Member Since: 1/12/2007
Band Website: soundclick.com/mrgrimm1981
Influences: The Apology
Twenty-five years ago when I created the Crips youth gang with Raymond Lee Washington in South Central Los Angeles, I never imagined Crips membership would one day spread throughout California, would spread to much of the rest of the nation and to cities in South Africa, where Crips copycat gangs have formed. I also didn't expect the Crips to end up ruining the lives of so many young people, especially young black men who have hurt other young black men.
Raymond was murdered in 1979. But if he were here, I believe he would be as troubled as I am by the Crips legacy.
So today I apologize to you all -- the children of America and South Africa -- who must cope every day with dangerous street gangs. I no longer participate in the so-called gangster lifestyle, and I deeply regret that I ever did.
As a contribution to the struggle to end child-on-child brutality and black-on-black brutality, I have written the Tookie Speaks Out Against Gang Violence children's book series. My goal is to reach as many young minds as possible to warn you about the perils of a gang lifestyle.
I am no longer "dys-educated" (disease educated). I am no longer part of the problem. Thanks to the Almighty, I am no longer sleepwalking through life.
I pray that one day my apology will be accepted. I also pray that your suffering, caused by gang violence, will soon come to an end as more gang members wake up and stop hurting themselves and others.
I vow to spend the rest of my life working toward solutions.
Amani (Peace),
Stanley "Tookie" Williams, Surviving Crips Co-Founder,
April 13, 1997
My Letter To Incarcerated Youth, No. 1
I've been on San Quentin's death row for more than 21 years. I hope that this brief message will provoke thoughts of change among you.
Across this nation, countless young men and women, like you, are vegetating in juvenile halls and in youth authorities. More and more prisons are being constructed to accommodate your generation when you grow to adulthood. The question is, can you become motivated enough to defy the expectations that many people have of you?
For those of you who are fortunate enough to regain your freedom, prepare an agenda to survive outside the walls of incarceration. Learn about computer technology, politics and the sciences.
On the other hand, if some of you are facing a lot of time, I suggest that you strive to educate and discipline your mind. If you have access to a library, read every relevant book that you can get your hands on. Educate yourselves about history, world religions, math, English, spirituality and your culture.
It's time to flip the script. You or I can complain 24x7 about the problems of poverty, drugs, violence, racism and other injustices, but unless we choose to initiate a personal change, we will remain puppets of unjust conditions. Unless we change, we will be incapable of changing the circumstances around us.
In conclusion, there are two ways to view your incarceration: either your present situation will convince you to straighten up your life or it will be the beginning of a wasteful future behind bars. Or worse - you'll end up on death row.
Stanley "Tookie" Williams CO-FOUNDER OF CRIPSI RESPECT THAT SO MUCH.WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT VIOLENCE IS NEVER THE KEY.PEOPLE SHOULD BE SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT RAP MUSIC DOES NOT AND SHOULD NOT PROMOTE VIOLENCE.WE ONLY TELL YOU WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND EXPERIENCED.I WILL NEVER TELL YOU TO DO THESE THINGS ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE DONE THEM MYSELF.NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY ALL THE OG,S WOULD TELL ME(YOUNG BUCK YOU DONT WANT TO GO DOWN THIS PATH).THEY WAS RIGHT.YOU ONLY GET ONE LIFE AND I BET THAT NOBODYS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF IT FOR YOU.WHEN I LEARNED TO APPRECIATE MY LIFE WAS WHEN I BEGAN LIVING.ITS THAT A LOT OF ADULTS DONT UNDERSTAND THE NEW PEER PRESSURE THAT EXISTS BUT I DO.WHEN YOU GOING THRU IT AND THEY CALLING YOU BITH,SCARED,CHICKEN,WUSS,REMEMBER THEY DONT GIVE A FUK ABOUT THAT 1 LIFE YOU HAVE.IF YOU DONT WANT TO DO IT DONT DO IT.I KNOW ITS HARD BUT YOU,LL LIVE ALOT BETTER AND ODDS ARE YOU,LL LIVE ALOT LONGER.NOW THAT IM OLDER I LEARNED TO RESPECT INTELIGENCE MUCH MORE THAN BEING GANGSTA.I BET SOME GANGSTA ASS NIGGA READING THIS RIGHT NOW SAYING(AW HE A OLD BITH AS NIGGA)BUT YOU THINK I CARE.NO BECAUSE I ONLY GOT 1 LIFE AND THEY NOT LIVING IT FOR ME.SO PLEASE JUST REMEMBER THIS 1 THING FOR ME,YOU ONLY GET 1 LIFE,DONT LET OTHERS INFLUENCE YOU TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL REGRET WITH THAT 1 LIFE.ASK YA MAMA IF MR.GRIMM IS SPEAKING THE TRUTH.I SAID GO ASK YA MAMA.LOLI LOVE YALL MAN TAKE CARE OF YA SELF AND ILL TRY TO DO THE SAME.PEACE.
Sounds Like: SOUNDS LIKE ME.I BELIEVE I HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE STYLE.I TRY TO SOUND LIKE NOBODY BUT GRIMM.IF YOU THINK I SOUND LIKE SOMEBODY ELSE MY BAD.I WANT TO KEEP IT AS ORIGINAL AS I CAN.I THINK I SOUND LIKE.........................A HUNGRY ARTIST WITH AMBITION BIG ENOUGH TO FEED THE WORLD.ARE YOU HUNGRY?
Type of Label: Major