Shit.. I live in Texas and there’s random acts of shootings every weekend. Malls, schools, random attacks on civilians. I wouldn’t say it’s just in o’block but just in America in general. (Texas a lot so)
Bruh theres like 20 people dead here in israel a month and we get hella hate everytime we tryin to defend ourself, fucking iran is about to make a nuke bomb to bomb us and we are scared as hell and no1 still cares about us, only about the people in palestine that get hurt and not even 1 dead guy there a month
@@BigsmokeATL no it ain’t where I’m from ain’t no gangs at all it’s pretty much every man for they self you’d get clipped and robbed by nigga from same neighborhood same side of town as u
What I respect about Brandon is that largely he makes himself the joke, and the subjects and people he interviews he treats seriously and with dignity and respect.
Agreed. But this shit still just looks bad. Very uneducated poor people. I do live the hope though. I’m surprised about their fashion a little bit. everyone looks dressed to the nines.
Well their friends and family are all in these places and they've been there for decades. It sucks, but to a point I'd imagine that moving isn't an option or it's extremely difficult. It also really is amazing what the human mind can acclimate to if given it's given enough time/necessity. Not to mention that gangs can kinda be like cults. Getting mixed up in a radical, tight knit group such as a gang, at a young age, would fuck with anybody's sense of self and decision making. Especially when friends and family have been killed by members of opposing groups. You have very tight personal and familial connections that you want to protect AND a nearby group that you and your gang fucking despise.... It makes sense a lot of these guys might not want to leave, they'd be abandoning everybody that they love. I have never and hope that I never will live in an area like Oblock so my pov is VERY one sided.
3:41 whenever he said that they want them to seem like monsters that actually made me sad asf. I hope all the people from the interview stay safe and live good long lives.
@@jamardns77 the environment. They're desensitised so they think the area is okay, when a shooting a month is insane. I imagine murder would be something of a write of passage for them, as it is in most gang cultures.
I feel for the kids who have no choice but to live in an environment like that. It seems the patern is by the time you know better it's often too late. Nice to shine a light on the youth trying to get by.
Never grew up in a community even close to this, but after hearing some of the youth speak about it, I can’t help but feel a sense of compassion for some of these folks, some do become a product of their own environment but I truly believe it’s mostly good people just trying to get by
If you listen to them they've all become desensitivized to violence so in the end they all lost something even if they didn't realize it. I don't think living thinking "oh just our monthly shooting quota" can be healthy for their minds and I bet someone with that part of em stunted is more likely to end up in a gang than any other. Sad to see really.
I love how they see each other like family, but the fact that they LOVE O BLOCK, shows they know little about how other people live, how other people are raised, and the resources they are exposed to. The love it cause they dont know anything else, but what they know is they in it together.
Yes that may ring true. But theres defnietly things you dont know about O Block. Ur neighborhood may have comfort with wealth money wise but these people have what many "Wealthier" places lack, and that is culture, community and family.
I go to college in Chicago. I took a History of Chicago class, and we visited the Frank Lloyd Wright house on the South Side. We walked over by O-Block for a good half mile. Made me happy to see little kids playing outside and stuff. Hopefully the conditions get better as time passes. People don’t realize 63rd and 64th are easily accessible by public transport, and plenty of people live there besides just Parkway Gardens.
@@bigkeemy1 when people are dying in a specific area day after day parents tend to keep they’re children inside. The kids playing outside “hopefully” shows things are getting less deadly in That area.
It’s the same thing when I lived in river park towers. People constantly called it the most dangerous place in the Bronx, yet it was never that bad. It was always something petty then every now and then it would be something severe like a robbery or an altercation that resulted in someone getting injured. People rarely got killed and it was always dumb kids trynna act gangster. The older cats would never do anything like that, they usually just made sure that anyone who didn’t live there wasn’t messing with anyone.
The common theme: People who live there play it down, and when they get a chance to leave they can finally reflect. It's what we should expect, when you have to survive day by day you can't dwell on it. When you move somewhere where your friends and family aren't dropping dead every month, it puts things into perspective.
