When I think of the Gator's cont'd....

Anthony aka Big Ant aka Black says:

When I think of the Gator Pak… I think of My Fam! I think of troopin’ through 800, Monterey, Twin Parks, Lambert, and West Farms just to throw eggs on Halloween... I think of the talent show at P.S. 193 when House knocked out the biggest nigga in the crew we were beefing with... I think about the first walk-a-thon when Shaggy had his boom box and Big Lip Tom had his, and the whole 4 hours we walked we only played two songs – Eric B. as President and Nobody Beats the Biz… I think about the whole team troopin’ to catch the ‘2’ to go to ‘the real’ Skate Key, and once again House had to knock somebody out because House got kicked in the head by a skate after he fell… I think about all of us going down to BMCC for a “Do’in the butt” party after “School Daze” came out… I think about sitting on Belmont for hours listening to two of the greatest comedians the world never heard of – Fred & Big Troy – until tears poured out and my stomach started to cramp… I think about no less than 12 of us piling up in Damon’s LeCar and Herb’s 2-door Cutlass to go to the Whitestone movie theater to see “She’s Gotta Have It”… I think about meetings in the original Gator headquarters - Ms. Joann’s basement (shout out to Ann & her crew)… I think about when Rashea got sliced in a fight and we rode out 20 deep in 3 cars and a motorcycle to get the kid that did it. Those who were there no the rest… I think about when Troy Boogie slammed the Mexican dude he was fighting on 182nd Street twice… I think about when Craig and Dancin’ Mark fought on line during initiations… I think about when Takim fought Cowboy at the carnival on 181st, when he fought Cowboy in front of 800, oh yeah, and when he fought Cowboy at the West Farms jam (they became good friends a few years later, go figure)… I think about us going to the Fairtree and there was never more than 2 or 3 females in the club, but it was the only club that would let 15 & 16 year olds in and we would just be in the middle of the dance floor buggin’ out… I think about how the Gators could go to a party every weekend and, almost every time, the party would be weak until we got there and started doin’ our Gator thing – you know “Gators in the house, soul train, etc.”… I think about late night walks to West Farms for murder burgers… And Hunt’s Point, nah, that’s another story!

Basically, I think about the best times of my life. I thank God for my OG Gators. They say you are a product of your environment. I could’ve been surrounded by knuckleheads selling drugs, bustin’ guns, using drugs, or worse. But God blessed me with my Gator brothers. As one of the younger Gators I had brothers like Duane Francis to look up to, that took the simple concept of having the fun we were known for, and made it a profitable business. Rest In Peace, my brother. You are missed.

Most of all I think about Rashea aka Mr. Slate, Corey B, Emilio aka House, Duane aka Diamond D. aka The Steak (before the removal surgery), Troy Love aka Big Troy, Troy Boogie aka Little Troy, Fred aka The Grand Poobah, Eric aka Smoke, Herb aka Goo-Goo, Baby George, Sean-O, Sean aka Kermit, Cadillac Craig, Kelvin aka White Bread, Damon aka Cigar Lips, Brian aka G-String, Derrick, Dancin’ Mark, Pig Nose Mark, Karate Mike, Do-Work Curt, Big Lip Tom, Snoop, Quiet Storm, Takim,K.T., Garnett, Larry aka Rico Suave and rest in peace to our brother Mike Grip!

And most definitely my sisters from 21 Jump & The Gatorettes – Melinda, Kendall, Susan, Quana, Nicky, Kim, Michi, Shalonda, Des, Connie and Stacey.

The people I named, and some I forgot, are linked forever by a name that sparked a movement. But it wasn’t just the name. If we called ourselves The Snakes back in 1984, then next month there would still be a party going on in midtown Manhattan where 1,000 people will be shouting “Snakes in the house, Snakes in the house, HO!” It wasn’t the name. It was the right group of characters, the right block, and the best time to grow up – the 80’s. I wouldn’t change a damn thing!

That’s what I think when I think of THE GATORS.