Thug Life Army

Well respected West Coast rap artist CJ Mac has released a new documentary called ‘C-Walk’.

Although constantly a concern of countless West Coast hip- hop and rap artists, one issue seems to have been forgotten today by the mainstream media at large - California gang violence.

"One person falls victim to gang murder every 48 hours in South Central Los Angeles," is one disturbing statistic revealed. "On December 31st of 2002, Los Angeles was named the new US murder capital with over 700 gang-related murders occurring in just the previous 364 days," a following tragic statistic explains. But for those expecting intellectual credit from a CNN, ABC or MSNBC California correspondent, a surprise may be in store when the source of the quotes is credited as CJ Mac; an unofficial member of Ice Cube's recently reunited rap group Westside Connection (who labelled their sophmore Priority Records release "Terrorist Threats" to bring attention to the Bush administration's record economic and social abandonment of America's inner-city minorities).

"The press is ignoring LA gang slayings now cuz they''re happening so frequent that it ain''t considered breaking news no more," CJ Mac points out when describing one of the inspirations behind his new "C-Walk" documentary.

"But the decrease in media attention doesn''t mean that our mothers have stopped crying or our Sons & Daughters aren''t becoming Fatherless at a rapid rate and pace."

CJ Mac's concerns are also strongly reflected in a number of other investigative styled ‘rap umentaries’ by powerhouse production team QD3 and his legendary father Quincy Jones. "Thug Angel," considered a collector's edition prequel to MTV's "Tupac Resurrection" theatre release due to its being told entirely in the words of the assassinated rapper's (2Pac) closest comrades; and "Beef," a Ving Rhames (Marsellus Wallace in "Pulp Fiction") narrated look at the history of rap battles, hoping to discourage their all too often real-world gang altercation consequences by putting a focus back on positive artistic development.

This vital issue of economically troubled youths obtaining legitimate entrepreneurial skills through example also holds considerable weight for Westside Connection member WC, who recently crafted a hip-hop business ''crash course'' entitled "All That Glitters Ain''t Gold" - a well-suited "C-Walk" companion featuring extensive commentary on music & media industry vices from WC's fellow rap artists Ice Cube and Mack 10 group members plus independent business moguls such as West Coast rap founder Ice-T (currently starring in Law & Order's "Special Victims Unit").

"The LA Gangs were originally formed to protect our neighborhoods’ from US Government agency drug imports but somewhere down the line greed just took things completely out of hand," CJ Mac explains. "These days you have to entertain kids in order to slip the knowledge in that gets a message across - our community is in desperate need of help."

CJ Mac's "C-Walk" documentary is out now on IMAGE Entertainment.