Chicago Gang Evolution: Crime, Culture, and Control from the Era of Mixtapes to the time of TikTok

• In Event: Gangs and Social Media in the Digital Age

Abstract

A foundational principle in criminological research is that crime and deviance are shaped not only by individual characteristics but also by historical context—it is not just who you are, but when you are. This study applies a historical lens to gang behavior, arguing that gang processes must be understood as time-varying phenomena shaped by broader social, cultural, and technological shifts. Specifically this research examines gang dynamics across the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and the present, drawing from diverse sources such as qualitative interviews, gang-affiliated mixtapes, DVDs, and social media platforms spanning multiple decades. Findings highlight the evolving nature of gang affiliation, status signaling, and intergroup rivalries, demonstrating that gang behavior is not static but adapts to the dominant technological and cultural structures of each era. From the crack epidemic of the 1980s to the rise of social media in the 2000s and the algorithm-driven engagement of TikTok today, this study provides insight into how external societal shifts continuously reshape gang structures and behaviors.

Authors

• John Leverso, University of Cincinnati

• James Densley, Metro State University