Supreme Team (gang): Difference between revisions
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The Supreme Team was a crack gang that operated throughout the 1980's in New York City. Their headquarters was in a [[Jamaica, Queens]] apartment complex; however they controlled a huge chunk of the entire city itself, including Harlem. The leader was [[Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff]] and his brother, nicknamed "Prince". Their trademark was rolling in bullet-proof vans, wearing paramilitary uniforms, and arming themselves with uzi's. In 1989, thanks to the work of a high-ranking informant, the Team was disbanded, and McGriff spent 10 years in a federal prison for a narcotics conviction. |
The Supreme Team was a [[crack cocaine]] [[gang]] that operated throughout the 1980's in New York City. Their headquarters was in a [[Jamaica, Queens]] apartment complex; however they controlled a huge chunk of the entire city itself, including Harlem. The leader was [[Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff]] and his brother, nicknamed "Prince". Their trademark was rolling in bullet-proof vans, wearing paramilitary uniforms, and arming themselves with uzi's. In 1989, thanks to the work of a high-ranking informant, the Team was disbanded, and McGriff spent 10 years in a federal prison for a narcotics conviction. |
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==In the Movies== |
==In the Movies== |
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==In Music== |
==In Music== |
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The infamous Supreme Team has been the subject of songs like 50 Cent's "Ghetto Quaran" and Nas' "Memory Lane". The rap group [[Public Enemy]]'s original line-up included a similar pseudo-paramilitary "unit" led by [[Professor Griff]], although this is most likely more reminiscent of [[The Black Panthers]] than any gang. It should be noted however, that [[Flava Flav]] appears in [[New Jack City]]. |
The infamous Supreme Team has been the subject of songs like [[50 Cent]]'s "Ghetto Quaran" and [[Nas]]' "Memory Lane". The rap group [[Public Enemy]]'s original line-up included a similar pseudo-paramilitary "unit" led by [[Professor Griff]], although this is most likely more reminiscent of [[The Black Panthers]] than any gang. It should be noted however, that [[Flava Flav]] appears in [[New Jack City]]. |
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Revision as of 05:34, 4 December 2004
The Supreme Team was a crack cocaine gang that operated throughout the 1980's in New York City. Their headquarters was in a Jamaica, Queens apartment complex; however they controlled a huge chunk of the entire city itself, including Harlem. The leader was Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff and his brother, nicknamed "Prince". Their trademark was rolling in bullet-proof vans, wearing paramilitary uniforms, and arming themselves with uzi's. In 1989, thanks to the work of a high-ranking informant, the Team was disbanded, and McGriff spent 10 years in a federal prison for a narcotics conviction.
In the Movies
The Supreme Team's most notable influence on popular culture is its role as inspiration for the Cash Money Brothers gang depicted in Mario Van Peeble's 1991 film New Jack City. The film stars Wesley Snipes as a McGriff-like character, Nino Brown. Like the Team, the "CMB" operate out of an apartment complex, wear paramilitary outfits and wield uzi's. They also make aprox. the same amount of money that The Supreme Team did during their heydey. The film is still a dramatization: Snipes' character is killed in the end, McGriff is alive and well.
In Music
The infamous Supreme Team has been the subject of songs like 50 Cent's "Ghetto Quaran" and Nas' "Memory Lane". The rap group Public Enemy's original line-up included a similar pseudo-paramilitary "unit" led by Professor Griff, although this is most likely more reminiscent of The Black Panthers than any gang. It should be noted however, that Flava Flav appears in New Jack City.