"The Fabrication of the New Age Gangster"

I used a reference from the inlay of The Game's Album "LAX."

The purple skulls represent the unification of blue & red (Bloods & Crips). In the early 1990's, during the Los Angeles Riots & Rodney King era, a civil race war was created. The police became enemies of the African American Civilians. Once the riots began, the gangs in LA joined together to oppose the corrupt police system.

During that time there were a lot of prejudice & racial issues. N.W.A. was a hip-hop group that spoke about most of the issues in LA. The Game is from Compton, LA, and grew up listening to the music and living through the tragedies. Throughout his music, he represents N.W.A. & LA and speaks about the gangster lifestyle.

This painting represents the new commercial type of gangster that formulates from hip-hop. The gangster lifestyle has become very popular through hip-hop culture. So, I made the face emerge from the purple skull pattern / fabric to appear like he is wearing the bandanna on his face; the pattern becomes part of him, which is representing The Game's history.

... but otherwise, I wanted to create an interesting composition while being ambiguous about the concept.

"The Fabrication of the New Age Gangster"
Oil Painting
48" x 96"
2009.
Michael Biondo.