When Blowing Money Fast hit the airwaves in the summer of 2010, every rap and Rick Ross fan added two new personas to their lives, Big Meech and Larry Hoover. Despite its glorification of crime leaders and illegally lavish lifestyles, the song’s popularity is unquestionable. But who exactly is Ross referencing in the opening lines of “B.M.F.” and what is the history behind these men? Besides leveraging his own image on his BMF website to sell T-shirts, videos and “Bossumentaries,” Ross is introducing fans to an old lifestyle that requires a small refresher course on certain gang-crime history.
“Big Meech”, “Southwest T” and B.M.F.
Ross gave it a new-age definition, but B.M.F. didn’t always mean “blowing money fast.” The acronym was a shorter moniker for The Black Mafia Family, a Detroit-based gang led by Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory (left) and younger brother Terry “Southwest T” Flenory. Established in the late 1980s, The Black Mafia Family, quickly became a nationwide, cocaine-traffiking ring with reach in states as Missouri, Georgia, Kentucky and Texas. It wasn’t until 2003, when B.M.F. started promoting its newest Atlanta-based ring and its lavish affiliations with celebrities that the gang received targeted federal attention. This activity launched a two-year SOD/OCDETF investigation that led to the Flenory captures in 2005 (Operation Motor City Mafia). The brothers are both currently serving separate 30-year and 20-year sentences for drug-trafficking and money laundering (respectively). To date, the Black Mafia Family has an estimated worth of more than $270 million.
Read More – Black Mafia Family Members Sentenced to 30 Years
Larry Hoover
A Chicagoan since the age of four, Larry Hoover matured to become the reputedly, infamous leader of the Gangster Disciples (GD), a Chicago-based gang that began in the 1960s. After a gang-related, murder conviction in 1973, Hoover received a 200-year prison sentence – sealing his fate as “King Hoover.” While being transferred to different state prisons through the years, Hoover still managed the illegal activities of his ‘disciples’ (now nationwide) and even launched a successful re-branding of the Gangster Disciples name and public reputation. In the early 90s, Hoover steered the promotion of “Growth & Development,” the new GD campaign that created nonprofit organizations that registered voters, a music label that helped needy children, a series of peaceful protests to fight the closing of public programs, and even a clothing line for charity. Yet, after five years of secretly wire-tapping Hoover’s private meetings in prison, the federal government uncovered Hoover’s “good intentions” as fronts for drug conspiracy, extortion and other illegal activity.
Hoover has since been transferred to a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana (DEA report).
Looking Behind the Lyrics
The public fervor propelling Ross’ Blowing Money Fast is sure to keep it posted on iPod and CD playlists. While this may promote longevity for Ross and his new Teflon Don album, I hope it encourages more music fans to really ‘listen’ to, and even research, what they ‘hear.’ All rap lyrics don’t have historic ties, but when they do, sometimes, the story behind the music is more interesting.
Shineyface 🙂 has more …
- Read about the recent press conference held by Chicago gang members. Read their answers to stopping the violence and gang activity – Chicago Gang Members Blast City, Police Policies
- A cool P.O.V. from Clutchmagonline.com (w/ BMF Video) – Rick Ross, Educated Brothers, and the Big Meech Syndrome
Peace & Love
MusicWrites 