0:00 Bart and Joe, what are some perks about Asian gang life that you wish you could still have without being in the gang anymore? >> You know what I really miss is the daily hangouts and you just are you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. And I'm sure you could do this with no gang. It's just a bunch of loser guys that are doing nothing all day. [laughter] >> Like, >> imagine today we're all going to this one guy's house because everyone just meets up there. Someone's hungry, so they're gonna start barbecuing some food, whatever. You get a phone call, and then you don't know why, but all of a sudden, you're jumping into all these cars to go somewhere. Y >> because there's a fight or there's a thing you have to do. >> Yeah. >> And then you It's just, you know what it feels like is you guys are just like Mongolians in in and there's a bunch of horses.
0:50 >> You're like huns. >> Yeah. [laughter] And you're just >> wherever wherever the wind blows today, we're gonna take this village or whatever. And I'm like, that's so cool. Like the feeling of like I'm pretty sure you could there's a wholesome version. >> Is that cool for you today if you if that was to happen now? >> That's I want to take the wholesome version of that. >> Oh, okay. [laughter] I got it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's good. >> No responsibilities and just >> Yeah. >> Ride around with your friends all day and do stuff and then like >> and then like if you need, you know, like it's just getting into fun. I like the camaraderie version of it. >> Yeah. Because there's no like you know at our age there's like so many ████ things in our brain like oh is it like monetizable or like is it financially responsible like in the gang life everything is measured by downness right
1:42 like are you ████ down. So if someone has an idea it's like everyone just does it because or else you're not down >> or else you're not down. Yeah. >> And everything the whole like even adjacent ecosystem is are you ████ down. There's no like, "Oh, it's my mom's birthday, so I can't make it." It's like, "No, your mom better ████ understand why we got to go do this or your wife better understand or everybody, you know, there's no like, oh, my ████ kid threw up on herself again or there's like none of that ████ Everyone, there's something you got to do and everyone [clears throat] goes and does it. even if it's useless, even if it's hanging out in a backyard or if you're going to go do some crime, but it's like everyone doing it together. >> And what's dope is there's a um like blind trust and loyalty.
2:33 >> Oh yeah. >> You know what I mean? Like this in this day and age, like let's say all six careful boys goes out and eat. Like let's say me and the waiter start arguing. Like Nick might come in and go, "Oh, okay guys, like what's going on?" Like, "What? What? You said this and he said that." Oh, that's the that's the misunderstanding, right? [laughter] In those days, >> if there's a misunderstanding, they don't give a ████ what the waiter has. Five guys are jumping them. >> So, you're saying you just want Nick to jump the waiter? >> No. Five guy. Yeah. Everyone just jump them. >> Okay. >> And then later when we go back, yo, what happened? Whatever. Like, oh, Bar, you called him that. You ████ up. What the hell? But then they're already jumped. >> They're already jumped. There's like It's It's pretty cool how you operate. >> Did you feel like when you were when you were when you owned the Barbell Brigade that you kind you could do that? Like if you were at
3:23 >> No, cuz there's the money thing. You could lose money. Are you paying like there's a bottom line? >> But like when you were at the gym and everybody there knows that's Bart Quan, couldn't you just be like, "Hey, everybody outside, we're going to handle some s███." And wouldn't all the barbell employees be like, "Dope, let's do it." No. cuz I think like [laughter] if you're not from that world, that's a crazy mentality. >> Okay. >> People don't think about [laughter] fighting as an actual thing that's even possible, >> which is healthy. >> Yeah. When me and Joel met each other, >> we didn't even bang anymore, right? We're at Elac trying to be good boys. But because we both came from that life, when Joel told me the story of when he got ambushed, >> my mind is still immediately if we see that, we're going to ████ him up. >> Yeah. Yeah.
