Hoover Criminals

From Rap Dictionary

The Hoovers were one of the most feared gangs in Los Angeles, California in the post "Watts" era. Known as The Hoover Groovers in its earliest conception, the Hoovers dated back to the late 60's era, and were one of the first gangs to challenge Stan "Tookie" Williams' West Side Crips. After an incident nearly brought the two factions at an all out war, the leaders of the Hoovers and the West Side Crips came to an agreement and joined forces against a common enemy at the time known as the Figueroa Boys; prompting the Hoovers to adopt the Crips moniker into their name. But over the years, deep rooted rivalries with many other Crip gangs made the Hoovers drop their Crip moniker and adopt the name Hoover Criminals around 1995. They kept their initials, HCG, but the "C" stood for "Criminals". They are sworn enemies of all neighborhoods claiming the Rollin 0s and Gangster Crips card, along with the 18th Street gang and all Blocc Crips. Even though most Hoover sets are generally enemies of the Gangster Crips, the 5-Deuce Hoover Gangster Crips are friendly towards the Eight Tray Gangster Crips (they both share hatred for the Rollin 60s Neighborhood Crips). Some Hoover sets are allies of the Insane Crips in Long Beach as well. 81st street between Hoover and Figueroa was considered a mecca for the Hoovers, who are now spread out through the United States thanks in part to the drug boom in the 80's. Today, the Hoover Criminals adopted the color orange but still wear the traditional blue color associated with the Crips and have many sub-faction sets: