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Titanic Stones is a Black P. Stones branch.

Background

After his transfer in early 1975 Hairston connected with Herbert “Thunder” Stevens who was back in Statesville.  After Jeff Fort was transferred, he gave Thunder full control of Statesville.  Thunder was also the leader of the Titanic P Stones formerly known as Four Corner Stones out of Bronzeville/Grand Boulevard.  Thunder was on good graces with Eugene Hairston and Jeff Fort which often didn’t happen with Stone leaders, they either chose one or the other.  Fort was for sure locked up without parole until March of 1976, but Hairston was up for parole later in 1975.  A big decision needed to be made by Stevens to either continue following Fort of go with Hairston who was more likely to get out and take back over the Stones.  Stevens hedged his bet on Hairston and took the Titanics under the wing of Hairston; now Hairston was running the BPSN in both prisons which was a major power move and showed that he was still more than relevant. Hairston then sent orders to his men back on the streets to get ready to take it all back and ordered his younger brother Leroy “Lil Bull” Hairston to venture to 43rd Street and connect with the Titanics and assume immediate leadership.  Leroy Hairston gathered many to support this take over and several Stones found the courage to begin this coup which was a concern to Fort’s followers who were still the majority.  As this coup was about to arise Mickey Cogwell stayed out of it and was willing to just take his Cobrastones in an independent direction.  Jeff Fort appointed his younger brother Bennie Fort to run the Fort supporters.  Soon a war ensued in 1975 between the younger brothers and this got Lil Bull thrown in prison for violent crimes.  The war was a mess and Eugene Hairston was up for parole in that same year and this was a threat to Jeff Fort and his supporters. Jeff Fort then had many phone conversations with Mickey trying to convince him to run the nation because he would be a better acting Chief than Bennie, finally, Mickey agreed to take over the nation.  Mickey then set out into the streets and took control of the Fort supporters and once this happened and many of Hairston’s supporters got word Cogwell was stepping up they jumped sides to stand by Cogwell because he was so respected.  The primary branch still on Bull’s side was the Titanics.  In Statesville the momentum shifted as Fort’s Stones took the power away from Thunder.  The Titanic Stones then pretty much dissolved in the prison system while Willie “Dollar Bill” Bibbs took over as Chief of the Titanics on the streets. Dollar Bill brought the Titanics under the wing of Jeff Fort’s side which made it look like Bull’s attempted coup was just about finished.

Later in the year 1975, Eugene Hairston was granted parole and he returned to a crew of followers still loyal to him.  It would take a lot of rebuilding for Hairston to regrow support and take back over but Fort’s guys were still not going to risk it.  It was said that Jeff ordered a hit on Hairston but there was never any evidence of that but there was indeed an assassination attempt.  As Hairston was walking along 70th and Paxton a few blocks from where he was staying, a man jumped out of a car and fired 8 bullets, two of which struck Hairston’s left wrist and one bullet struck him in the back.  Hairston fled to a cleaners on 71st nearby and asked for help, he survived.  After Hairston’s assassination attempt, he realized he could not take over the main bulk of the Stones, therefore, he packed up and moved up north to the north side of the city where random Stones living up there were out of network from the main branches for the most part.  Hairston organized the Stones up north in areas like Uptown, Rogers Park and Lincoln Square.  These Stones became “Blackstones” and would not honor the Black P Stone nation and the “P” was dropped.

1975 was the exact year Stones settled in Rogers Park and Lincoln Square and have become permanent residents in these communities.  Rogers Park Howard Street was known to be a seedy area since the 1940s.  The Jonquill Apartments and Juneway Terrace Apartments were known to be rougher and shabbier apartments where vicious white gangs and criminals dwelled.  In the year 1975 many whites moved out of this area and public housing helped black families establish themselves in these two apartment complexes and along Howard Street.  The white community of Rogers Park was outraged over this and white gangs like the Simon City Royals and Hispanic gangs like Latin Kings often victimized groups of black youths this is when Disciples and Stones were established on these streets in 1975.  The Stones made this part of Rogers Park their permanent home establishing a large following for generations to come, and they still remain a solid part of the Jonquill and Juneway Terrace Apartments.  In the same year Stones arrived on the unwelcoming streets of Lincoln Square which was a north side white neighborhood that became affordable for black families.  Black families were not welcomed by many white residents and racial strife ensued.  White gangs like Insane Popes and Gaylords often attacked groups of black youths; therefore, the Stones arrived in 1975 and would became a permanent part of the Lincoln Square community for decades to come even surviving gentrification just like in Uptown and Rogers Park.