4:13 >> We don't even bang anymore. >> We're trying to be good boys at Elac, but it's just if you're not from that world, you just It's so hard to explain because >> that's kind of how you test if someone is down. Like if someone is like >> Yeah. >> You know what's funny, too? That word down. I heard that it's like a part of the gay culture. >> Yeah, it is with a e at the end. >> Really? Down, right? So that means like are you are you gay? >> That was the way that at the time >> we we used to not we but like people used to say is he down >> like is he actually gay? Like it's secret. >> But then it meant like down low. >> Yeah, down low. >> Yeah. >> But why would there be an E? >> Cuz that's when cuz you're typing on aim. >> It was like a AOL thing. So that way like you you knew what they were talking. >> Oh, like a secret code. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But I think it was a popular thing to say in the like two early 2000s. Like, >> oh yeah, I'm down. Like people still say
5:04 it today, but they don't mean it. >> I literally say that all the time. [laughter] >> How many times have you been gay? Wow. >> No, but like with with our the gang culture stuff that what that really meant is, okay, well, let's see how down you are. And then you test each other. And I think they kind of do this in Fratz where they have to haze and see how far someone's willing to go >> because a lot of people are talk. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> We're seeing it now. Like the idea of when people say >> I'm I'm I'm going to ride. I'm I'm whatever. Like like I'm I'm loyal. I'm whatever. >> Everyone has a different definition of what that means. >> Sure. One person might say, "I'm loyal." Means like, "Hey, if you call me because you accidentally um >> I don't know, killed somebody on accident and you need to get rid of the
5:54 body, I'm there for you." >> There's that. But that's what I'm saying is there's extremes, right? And then there's someone that's like, "That's not even a consideration for me. I'll call the cops." It's like, "Well, how loyal are you then, bro?" [laughter] >> Not very. >> Yeah. Cuz some people it's like when I say down, I I actually mean uh I'll just like take you to the airport. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> But everyone's definition is way different. >> There's so many different definitions and I think that's kind of like a unspoken way that these teenagers figured out the limits with each other. >> Uh-huh. Yeah. Yeah. >> Uh and then and then you call them out like if you're if if you're a big talker like the bigger you talk the people will test you. >> I like that. So like I liked how people were like, "Oh, you're a big man, huh? You do you do all this? You you're a big violent guy." Okay. you're making those claims and yeah. >> Yeah. And then you make them eat their
6:46 words. If they actually did it, you're like, "Oh, wow. You are crazy." >> And if you don't, whatever. And I think we need that. >> I can eat hella onions. >> Yeah. Like I think we do we need it in we need to test that in a safe way cuz there's especially now with online and everyone being able to say whatever they want without any consequences. I think there's a lot of big talkers. >> Yeah. Of course. Yeah. There's a lot of larers. >> Larers. Yeah. Yeah. Cuz there used to be consequences. Like if you think about even something like a gang tattoo, right? You have a little ████ eagle or something. >> That alone, if you had a little little Mickey Mouse or whatever, you can't get a job. That was our upbringing. >> Like parents were like terrified. They're like, "If you get a tattoo, >> it's true. >> Your life is over." And then they would cry like you, no one's going to hire you. >> Yeah. You've ruined it. Yeah. >> Yeah. Cuz like being a cop back then,
7:37 you had to have like completely covered if you had and then some departments won't even hire you. >> Yeah. >> Wasn't military similar at at a point? >> Yeah. When I was in they uh you couldn't have it past your sleeves, >> but nowadays like people have full tattoos and they're completely cool and I'm like what the hell? It was such a big deal >> uh when I was in >> Well, now it's even okay in the corporate world. You can have a freaking neck tattoo. So, I think there was consequences for dressing away, having a certain life, and I think that we really had um >> like what do you call it like a outcast world like if you were part of a outcast society like you really weren't participating in normal world, right? Cuz even like break dancing as as like more softer as it is, if you were a if you were a part of that, >> how do you stop? [laughter]
8:27 >> It's pretty soft. >> You were technically an outcast even like >> Yeah. No, because it's it's counter culture. >> Yeah. You're not getting a job >> dressed >> dressed cool like you know [laughter] like you've got to look like a corporate dude. >> Yes. >> It's kind of still the same now, but I think it's way more relaxed. >> Yeah, for sure. >> There's no Yeah, there's no gatekeeping all that. But >> I I think that's what I miss is like there's a lot of laring. There's a lot of like >> Oh, okay. You missed the uh the how you had to be held accountable for what you presented. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. you knew your ████ It's not just a fashion. >> What other perks like did what other perks did you have at the time? Like what what about the perk of like um being intimidating? We're like going out in a group and no one's messing with you kind of deal, you know? >> I don't think I really cared about that part. I think what I cared about, what I thought was cool is uh you had access to
9:20 everything illegal. >> Oh yeah, that's true. peace. >> So, like it's like anything you want, you can have someone that has a plug or you're the plug >> and uh it felt like a very um it feels like Amazon today. You know, you can just buy whatever you want and it just shows up the next day. It's like you need a gun, you need some some coke or you need a stolen car. If you need someone kidnapped, it's like it's like so smooth. >> Parts for cars, too. >> Yeah. It was like Amazon Prime. You need someone jump >> about how it happened. It just can happen. >> Yeah. And you can And then so you could do that and then you It's And then it's also kind of like um maybe I don't even play this. Is it like World of Warcraft where like two groups can also kind of join in on a mission together,
