Pirus

The Pirus () are a subset of the larger Bloods gang alliance, an organized crime group in the United States.

Etymology

The name "Piru" is derived from the Piru Street Boys, a gang which was founded in 1969 by Sylvester Scott and Vincent Owens in Compton. The Piru Street Boys are considered the forerunners to the Bloods, which is why the terms "Piru" and "Blood" are often used interchangeably. However, this interchangeable use of the terms is inaccurate, as many non-Piru gangs such as the Denver Lanes and Brims were also instrumental in the formation of the Bloods.

Furthermore, the Pirus are an alliance of street gangs within the larger Bloods alliance, meaning that not all Bloods sets will identify as "Pirus".

History

In 1969, a gang called the Piru Street Boys was founded by Sylvester Scott and Vincent Owens. According to some sources, the Piru Street Boys were initially associated with the Crips, but later had a falling-out. However, other sources dispute any alliance, claiming that the Piru Street Boys were victimised by the Crips. Nevertheless, by the early 1970s, the Piru Street Boys formed an alliance with other smaller street gangs such as the Brims, Bishops and Denver Lanes, which also opposed the Crips. This alliance became known as the Bloods, as the members of this alliance called each other "blood".

Eventually, more Piru sets would form. There are 15 known Piru sets within the Greater Los Angeles area. Piru sets have fought against each other. For example, the Mob Piru and Fruit Town Piru developed a rivalry by the late 1990s, which resulted in the murders of several Mob Pirus associated with Death Row Records.

Piru sets

* Cedar Block Piru
* Elm Street Piru
* Fruit Town Piru
* Lueders Park Piru
* Mob Piru
* Tree Top Piru
* Westside Piru

In popular culture

* The song " Piru Love" from ''Bangin' on Wax'' (1993) by Bloods & Crips makes references to various Piru sets, including Holly Hood, Elm Street and Lueders Park.
* The song " M.A.A.D City" from ''good kid, m.A.A.d city'' (2012) by Kendrick Lamar makes references to the Bloods, being Pirus particularly with the line "If Pirus and Crips, all got along" in the song.
* In the song " Strange Clouds" from '' Strange Clouds'' (2012) by B.o.B. featuring Lil Wayne, Lil Wayne references the Piru: "Piru, gangsters, outlaws" at the end of his verse.
* In the song "Let The Beat Build" from Tha Carter III (2008) by Lil Wayne, Lil Wayne references the Piru: "I can buy you, but I wouldn't try you, feed you to Piru".
* In the song " Stop Breathing" from Whole Lotta Red (2020) by Playboi Carti, he references the Piru:"I’m hangin' with the Pirus, hangin' with the Fives".

See also

* African-American organized crime
* Gangs in Los Angeles
* List of California street gangs

References

{{Organized crime groups in Los Angeles

Organizations established in 1969
1969 establishments in California
Bloods sets
African-American history in Los Angeles
Compton, California