Search - As Is: Larry Hoover Story on DVD

The Hoover vacuum

golgotha.gov | Texas | 03/24/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"THE LARRY HOOVER STORY (2006)
directed by Shabazz
approx. 50 minutes

This is a documentary on the notorious Chicago gangster Larry Hoover. In the 1960s, Hoover was the co-founder of the GDs a.k.a. the Gangster Disciples. The GDs are better organized than most street gangs and there is debate over whether or not Hoover retains control of them. This documentary does not pretend to be "objective" and is made from a viewpoint sympathetic to Hoover.

The movie has a lot of clips of people talking (I really wouldn't call them interviews) about their experiences with Chicago crime in general and Larry Hoover in particular. Dozens of people make statements, from OGs from the early days of the GDs to news reporters to Larry Hoover's own mother and sister. A lot of rappers are shown too, basically saying the same thing- that Hoover started out as a gangbanger but is now out to help the black community. While locked up, Hoover wrote a book titled "Blueprint for the New Concept" which outlined a corporate hierarchy structure and a new direction for the GDs to follow. From this point, "G.D." is supposed to stand for "Growth & Development" instead of Gangster Disciples. Years later, Hoover attempted to get the GDs involved in voting drives for the black community. A clip is shown where Hoover states that the illegal activities of current GDs are a due to a few bad apples not following the protocol of his blueprint. This documentary claims that if the GDs were a Fortune 500 company, then they would be in the top 10.

Nobody in this documentary denies that Hoover was involved in the crimes that he is incarcerated for. The controversy comes from the idea that he still controls the group from behind bars. Since Hoover never discussed the status of the GDs over the telephone, the Feds went through great lengths to connect him to the drug trade. They end up recording his conversations by "bugging" the visitor passes to the prison. This is illegal but nevertheless the tapes were used in court against Hoover. The tapes apparently include discussions with Hoover about illegal activities, proving that he is still involved.

This DVD attempts to explain that Hoover is in prison now because he is a man capable of mobilizing a base of black voters. Hoover's lawyer is right to say that the tapes are unconstitutional, but she should leave it at that if she wants to help her client. Instead, she says "well if they wanna use the parts about illegal stuff, why don't they mention the parts where he talks about all the positive things he's doing?" Well I'm no lawyer, but my guess is because its not the prosecution's job to make Larry Hoover look like a model citizen. In any case, Hoover could be starting food banks and voting drives on every street and still be involved in illegal activity... in fact the Mafia was well known for using this exact strategy in order to "win over" the local population and make them less concerned about any illegal dealings. That way when the police tried to shut them down, it was seen as an attack on the neighborhoods rather than on organized crime.

This DVD was better than I expected it to be but stuck to the basic "hip hop DVD" formula of grainy soundbyte video clips edited together with rap played throughout. While I believe every man deserves a fair trial, I do not believe that victims of bad prosecution are necessarily pillars of virtue. There is no question that Larry Hoover is a smart man but I don't think he is a hero."

King Hoover was deeply motivated by others

Edward E. Jordan | Nashville,TN | 09/06/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"The documentary on Larry Hoover was pretty good and detail. I thought it would have more interviews with Hoover, but the ones that was illustrated was good. The information of the Gangster Disciple Organization being 4th on Fortune 500, blew my mind. I'm hurt that our brothers' and sister are being caught up in the game with gangs and drugs. This is a good DVD on the history of Chicago's most empowered gang in our history. Sincere prayers to Larry Hoover's entire family."