South Central Los Angeles is a grid of stories. Some are told through murals, others through police reports, but the most complex ones are written in the history of the streets themselves. If you’ve spent any time looking into the geography of LA gangs, you’ve likely stumbled across the name Main Street Mafia Crip. They aren't just another set. They are a specific, often misunderstood part of the East Side landscape that has spent decades navigating a very thin line between two different worlds.
They aren't just Crips. They're Mafia Crips. That distinction matters more than you might think.
In the 1970s and 80s, the "Mafia" branding started popping up among certain Crip sets. It wasn't about the Italian Mob in the way movies portray it; it was about an internal alliance and a specific style of operation. The Main Street Mafia Crip (MSMC) formed its identity around the 98th Street and Main Street area. They grew. They fought. They survived. But what makes them a fascinating case study in street sociology is how they transitioned from being a standard Crip set into something that feels almost like an island in the middle of a shifting ocean of alliances.
The Geography of the 98s and 84s
To understand the Main Streets, you have to look at the map. They are traditionally split into two primary "sub-sets" or cliques: the 98 Main Street Mafia Crips and the 84 Main Street Mafia Crips.
The 98s are the older, more foundational branch.
Their territory is centered around 98th Street and Main Street, stretching toward Century Blvd. It's a dense urban environment. For years, this was the heart of their operations. Then you have the 84s, located further north. While they are the same gang, the geography dictates who they interact with on a daily basis.
Street politics is basically real estate with higher stakes.
Living on Main Street means being surrounded by some of the most famous—and formidable—names in LA history. To their west, you have the Hoover Criminals. To their east, the East Side Coast Crips. This proximity has defined their entire existence. You can’t walk out of your house without bumping into a boundary line.
One of the most defining characteristics of the Main Street Mafia Crip identity is their long-standing alliance with the 99 Watts Mafia Crips. This partnership is so tight they are often referred to as "98-99" or the "Main-Mafia" alliance. They move together. They fight together. In a world where sets often turn on each other over minor slights, this decades-long bond is a bit of an anomaly.
The War That Changed Everything
You can't talk about Main Street without talking about the "Hoover vs. Main Street" conflict. This isn't just a neighborhood rivalry. It's a seismic shift in South LA history.
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Historically, many Mafia Crip sets and Hoover sets were friendly. They were part of a broader alliance against common enemies. But in the early 1990s, things fell apart. The catalyst is often cited as a dispute over a girl or a stolen car—the kind of small-scale friction that leads to large-scale tragedy.
It got ugly fast.
Because the 98 Main Streets and the 94/92 Hoover Criminals shared such close borders, the violence was intimate. It happened on the same corners where people bought their groceries. This beef eventually led to the Hoover sets dropping the "Crip" name entirely and becoming "Criminals," partly to distance themselves from the Crip-on-Crip violence they were engaged in with the Main Streets.
What's wild is how this ripple effect touched the rest of the city. When Main Street went to war with Hoover, it forced every other set in the area to pick a side or duck for cover. It effectively ended the era of "unified" Crip fronts in that part of South Central.
The Mafia Crip Identity vs. Traditional Crips
Why "Mafia"?
It’s a question that gets asked a lot by people who aren't from the area. In the LA gang lexicon, names are chosen for prestige. By the late 70s, the "Mafia Crip" brand was established by sets like 99 Watts, Bluegate, and Main Street. They saw themselves as more organized or perhaps more business-minded than the "Neighborhood" (NHC) or "Gangster" (AGC) Crip factions.
This branding created a unique sub-culture.
Main Street members often sport yellow or gold alongside the traditional Crip blue. This isn't just a fashion choice. It’s a nod to their specific history and their affiliation with the "Mafia" umbrella. If you see someone in the area wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates hat (the "P" often standing for something else in street slang, or the gold color matching their scheme), you're seeing that visual identity in practice.
However, being a "Mafia Crip" also means you're sometimes the odd man out.
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The "Neighborhood" Crips (like the 60s or the East Coasts) and the "Gangster" Crips (like the 83s) have a massive, city-wide rivalry. The Mafia Crips, particularly Main Street, have often tried to navigate these waters without being fully swallowed by either side. It hasn't always worked. Over time, Main Street has found itself increasingly aligned with certain Neighborhood Crip sets, especially as their rivalry with the Hoovers intensified.