The dissonance was shocking to me, a European. "Look how we just standing outside. You're safe with us nothing to worry about!" While later Yeah so we just got shot at They need to, it's a natural protection our brain has. But it is stunning to see, especially because their community is so special and positive and full of hope.
@@littleloner1159 European here too. Definitely they need that mindset, imagine how quick you'd fall into depression or develop other mental illness if they constantly dwell on that environment. They seem real close though, real shame how bad it is for them.
True. I remember being a teenager in unstable situations and I've had some family and friends die or get murdered. It was sad and hard but you get use to chaos. You have to. Luckily I didn't have to deal with what these kids do. I didn't have it as bad. Years later when I was able to surround myself with more positive and stable people, I don't know how I dealt with what I did growing up. It was harder to process as an adult than when I was living it as a kid. I really wish the best for these kids!
True. I remember being a teenager in unstable situations and I've had some family and friends die or get murdered. It was sad and hard but you get use to chaos. You have to. Luckily I didn't have to deal with what these kids do. I didn't have it as bad. Years later when I was able to surround myself with more positive and stable people, I don't know how I dealt with what I did growing up. It was harder to process as an adult than when I was living it as a kid. I really wish the best for these kids!
Always a blessing when Brandon uploads, I really appreciate your willingness to put yourself at risk to not just make content, but help make the stories of these places known. I think building understanding and empathy, while showing reality, will be key to helping solve the problems facing places like this.
I seriously love this. I think it is a great way to shine a light on the community. You did a great job with this and letting us hear their voices. I wish the best for all of em and you as well.
your videos just get better and better man. this was way more informative than i expected. proud of how far youve come and rly looking forward to your future
Been bingewatching your documentaries for a couple days now. And Ive gotta say youre an amazing content creator. Everything from how you conduct yourself and your interview, the niche little topics you target and bring attention to. Absolutely amazing work
What i loved the most about this is that you spent time with the shortys and gave them a chance to explain how things are in their eyes. You cracked jokes but it was all love and you wasn't on no goofy shit at all. cant wait to see your work and what you have next. Subscribed
@@ianmangham4570 I could do the exact same to you, why do you think he means wild animals in a racist way, why is it in your mind that that’s what he means, you probably think he means like monkeys instead of predatory wild animals who kill and take what they want like lions or sum shit. Y’all need a hobby, that woke shit is poisonous to your mental
This channel is amazing, Brandon it’s genuinely awesome to see your content morph and evolve into meaningful exploration of everything human, in real time. Keep up the work man
Man I love the juxtaposition between your video’s. One is insanely hilarious and the next is true journalism and helping people who don’t have a voice to have a voice. You’re the man Brandon!
That group of young preteen boys was very well spoken and articulate. The community seems so strong and beautiful in a way many may not be able to see or accept. This is important shit man. God bless, stay safe
The fact that they can say a place like that is chill and all good is crazy. There’s something really wild about dodging bullets and not really caring to find a new place to live after that.
Thankfully he kept this interview as Real as possible and didn't do any goofy shii even though his channel is based around comedy this was a Authentic ass interview that no other RU-vidr in his category has done before, This is putting the spotlight on the youth from that area that's the generation coming up 10 years since Chief keef put old block on the map they definitely gifted and smart
They talk about how the violence is exaggerated and then a minute later they say they don’t stop hooping when they hear gunshots. I don’t think they recognize what their situation really is. I’m not saying the news won’t amplify a situation for clicks, but I don’t think these kids realize this isn’t how it should be for them.
The media does exaggerate the violence because everything is easily accessible through the phone, no newspapers or anything they can create any type of narrative they want because goofy people gonna pay attention
I'm pretty sure it was hard to make the decision to even include the shooting at the end because you're trying to at least let people see that shit isn't as bad as they think. But the truth is the truth, it's not your fault if it really happened. Just the way it is. Thanks for keeping it real. Been watching your shit for a while now. Cold ass ridin!
