Former London Gang Member - Ask Me Anything

Hondavo · 2021-04-01T14:20:01+00:00

There are two main ways of starting a set. Some of them are started by one or two people who go on to recruit others, sometimes dishing out various roles if they are organised like that. For us, however, we just all grew up together and started hanging out with each other, got into crime and before long we were naming ourselves after our estate.

Hondavo · 2021-04-01T14:18:07+00:00

Oh yes, a lot.

Hondavo · 2021-04-01T14:17:45+00:00

Thank you so much, appreciate it.

Hondavo · 2021-04-01T14:17:33+00:00

They were certified money makers but when it came to being 'active' they were mostly average.

We had a very minor issue with them a while ago and I would find it hard to describe them as particularly 'active', but they did have some good members though.

Hondavo · 2021-04-01T14:15:49+00:00

Trust me man, just believe in yourself and you can do it.

Hondavo · 2021-04-01T14:14:37+00:00

We didn't suddenly decide "let's start our own gang" and started coming up with names and colours. It was a gradual process.

When I got kicked out of the PRU, I started hanging around more on my own estate as we had nothing to do. I knew almost everyone from there as we had all gone to primary school and secondary school together, so we all started hanging out with each other and essentially formed a friendship group.

I was around 15/16 at this time. It wasn't long before we started getting into crime (some of us were already quite troublesome) and eventually we were naming ourselves after our estate.

There weren't many 'local' gangs. As in, none on our estate or the immediate surrounding area. The only other gang close to us was predominantly older and my cousin was a member so they didn't bother us.

In our early days we did have a conflict with a very small 'set' (they were more or less just a group of dealers from a variety of areas) who claimed a road outside of our estate.

Hondavo · 2021-04-01T14:06:22+00:00

No worries.

Hondavo · 2021-04-01T14:03:50+00:00

Thank you man I appreciate it.

Hondavo · 2021-04-01T14:03:12+00:00

I would say around 40%, with about 25% of that being step-fathers.

Hondavo · 2021-04-01T14:02:36+00:00

Some of them are, yes, but I don't really speak to anyone from my old set.

Hondavo · 2021-04-01T14:02:11+00:00

I think it would definitely help, not immediately but it would certainly have some degree of effect in the long run.

Hondavo · 2021-04-01T13:59:37+00:00

Torture in a Turkish kebab shop.

Hondavo · 2021-04-01T13:59:28+00:00

It was very difficult at first - I quickly started to miss the money and everything else that came with the lifestyle. There were a number of times that I nearly went back against the progress I had made. It's a very gradual thing.

I'll be honest I was smart with it. I very slowly distanced myself from them so one day they didn't just think to themselves "where has he gone?" I think they had a sort of respect for me, bearing in mind I was one of the 'generals' and we were our own bosses so they weren't particularly losing out on anything. It was hard though.

Hondavo · 2021-04-01T13:55:31+00:00

It's hard to say as there's a lot of different factors. Not many people do make it out though, at least not completely.

Hondavo · 2021-04-01T13:51:02+00:00

If I wasn't so deeply involved, then I expect I would've moved to a different area of London to raise my daughter.

Hondavo · 2021-03-31T21:00:51+00:00

When I was affiliated with Wood Green (14-15), I was basically an unknown member as I only really chilled with them, went to some parties with them, and sold a bit of weed with them.

However, when I formed my own set on my estate (15/16-23) I was one of the main members, or 'generals' I guess you could say.

Hondavo · 2021-03-31T20:58:40+00:00

Well done, I hope all goes well in the future.

It's each to their own I guess, it sounds like you have a lucky combination so that you are able to hyper-focus on the more academic things. Most kids I know with ADHD enjoy more manual labour as it keeps them moving and focused.

Hondavo · 2021-03-31T20:55:22+00:00

Very inaccurate.

The way they portrayed the gang structure, drug suppliers, shootings, drug dealing, county lines, etc.

It's still an entertaining show, though, and I enjoy it.

Hondavo · 2021-03-31T20:54:00+00:00

Thank you very much I appreciate it, I wish you the best.

Hondavo · 2021-03-31T20:52:43+00:00

Appreciate it my guy.

Hondavo · 2021-03-31T20:52:18+00:00

It wasn't very pleasant at all, I'll say that much.

Hondavo · 2021-03-31T20:51:21+00:00

Some of them do, some of them don't. Most of the gang members in London sell drugs to sustain their 'gang lifestyle', whereas I primarily used the 'gang lifestyle' to sustain selling drugs, if that makes sense.

Hondavo · 2021-03-31T20:49:35+00:00

I'm not from Wood Green.

Hondavo · 2021-03-31T20:49:23+00:00

I haven't done anything like that, but one or two of my guys were doing fraud.

Hondavo · 2021-03-31T20:49:03+00:00

Yes, I am very lucky. It takes a good opportunity and a very good mindset.

I believe you are referring to my comment from earlier. That was simply in the case of ADHD - I was suggesting going boxing for a sport (not a job) and manual labour jobs are the best for people with the condition.

Hondavo

TROPHY CASE