Realities of the Neighborhood
The media likes to paint these groups as monolithic organizations with a CEO and a boardroom. That’s not reality. Main Street Mafia Crip is a collection of individuals. It's a neighborhood social structure that has been warped by systemic neglect, the crack epidemic of the 80s, and the lack of economic opportunity in South Central.
When you look at the 77th Division's crime statistics over the years, Main Street’s territory often shows up as a "hot spot."
But there’s a human element that gets lost in the data. There are families who have lived on 98th and Main for three generations. There are kids who grow up into this because their older brothers, cousins, and fathers were in it. It's a cycle of proximity.
Experts like Alex Alonso, a geographer who has documented LA gangs for decades through StreetGangs.com, point out that groups like Main Street aren't just about crime; they are about a sense of belonging in a place where the state has largely failed to provide a safety net. This doesn't excuse the violence—which has been devastating—but it explains the "why."
Misconceptions and Internet Rumors
The internet is a breeding ground for bad information about gangs. You’ll see YouTube "historians" or "map-makers" claiming that Main Street is defunct or that they’ve moved entirely out of the city.
That’s just wrong.
While the LAPD’s gang injunctions and the rising cost of living in Los Angeles have displaced many members, the "Main Street" identity is still very much active. You see it in the music coming out of the area. Rappers from the set or the alliance continue to use their lyrics to document the ongoing tensions with Hoover and the pride they take in their block.
Another misconception is that they are "under" the 8side or 10side.
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While they have alliances, Main Street is a "sovereign" set. They make their own decisions. They don't take orders from a central Crip command because such a thing doesn't exist. Everything is localized. A beef on 98th Street might have nothing to do with what's happening on 108th, even if both sets call themselves Crips.
The Impact of the "Criminal" Pivot
When the Hoovers dropped the Crip label and became "Criminals," it actually made Main Street’s position even more distinct. Since the Hoovers now claim "Abk" (Anybody Killa) or "EbK" (Everybody Killa), Main Street has often found itself in a defensive posture, forming tactical alliances with other Crip sets that were also targeted by the Hoovers.
This has led to some strange bedfellows.
You’ll sometimes see Main Street members at peace with sets they were at war with ten years ago, simply because they share a common enemy. It’s the "enemy of my enemy is my friend" philosophy played out in real-time on the streets of Los Angeles.
What the Future Holds
Is there an end in sight for the tensions involving Main Street?
It's complicated.
There have been "peace pipes" and "ceasefires" over the years. Community activists and former members often work behind the scenes to stop a shooting before it starts. Organizations like Urban Peace Institute or local grassroots mentors try to provide an exit ramp for the youth.
But the "Mafia" identity is deeply rooted. For many, Main Street isn't just a gang; it’s their history. It's the story of their neighborhood.
If you want to understand the current state of South Central, you have to look past the headlines. You have to see the way these borders were drawn and the blood that was spilled to maintain them. The Main Street Mafia Crips are a testament to the staying power of neighborhood identity, for better or for worse.
Actionable Insights for Research and Safety
If you are a student of sociology, a journalist, or just someone interested in the history of Los Angeles, here is how to look at this topic responsibly:
- Verify via Court Documents: If you want the real names and specific incidents, look at appellate court records involving the 77th Division. This is where you find the facts, not the rumors.
- Respect the Geography: If you are visiting South LA, understand that these borders are real to the people who live there. "Main Street" isn't just a name; it's a specific stretch of asphalt with a very long memory.
- Support Intervention: Look into groups like the Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) program. They work in areas like the 98s to provide alternatives to the lifestyle.
- Differentiate the Labels: Don't lump all "Crips" together. Learning the difference between Mafia, Neighborhood, and Gangster Crips is the first step in actually understanding LA street politics.
- Look at the Music: If you want to hear the contemporary "vibe" of the neighborhood, listen to the local artists. Just remember that lyrics are often part-theatre, part-reality.
The story of the Main Street Mafia Crip is still being written. It’s a story of survival, rivalry, and a very specific type of South Central pride that refuses to be erased by time or gentrification.