The Families are a street gang based in the area of Forum Drive.
Formerly known as the Grove Street Families (GSF), now known as The Families, the gang is known for wearing green clothing and often driving green vehicles. The gang centers its operations mainly on weed-producing, drug-selling, and gun trafficking, among other street-level illegal activities.
Not only doing some deals on the streets, the gang also possess legal businesses for more income but more so to cover their dirty laundry and potential illicit deals with other criminal minds.
Territory
The Families' territory is spread across the west side of the south of Olympic Freeway, controlling the neighborhoods of Chamberlain Hills and Strawberry, including some apartments along Davis Avenue. Members can be found hanging around the set of Forum Drive or the alleys of surrounding project buildings. Notable hangout spots and associated businesses include:
- Auntie's House
- BJ Smith Recreation Center - The baseball "diamond"
- Crystal Heights apartments' back alleys
Members
- Main article: The Families/Members
Currently there is no clear leader of the Families however OG Frankie Lorenzo has taken the reigns of De-Facto leader since OG Dexx's Retirement.
| Gang Hierarchy |
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OG - OG is the highest rank one can reach within GSF. Their word is considered law and they overrule any decisions made by lower-ranking members. However, as many of the OGs in GSF have become inactive, whenever they return they are not able to make decisions that overrule the active leaders, regardless if they are of a lower rank. Each of the sets within GSF has an OG, with some having multiple. Once someone becomes an OG, from then on have the option to retire from gang life and leave without being blooded out. Shotcaller - Shotcallers are chosen by the OGs and are the leaders of the gang when the OGs aren't present. They have the full ability to make big decisions for the gang and relay important information to the OGs. Enforcer - Enforcers are in charge of putting the decisions the Shotcallers make into action. G - Gs are often in charge of keeping the lower ranking members of the gang in check as well as teaching them how they should and shouldn't act. Goon (Formerly "Baby G") - Goons are typically newer members of the gang who have been putting in work and are given a promotion as a sign of recognition. Soldiers (Formerly "Goon" - Soldiers is the rank you are after you are first blooded into GSF. It is the lowest rank within the gang. Once you are blooded in you choose to join one of the four sets, you are now able to wear a green flag, and depending on which set you choose you can also wear that sets flag. Prospect - Prospects are people that have been moved up from a hangaround, they are now officially affiliated with GSF. They are allowed to wear as much green clothing as they want besides from the green feud hat, green flannels and the green flag. They are also allowed to put green underglow on their cars. The length of the prospecting phase differs from person to person, it isn't judged by how long you've been around but more so by how much work you've put in during that time. |
Known Former and Retired Members
- Main article: The Families/Members § Former Members
Former members have reasons to leave a street gang, be it the gang's decisions they dislike, outlived the south-side culture, or just complete disrespect against the gang - with the latter that results in blood out and forgetting their existence in the south-side. To leave the gang without consequences, a member has to become a respected gangster or OG to be able to retire and have a choice to leave the gang unscathed.
History and Major Events
Trivia
- Officially known as The Families, they are often referred as GSF.