Really happy you chose to highlight O Block's average resident instead of the stereotypical rapper/gang member. It made this documentary so humanizing ❤
Damn bruh, when you were interviewing G Nuk, and just played the clip of him saying he lost one of his close friends, and THEN he says he's lived in O-Block his whole life, since 2004. This kid has been through tragedy, so young to see friends die. Tragic
i did. he asked for my connections and i gave it to him. andrew is my boy. please stop making this into a competition. i get hate from andrews fans everyday calling me an unoriginal copycat when andrew himself says he really enjoys my content and knows im not copying him. i made the o block video first, andrew also wanted to make one, i helped him with some connections and nobody was copying anyone. please stop turning this into a me vs andrew thing. we are literally friends.
Chief keef is a living legend . He literally made drill music a global genre and OBlock one of the most iconic blocks . now he got white people doing interviews in his hood . But Chief keef won’t get his credit until he die smh
Love your content bro. Be safe. Like last dude was saying, you can get caught out without having any type of association. They don't care if you're just filming. Either way, thanks for bringing light to a situation that's been needing addressing for a long time
Wow. These 2 Videos that you just made were amazing. As someone who was always interested in the Chicago Drill scene, this was something I‘ve been looking for. This video shows that these are just people that can be very nice and that they‘re not just some brutal monster that will shoot without hesitation as soon as you step on their territory. And even they say that it’s not that dangerous and some of them are ready to kill people and disrespect people like Tooka, I still feel sympathy for these folks. Because remember, for them this is normal life. Like they said: You get used to it. And for them Tooka is somebody from the gang, a group of people they were raised to hate and through music, it has become regular phrase in their circle. Therefore I‘m glad there is a video that shows them as human beings. Bravo Brandon. - just a guy from Germany that loves Hip Hop and the story behind it.
I love the approach you made going into this , and you are very brave for even attempting to do something like this , from the stories I’ve seen and heard with all the innocent people dying from stray bullets. It’s also heartbreaking to see how young these babies are being killed and how they fight daily to stay alive . I keep tearing up looking at their faces . They seem to articulate for them selves very well , especially the little little ones . Heavenly Father I pray that you bless them and keep them , order their steps for the rest of their days 🙏🏾♥️
fucked up how andrew callahan got the contacts from brandon in order to copy brandons video idea, then didnt even give credit or appreciation to brandon for the help
Watching you go from the crazy drunk guy on Danny Mullen to this is absolutely crazy and I love these vids from you. Cant wait to see what’s in store for you.
Nelk sold out like 4 years ago. their videos are half commercials for merch or their seltzer. Brandon has been keeping it real the whole time which is why he still puts out great content.
Brandon when i first discovered you with the Zillikami vids i never would’ve imagined you would’ve produced this amazing documentary, being someone who has been into the “Drill” scene for a min now, it’s quite surreal watching this crucial & vital piece of documentation on the violence that goes on in not only Parkway, but Chicago as a whole, bless you for this & continue to follow your hearts calling for content because it’s obviously guiding you in the right direction, i’ve never donated to a patreon before but i will be donating to yours, continue to document America bro!
Stay up Brando. This internet shit will die down, don't let the trolls get to you. It's like a Chinese finger trap. Just get off the internet for a while and get your mind right. We love you bro.
I love how he added the piano 🎹 in the back ground to soften this harsh place! Very creative and brings out the beauty in the people and the place. Makes people who live here more human then the wild hoodlums these rappers and the world make them seem to be. ❤
Great work Brandon and thanks for the video. I really enjoy your videos that have a more serious tone, like this right here. Keep at it my friend, great stuff!
Education has lifted more Black people out of poverty than rapping, basketball, and crime combined. Education is the only thing that should be emphasized for our community.
As a 22 yr old black male that made it out of the trenches in Philadelphia, it's beautiful to see other young men outside of the light the news portrays us in. Now time for the next culture!
