Image via Complex Original
Rep Yo Set: The 10 Most Gang-Affiliated Hats in Sports
A recent poll revealed that the Cincinnati Reds are baseball's 16th most popular team—yet their familiar "C" hat remains one of the top-selling fitteds. Why? We can think of a good reason, and it's got nada to do with Dusty Baker, Scott Rolen, and 'nem. Take a good look at the team's colorway: red. BLOOD red. Yup, Cincy's hat has become not only a favorite of "soo-woo" gang-bangers, but also for red-repping rappers like The Game and Lil Wayne. Of course, the Reds hat is only one of many sports caps with extra significance in gang culture. With that, we present to you the 10 most gang-affiliated hats in sports—and remember, be careful what fitted you rock in the hood, cuz!
#10 Oakland A's
Adopted by: Almighty Ambrose Nation (Chicago), Orchestra Albany (Chicago), Spanish Cobras (Chicago)
Why: The Ambrose and the Albany share the same first letter as the Athletics, while the Spanish Cobras rock the green A's caps to represent their primary color.
Complex says: Three gangs from the same city rockin' the same hats? Shit must've gotten real dicey in those shootouts.
#9 Georgetown Hoyas
Adopted by: Gangster Disciples (Chicago), Folk Nation (Chicago)
Why: GD members started rocking Georgetown gear to honor founder Larry Hoover, with Hoyas standing for "Hoover's On Your Ass."
Complex says: LARRY HOOVER!
#8 Minnesota Twins
Adopted by: Maniac Latin Disciples (Chicago)
Why: The M stands for "Maniac Latin Disciples".
Complex says: And you thought those scary-looking dudes were all Kirby Puckett fans.
#7 Detroit Tigers
Adopted by: Gangster Disciples (Chicago)
Why: The "D" stands for Disciple and the GD colors are black and blue.
Complex says: Let's be real: A regular Detroit citizen rocking a Tigers' fitted is just as likely to shoot you as a GD.
#6 Houston Astros
Adopted by: The Bloods (L.A.), Folk Nation (Chicago)
Why: The red cap is an easy color identifier for the Bloods. For the Folk Nation, the five-point star represents their symbol.
Complex says: Why else would you wear an Astros hat?
#5 Los Angeles Kings
Adopted by: Latin Kings (Chicago, NYC), People Nation (Chicago)
Why: The word "Kings" makes it easy to identify the largest Hispanic gang in the U.S. For other gangs within the People Nation alliance, the "Kings" stands for "Kill Inglewood Nasty Gangsters."
Complex says: We don't promote gang violence (or gangs), but we kinda wish more of them would adopt hockey logos. It's the most gangsta sport out there, right?
#4 Chicago Bulls
Adopted by: Vice Lords (Chicago), Latin Counts (Mexico, Chicago), Mickey Cobras (Chicago), Black P. Stone Nation (Chicago), The Bloods (L.A.)
Why: The Vice Lords, Latin Counts, and Mickey Cobras share the Bulls' colors of red and black. The P. Stones and the Bloods were a little more creative however: For the former, "Bulls" stands for "Boy U Look Like Stone" and for the Bloods, it stands for "Bloods Usually Live Life Strong/Smart."
Complex says: Hey D. Rose, if you're gonna throw up a sign, at least do it for a Chi-town gang that actually reps your squad.
#3 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
Adopted by: People Nation (Chicago), Folk Nation (Chicago)
Why: For the Folk Nation, "Raiders" stands for "Ruthless Ass Insane Disciples Running Shit." For the People Nation, it stands for "Raggedy Ass Iced Donuts Everywhere Running Scared." Ha!
Complex says: Though the Raiders might be known more for their affiliation with N.W.A than actual street gangs, the gangsta iconography of their caps was too much to ignore.
#2 Cincinnati Reds
Adopted by: 4 Corner Hustlers (Chicago), The Bloods (L.A.)
Why: The Bloods wear it for color association. The Hustlers put a "4" next to the "C" and an "H" inside the "C."
Complex says: Think it's about time the Reds use "Piru Love" as a pre-game warm-up.
#1 Los Angeles Dodgers
Adopted by: The Crips (L.A.), Gangster Disciples (Chicago), Latin Aspects (various)
Why: The Crips use it for color association. For the GDs, the "D" stands for Disciple. For the Aspects, the "LA" stands for Latin Aspects.
Complex says: And Matt Kemp wears it 'cause he's got the baddest chick in the game.