10:10 >> collaborate. So it's very collaborative environment. >> You could do raids together. Yeah. >> Yeah. You could do raids together. like, "Oh, that group, they're really good at getting like meth and we're really good at weed. Maybe we hook them up. They hook us up." And you can have like joint collaboration operations. >> You can do that in a clean way. It's called networking. [laughter] >> It's called LinkedIn. >> How do you get the meth? >> Oh, yeah. >> Oh, well, if you want meth specifically, I don't know how to help you. >> That's what I mean. It's like you don't have the mumbo jumbo. Like these days, if you want to buy a gun, you got to go to a gun store, show up ████ two forms of ID, all this mumbo jumbo, wait a few weeks. >> There's none of that over there. You just go, "Can I have a black one?" [laughter] And you don't even know the number of whatever. And then some guy will just show up with like three
11:00 different ones and you just pick one. And it's like there's no mumbo jumbo. >> Ah, yeah. >> It just happens. >> The efficiency of the underworld trading. What I do miss too is like there's like clear rules and like less so there's a lot of snakiness, don't get me wrong. There's a lot of like um you would think it you're you're in a criminal space so you're all these people are ████ each other but like there's clear morality and rules [laughter] amongst that. >> Yeah. >> And then when I got into like corporate when I got into the normal space and I was like, "Oh my god, they're worse." >> Oh. Oh, >> like these clean looking people, the way they violate their word, the way like Yeah. Like people in the game world, they they ████ lied. >> Like construction permit people, >> like uh real estate agents and like
11:53 [laughter] you know, people that own property and then they'll tell you everything that you want to hear and then when it comes down to signing the lease, they they mess with the negotiation. And I mean, it's just like crazy to me like Yeah. I mean, drug deals do go bad and people people can come like steal your product or whatever, but like I think there's like >> it was a easier world for me to understand who's a good guy, who's a bad guy, and who I can trust. >> They're all bad guys. [laughter] >> No, no, no, no, no, no. >> Who's the bad guy and who's the worst guy? >> No, no. Cuz there's a code. >> So, for example, there is >> So, for example, >> there's good guys in >> You're a good guy. You're a good guy. If there's two gangs and they hit each other up and they fight, that's fine. There's a code. You don't hit up a random civilian. You know that guy doesn't bang. So the gangs that would
12:43 like prey on civilians or ████ nerdy geek. >> They're like you. Everyone hates them. Yeah. Because they we can clearly see that they're trying to inflate their ego cuz they're actually weak. >> It's kind of like guys that go around beating girls all day cuz they want to feel tough. And then everybody It's kind of like in jail, right? Like nobody likes a PDF. So like when they go in, everybody wants to like >> Right. >> But in the business world, they can't wait to pull a fast one on the person that is the most uninformed. >> That's true. I see you. >> Versus they'll be like at least give them like a fighting chance, but there is there is none. You know, like you can't wait to like go a car dealers can't wait for the 18-year-old that just turned 18 with ████ credit or whatever. Oh yeah, buy this car and then have some predatory loan. You know, >> you know what's a really funny ironic thing is that when you were in a gang,
13:33 you were probably really good about not messing with people and then afterwards and you joined Peacemakers. It was the exact opposite. [laughter] No, we picked guys We picked guys that thought they were uh that thought they were hard [laughter] when they're not. So, we're testing their hardness. Okay. >> I'm like, why why do you not bang and act like you're so hard? And we see them ████ with the other civilians. >> You know what I think it is? Okay. >> It's like familiarity, right? So, like let's say you grew up in a >> like like a crimeridden neighborhood. >> Yeah. >> But then all of a sudden you move into like this safe white neighborhood >> and then you're so fish out of water that it's actually scarier >> to live in that space cuz you don't know the culture. >> And then so like >> you don't know what to look for. So >> yeah.
14:23 >> Yeah. So, like I got duped a lot in business because the things I was looking for was like, "Oh, yeah. I I feel safe around him because I don't think he's going to attack me." >> Yeah. Right. >> So, then I was thinking like, "Oh, yeah. This guy's not crazy. I think it's fine. We maybe I could trust his word." But then it's no, the things you got to be careful for is like their conniving ways of how they manipulate like deals and ████ And then I'm like, well, that happens in the gang world, too, but like it's kind of different how they do it. It's it's way different. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Cuz like if you like on your block, if you guys have like a a gang that's associated with a geography >> Yeah. >> anyone that comes in, you know that everyone's down and ████ that fool up. Even shoot cops even, right? Cuz you're going to you're going to ████ protect your block.
15:13 >> Gosh. >> Then you move into a neighborhood with a ████ HOA and you find out your neighbor ratted on you and you're like, "What the hell? I thought we're part of the same block. What kind of ████ is this? [laughter] >> And then they still say hi to you to your face every morning. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. The dynamic is weird. >> That's a good example. >> Like we're from the same block, man. >> Yeah. Or like people in the civilian world will scream and use fighting words. They'll get up in each other's faces like they're going to fight. They won't touch each other. And I'm just like, why even get to that point where you're so angry and you're going to act like you're going to fight and if one person does hit you, you kind of sue them, right? >> And we're like, that is the weirdest >> thing I couldn't wrap my head around. I was like, you're so you're such cowards.
// end of tape