“It’s always a struggle, and it’s always a beginning point, and the beginning point is the inner city. That’s where the guns go bang. That’s where young nigga die. This is the city of dope. Everybody, they runnin’ for that # 1 spot,” Rick Ross said. For a number of years in the 1990s, the Boobie Boys held that # 1 spot. They were at the top of the food chain. “These legends are icons that people in the game get their swagger from,” Chris Larceny, the director of M.I.YAYO said. The feds claimed that the Boobie Boys moved 1000’s of kilos through the Port of Miami, but in reality, Boobie and his partners were just trying to eat and protect what they established. By moving drugs all throughout the country from their base in Miami, they were just pursuing the American dream. They were replicating the culture they grew up in, trying to be like Tony Montana in Scarface and the Cocaine Cowboys. The Boobie Boys were products of their environment, who tried to improve theirs and others situation.
“They showed a lot of love and gave back to the community,” Chris Larceny said, “Whether or not they ruled with an iron fist, or they were just straight up, go-getters.” But with the bodies dropping due to the drug wars, the feds stepped in and ended Boobie’s run. “Street niggas love and respect niggas that make it to the top,” Ross said. “Everybody loves a gangsta.” With his music, Ross has showed the world a different side of Miami. The world where the Boobie Boys held court and this world was far from the glamour of South Beach even though it was in the same city. It was a world of iced-out Presidential Rolex watches, solid eight carat diamond pinky rings and partying at the prestigious Delano Hotel on the ocean front.
Trips to Miami’s Bal Harbor shopping district to shop at stores like Gucci and Mink Fashions for Men were frequent. Popping bottles of Moet and Don P. in the clubs was routine. Sporting whips like the S-Class 600, Lexus Coupe, 750 Beamer and Porsche Carrera were the norm. This was the Boobie Boys’ world. In the inner-city neighborhoods of Carol City, Overtown, Lil’ River and Liberty City, Boobie’s legend held sway. The mythical quality of the Boobie Boys reverberates to this day, in the streets and in hip-hop. Growing up in the gigantic ethnic melting pot that was Miami, the Boobie Boys adapted to their environment. Original gangsters, who under different conditions might have been CEO’s of corporations. They had the drive, the ambition and the loyalty. They just got involved in the wrong racket.
“Boobie was a good nigga. He’d look out,” T says. “Boobie didn’t like no one saying Boobie Boys. He was just one of many. E-4, that’s my boy. He a good dude. He got caught up too.” Caught up in the game, caught up in the life. Crucified by the feds for society’s ills. “They still locked up on conspiracy charges. They were never charged for the murders. Somehow they still got sentenced for those too. You know, it’s a lot of things that have not been proven, but it is what it is. Once the government come down on you, you get locked up,” comments Chris Larceny. Operation Booby Trap ended the Boobie Boys, but their mystique and status in the hood remains. “Kenneth was a remarkable man. A person I hold close to my heart. He refused to cooperate,” Ross said. In the eyes of the streets that makes him legendary. The rest of the crew shares his honorary status. That’s why Ross claims association, for the authenticity.
“I decided to reach out to the homie Ross again and share these jewels,” Chico says. “When I got shipped to USP Coleman II in August of 2006 the administration had a program in existence, which allowed outside guests to come in and network through workshops and conferences with prisoners. I immediately got on board. I supported everything positive. During the planning of one of these programs we reached out to Ross as well as a few other southern rappers. We wanted to invite them in and sit across the table and dialogue. All attempts failed. I had spoken directly to the homegirl Trina and she agreed to support the program and bring some people with her. For whatever reasons she couldn’t conclude her arrangements before the deadline of the show. Long story short, the show went on. The next time pretty much the same thing happened. No feedback from Ross and no confirmation on Trina. It was a shame. We’re right here in the south and we couldn’t get a southern rapper to accept an invite. I don’t understand how a rapper can claim that they’re hood, street or represent a struggle when they won’t even recognize the essence of what they’re saying out there.” It’s all good in a video, but reality is a different story.
“Within these prison walls is where they all fish for characters. It’s not a secret.” Chico says. “I suppose though that it’s okay to throw your line from a far, but ain’t nobody trying to come step foot in the water. It’s crazy. That is, up until we extended our invite way up to New York. Ja Rule accepted and came through. Chaz, the CEO of Black Hand Entertainment brought a crew with him. In our eyes behind this wall they’re the realest niggas out there claiming the struggle. Respect to my nigga. It wasn’t until I sent Trina pictures of me and those dudes in here that she got really excited. I explained to her about the necessity to dialogue with Ross. Dude never showed. In all fairness I never spoke to him directly, so I don’t really know what the business was. Trina’s schedule kept conflicting and before long the administration canceled the program.” That’s the real deal there, no bullshit, from the pen to the streets.