destroying me, they would make an exception and charge me with something that is commonly referred to as the kingpin statue and make sure that the witnesses, rats to like B**** M***, J**** B******, W**** B****, D****** G*********, testimonies were tailored to support a conviction, although they was untrue. So I did dirt yes, but nothing close to what I was set in prison for today.

It wasn’t hard at all for the government to get these convictions, because as I said earlier they had drawn a line in the sand where most of these so called gangsters who were so vicious on the streets were now not only willing to take a stand against lifelong friends, but began to embellish a life beyond recognition. So with the government’s intimidation of witnesses and fabricated testimony, it wasn’t hard for us to be convicted for these bogus charges. In the world of the feds, you can be convicted on the testimony of a single witness, with no drugs or money confiscated. The government takes full advantage this and is able to lock up blacks and

Drug Case Sentence Reduced

Former Member Helped Put Vicious Gang in Prison Photo: Robinson / Spangler Carolina Room PLCMC

:: 26 ::

The street is only a microcosm of what the gov-

ernment does while making us the example. And because of such, I received life plus one hundred forty five years . . . give us crazy time without consideration as to the role that they played in this whole thing, or our environment on social inequalities.

As support to the corruption and unfairness of these gangsters, I quote the words of the United States District Court Judge, Graham Mullen a white, conservative, Republican who, recently stepped down from the bench in Charlotte citing that he was “tired of sentencing mostly young black men to federal prison for unjust time and that he was glad he would never have to do it again”. He also said the government had too much power and quoted “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Judge Mullen was acknowledging that they have abused their power by manipulation. Anybody who has been through the system knows this when they experience someone they have been friends with forever, up on the stand lying and exaggerating the truth making an already weak case a lot stronger. So when I tell you, the government is some shit, don”t just think these are the words of a disgruntled prisoner, but instead take the words of this federal judge, who although he was a part of the establishment knows what”s up.

So for years it has been told how vicious I was, in reality I was nothing but a young fool and pawn in a game that was not of my own making. I got trapped off in a scheme filled with societal potholes and traps because I ignored the work of my mother that raised us better than this, but focused on the messages from my environment. So I did dirt admittedly, but nothing compared to what big brother (govt) does on a larger scale daily: robbing, stealing, drug dealing, murdering. The street is only a microcosm of what the government does while making us the example. And because of such, I received life plus one hundred forty five years with no parole for some bullshit. :: 27 ::

So for those who have mistakenly associated being street or gangster with being something good; believe me, the real life version isn’t as appealing as the commercialized version where rappers and TV elevate what”s happening. The nature of the streets is to rob, steal, rape, deal drugs, and leave already poverty stricken communities in worst shape than they were before.

Its purpose is not to redeem lives or save souls, but to destroy them as is the case of almost my entire neighborhood. I was raised up with on Pitts Drive and the friends I used to play ball with that are mostly dead, a few in prison, and the remainder are drug addicts from what I hear. And although our fates have been different, what we all have in common was that we all were influenced by our environment. The game, a lifestyle that is glorified through so many channels, and loved by many, in one way or the other took us all out.

So basically, I wanted to tell this story, not from a perspective of elevating my shortcomings with the game; because I know better. I guess you can say that I’ve been to hell and saw the devil by this experience and have come to understand what a real gangster is and it’s definitely nobody standing on a street corner. If that’s the reader’s perception it’s only an illusion who wears black suits and neckties.

And last, I hope this which I have written isn’t looked at as someone squared up as shit because it’s not like that. I write this from as a perspective of what would I say to my son about the game and the streets so that he would never have to walk in these shoes. And so not wanting nothing like this for my children, I don’t want it for anybody else’s. My goal is to redeem lives and save souls.

Peace!

Photo: Robinson / Spangler Carolina Room PLCMC

GUTTA Magazine is in no way, shape, form, or fashion glorifying the highlights of mistakes made by individuals profiled and published. We are simply targeting a vastly growing out of control epidemic of various situations pertaining to not just only urban America but as a complete society of individuals.

In any aspect of everyday living each and every community is experiencing and suffering from the daily crime element. Each and every individual is affected by this negative transition. So to each and every individual that reads GUTTA Magazine, do not implicate that it is glorifying and highlighting the individuals and events. GUTTA Magazine is and will be the educational platform of targeting our youth and younger adults of various elements proving detrimental to our communities by focusing on what they understand the most and detouring it into positive and constructive success.