On March 12, 1976, Jeff Fort was released from Leavenworth prison with a stipulation imposed upon him that he was not allowed to officially reside within the city limits of Chicago, therefore, he chose to move to Milwaukee because he had a lot of family in that city.  Fort’s return was anxiously awaited as several followers gathered to the city of Milwaukee for hopes that their leader would help show them the way to restore the nation that had now become divided.  Fort came out of prison with enlightenment, and he was willing to share all the teaching of the Moorish Science Temple with all those that would listen.  Jeff threw an open house type celebration in a building that served as the temporary headquarters so that he could share his new uplifting and spiritual beliefs.  Some of the leaders respected the new ways and wanted to convert to Islam alongside Fort but many others declined as they felt they should remain Christian, and this new Muslim religion was foreign and something they wanted no part of.

Once again, this nation became trendsetters but this time it wasn’t for fashion it was for religion.  Afros were now replaced with braided hair or cornrows, and the colorful outfits of the first half of the 70s were replaced by simple shirts, pants and sometimes Shriner hats worn at worshipping events.  El Rukns still sported black, green, and red colors.  The most devout and closest to Jeff wore Fulani straw hats with a chin strap.

At the time of the El Rukn conversion Jeff Fort became referred to as “Chief Malik.” “Malik” means “King” in Arabic.  Many just refer to him as “Chief” and from here on out in this story I will begin referring to Jeff Fort as “Chief” because that is the respective way he is known as and is always considered the Chief to many Black P Stones even presently; he will always be the Chief of Chiefs and is the most important man in Stone history.

Around April of 1976, the Stones were about to advance back onto the south side of Chicago after Chief established a contact with James “Prince Yak” Brantly who had just started his own movement called “Beniae Zaken” which was the Hebrew word for Black Stones.  Prince Yak was a mentor to Chief and helped him solidify the Stones during their shaky beginning in Milwaukee.  Prince Yak was actually well into his 50s in age, therefore, he became a part of Chief’s army at an already older age which was not unheard of and became more prevalent during these days.  Prince Yak had opened “Sons of the Ancient Israelites Holy Temple” or “The Camp” at 42nd and Prairie in the Grand Boulevard neighborhood.  At this temple it was the headquarters of the “Israelite Stones” a branch that embraced the black Hebrew faith because in the Hebrew religion the black race is God’s chosen people.  Many have said this was just a cover to mask illegal activities.  The temple was just one block north of the Titanic P Stone headquarters at 43rd and Indiana located exactly at 4233 S. Indiana Avenue (Four-Trey).  Some of the members of the Main 21 were present at this celebration along with Blackstone leader Eugene Hairston.  Jeff Fort only wanted his chosen Main 21s present that he wanted to convert these new ways that were soon to be announced. One of the Main 21 present was the leader of the Titanics Willie “Dollar Bill” Bibbs.  The rest of the Titanics were left to Robert “Button” East.  The new order established by Jeff Fort was called “El Rukns” which means “Cornerstones” in Arabic.  A cornerstone is basically a foundation and an important piece withholding two walls, mainly in reference to a pyramid.  It was at this meeting that Jeff Fort officially disbanded the Main 21 and declared the Black P Stone name defunct and was to be replaced by the El Rukn name.  Some of those in attendance did not like this new way and the most vocal was Eugene Hairston.  Chief then held a private meeting in one of the rooms with Hairston and an argument broke out as Chief was trying to convince Hairston that this was the best route for the nation, and this would bring young black men the proper spiritual guidance that would allow them to stray away from the slave mentality.  Hairston disagreed mixing religion in with gangsterism and even stated that he disagreed with wearing turbins in the daytime then dressing as gangsters at night.  He saw this as hypocritical and a disrespect to the religion.  Chief became enraged and ordered his death on the spot, but Prince Yak intervened and pleaded with Chief not to kill Hairston even after Hairston taunted Chief.  Instead of killing Hairston Chief declared that Hairston was completely out of the organization for good.  Hairston warned that this would be the downfall of everything, and Chief responded with a threat to end Hairston if he ever saw him again.  Hairston was allowed to walk out of the meeting but was now an even smaller figure in the overall spotlight, but he remained Chief of the Blackstones, while the Black P Stones were supposed to be finished for good as well.

Sets

Members and affiliates

Rappers

  • GMEBE Bandz (affiliate) 🕊️
  • GMEBE Dinero
  • Sly Polaroid
  • Lewielxrdd (GBF)
  • Poncho GettBagg (GBF) 🕊️
  • KTP (GBF)
  • SRT Leekko (Drexside)
  • SRT Mooda (Drexside)

Rap Groups

  • GMEBE
  • Slapped City Studios

Hoods

  • 79th & South Shore Drive
  • 79th & Coles Ave
  • 52nd & Drexel
  • 76th & Kingston Ave
  • Gary, IN
  • Rockford, IL

Former Hoods

  • Rockwell Gardens "T Stone TVL Connection" (shared with VLs and 4s)
  • 39th & Lake Park
  • 43rd / 47th & Indiana "4 - Trey Ts"
  • 51st & Wentworth
  • 65th & Cottage Grove
  • 70th & Paxton
  • 89th & Cottage Grove

Tributes

Links

See Also

This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).


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