Ardwick Blood Crew

From Rap Dictionary

Ardwick Blood Crew

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Originating from a public housing complex located on Ardwick Blvd. and Finch avenue west, the Ardwick Blood Crew was revered on the streets as one of the most active gangs in Toronto's west end, heavily armed and more structured than most street gangs. The Ardwick Blood Crew was formed roughly during the early to mid 90's when other adjective neighbourhoods were choosing to align with the Crips; particularly those in Rexdale. Those roaming Crips began migrating east trying to influence other neighbourhoods into claiming the Rexdale Crips card as well. Young men from the Ardwick housing complex refused to be intimidated by the spread of Crip gang presence in Toronto's west end, and in defiance, purposely chose to represent the Crips' natural enemy: the Bloods. This occurrence intensified an already strained relationship between youths from Ardwick and Rexdale, resulting in numerous violent encounters between the two groups, often carried out in public. Word began to spread that the Ardwick Bloods were prepared to use deadly means to protect their neighbourhood from perceived outside threats. Their reputation for callous gun play and disregard for the lives of rivals helped solidify their presence in the local drug trade around the Northwest section of Toronto. With a heavy police mandate to crack down on gang activity in Ardwick, members ceased the wearing of bandannas and began to wear sports apparel, in particular red Los Angeles Angels baseball caps to symbolize their turf. The Ardwick Blood Crew were served a crippling blow as a joint police operation dubbed "Project Flicker" netted 34 hardcore members resulting in 197 arrests in total and laid 630 charges -- 169 of them gun-related. Their main rivals were all neighbourhoods claiming Rexdale Crips, in particular, the Doomstown Crips along with the Driftwood Crips and Shoreshot Crips. They are clicked up with the Connection Young Bloods and The Lanes Bloods.