I was just brought up knowing how to separate your professional life and social life. I was born in New Orleans. The 9th Ward as you know. I went to elementary school were the racial demographics were 50/50 over here in Mississippi. I did a year of middle school were the demographics started to lean more in favor of blacks, and for the first time ever I began to consistently be in trouble. More because of who I hung around then what I was doing. The only thing that saved me was the fact the teachers recognized my grades were all A's, and were more lenient. We moved, and I finished my grade schooling career at a place were it was 90% white, and I never had any trouble at any point in time. And I'm not saying that to make it a racial thing, but only to make my point. That taught me how to deal with EVERYONE. Because everybody is different. I could blend. The white kids couldn't really understand how I talked. I learned to change that up around them. I didn't flash the gang banging ties around them or at the school because I knew it would only hold me back. Same goes for my music. I don't often reference the Blood ties because it only brings drama. So I agree with you in that aspect. It was dumb for Desean to throw up the C's (I'm throwing up in my mouth...ugh) in a game. But I think it was a heat of the moment, knee jerk reaction. Anybody who came up around that kind of goes back to that as a crutch when in a confrontation. Like a dog showing it's teeth if you will. Not to mention gangs have become more of a glorified part of Hip Hop, and EVERYBODY thinks they're in them now. It's a little deeper then what's seen on the surface. I think he's a Crip (throws up again), just not an active, banging Crip. And I don't think he ever put in work or anything like. Which is robbery, murder, or drug dealing for the set. Some people are just kind of honorary.