LIVING THAT THUG LIFE BABY HOW DO WE STOP THE KILLING

Arthur “Silky Slim” Reed, grew up in the depressed neighborhood between Beauregard Town and the North gates of LSU, known for generations as The SouthSide. By the age of twelve, Arthur “Silky Slim” Reed's life had already taken a downward turn as he begins the life of doing crime, dealing drugs and violent acts. By the age of fourteen, he was sentenced to the Louisiana Training Institute for Boys, now known as Jetson Correctional Facility for two counts of attempted second degree murder. Taught early in life to be a soldier and once he was released, “Silky Slim” co-founded the 4 Down and Southside Wrecking Crews, which are credited with launching the gang violence that still stains the depressed streets of Baton Rouge today. Like any soldier, he had found his war.Representing the South with sheer violence, “Silky Slim” spent the next 12 years bouncing between gang life and prison. Like any parent concerned for their child's safety, his Mother sent him to California to stay with his younger brother, who was serving in the military. Convinced that the street life was the only way out of the ghetto, “Silky Slim” joined the Rolling 30's Cripps gang and spent the next twenty-two years in and out of prisons from California to Louisiana.By this time, he had tried every drug using Heroin, ice, meth, x-pills and syrup; you name it and “Silky Slim” had done it. He tried committing suicide at least three times. Once by putting a loaded nine miller-meter to his head, only to have his five year old walk in and ask, “daddy what are you doing?”. launched a filming company, WE SHOOT FIRST, (TO LIVE AND DIE IN AMERICA). The former gang leader, life story continues to inspire youth to change their ways.

Khallid Muhammad