Trap Lore Ross could never… Despite the internet obsession mentality, Bro is asking question about humanity and life, NOT documenting murders like Trap Lore. Respect to dude ✊🏾
I live in a city, and although where I grew up wasn't as violent as Chicago, there is this switch once you get into high school and right after where people start losing the playful joy of being a kid and start into gang violence and killing. Really tripped me out seeing dudes I knew being killed or turning into killers themseves when just a few years prior they were bright eyed happy kids with hopes and dreams. I remember one dude was just a typical high school teenager that played sports and had bright hopeful eyes with hopes and dreams. Four years pass by and he killed and attempted to kill people not to mention several rumors of killings. You compare photos of the before and after and it looked like a literal demon had entered him. Facial structure and everything change. Pretty wild to see and tripped me out seeing several guys, some completely innocent caught in crossfire, lose their lives or lose their light and become killers. Personally I wasn't prepared for things to change so quick and honestly it really affected me so I can only imagine growing up in a place where close friends are being killed and gunshots are ringing out weekly or monthly. God I pray for that community😔
grew up in a city. lost a friend summer before high school. felt fam life was the only way to be safe and fed. so glad I got out of that. but I'll never forget that first lost. my 9th grade classmate in a heroine recovery program. losing classmates to knife fights. It hits you, but the dude was right. You don't process, you just adapt.
It's sad these kids seem to think it's actually good living there. If that's all you know then it seems normal but there is no way you could convince anyone they have a good life. It's not normal to have a friend who got shot and killed let alone having multiple friends who have been shot. It's great they are making the best of their situation but life can be better for them
hey man, if they good they good. Let them see the good in what they have and what they've grown up with. Life is what you make of it and if what they make of it in their youth is positive I don't see why you'd want to stop them
I live on Vancouver island. Probably the furthest from O block you can get, and that dude who played ball with L’A Capone made me sad. I grew up in suburbia listening to L’A Capone, capo, young pappy etc. crazy how I would sit and listen to something I couldn’t relate to at all, really makes me cherish that my close friends growing up never got killed over some stupid shit. Great video Brandon, and way to ask the questions that matter.
Amazing video and well put together brandon thank you so much for putting this raw footage together to show the people what life is really like. Btw the new edits and animations are amazing!
I feel like there’s a lot of people from that area that have a fuck ton of potential. I need to make some beats for these guys lol. Thank you for the great content Brandon
Too much talent and smarts to lose your life trying to be the hardest pit in the liter. Peace and blessings to all of them. Good stuff Brandon, stay safe.
@@ORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR13 the rappers the media shows yea, you act like there aren’t rappers perfectly fine when you grow up into a lifestyle where your only goal is to stay alive you can’t just leave that
Crazy you don’t have enough followers or subscribers. You’re consistent and you make quality into all your videos. They only keep improving. Good shot Brandon
Man o block looks like a cool place. Tbh the vibes looks like the place where I grew up. Everybody knew each other and everybody just be cooling with everybody
this was really great content, loving the effort put into the visuals-it really did add value to the video and gives you a unique edge. you earned a subscriber. Keep up the great work
I'm from Cincinnati, OH and I can definitely relate to them saying things like "its not as bad as the media make it" thats only because when you become immune to that life and can't escape it because of your situation you just brush it off. Man oh man I would love to hit o block just to connect with our people I know you can't save err body but I need that connection with more of our people
I really feel for these young guys. A lot of people judge them, but those people don’t understand that in that community, you really don’t have a choice. You are surrounded by people who want to kill you simply for living on a different street. It’s sad af. Don’t die for a street your mom is paying rent on.
I’m ngl brother I love these documentary type videos you drop. I forgot what it was but the one about that mentally disabled dude that got trolled and messed with and told to do horrible things by ppl online, this one. I know these videos are harder to do and take a lot more time to create, but I love em. Would love to see more documentary type content like this not just on subjects like this, but on everything. Great video
