Chris Christie wrote: ↑Wed Nov 27, 2019 4:23 am
Kenji Gallo also spoke about the influence, he was of a younger generation so the people he knew were more accepting/exposed of it, enjoying the music and clothing, citing Craig Marino's Sean John track suit. He's argued that the rap culture has had its influence, he lumped Jersey Shore guidos in that category. I have no opinions of that.
Craig Marino's little brother Lance who died nearly 20 years ago was owner of the hiphop label On The Lam records. Craig provided the finances to get it off the ground. I remember the funeral at Torregrossa on Flatbush ave very clearly, hundreds of people showed up.
Chris Christie wrote: ↑Wed Nov 27, 2019 4:23 am
Kenji Gallo also spoke about the influence, he was of a younger generation so the people he knew were more accepting/exposed of it, enjoying the music and clothing, citing Craig Marino's Sean John track suit. He's argued that the rap culture has had its influence, he lumped Jersey Shore guidos in that category. I have no opinions of that.
Craig Marino's little brother Lance who died nearly 20 years ago was owner of the hiphop label On The Lam records. Craig provided the finances to get it off the ground. I remember the funeral at Torregrossa on Flatbush ave very clearly, hundreds of people showed up.
Kenji told me this in 2009, it was in the early 2000's when I interviewed Brooklyn seniors about the Sicilian vespers and their take on cultural changes. I sometimes fail to appreciate the time that has lapsed since then. So that may have been why my argument came off somewhat antiquated, I'm surprised I didn't get an "ok, boomer." I will admit that the stigma with backwards hats, rope necklaces, tattoos and ghetto clothing (tight or loose) has widely become more socially acceptable. The time when thug carried extremely negative connotations has passed. I was trying to present things from the perspective of older members and I apologize if I came off like I was talking disdainfully about peoples' artists as it was not my intention. Like I admitted previously, its easy to criticize, harder to create. Salut.
Chris Christie wrote: ↑Thu Nov 28, 2019 6:01 am
Kenji told me this in 2009, it was in the early 2000's when I interviewed Brooklyn seniors about the Sicilian vespers and their take on cultural changes. I sometimes fail to appreciate the time that has lapsed since then. So that may have been why my argument came off somewhat antiquated, I'm surprised I didn't get an "ok, boomer." I will admit that the stigma with backwards hats, rope necklaces, tattoos and ghetto clothing (tight or loose) has widely become more socially acceptable. The time when thug carried extremely negative connotations has passed. I was trying to present things from the perspective of older members and I apologize if I came off like I was talking disdainfully about peoples' artists as it was not my intention. Like I admitted previously, its easy to criticize, harder to create. Salut.
It's all good Chris I think we just got our wires crossed a little bit you're a stand up guy in my book, happy thanksgiving!
Chris Christie wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2019 3:18 pm
Kind of divine justice for mob guys to see their offspring becomes wiggers.
Tony Testa is a horrific rapper but he isn’t a wigger. Paul Wall is a wigger. Tony doesn’t act like or dress like anything other than an Italian kid from Brooklyn. He’s hardly what I’d call a wigger unless just being a rapper makes you a wigger by your definition.
If you grew up in NYC in the 80’s and 90’s hiphop was the music of the time and it became a part of you regardless of your heritage. In any case JoJo Pellegrino is the best Italian american rapper there is.
Jojo pellegrino and the shark are the only decent Italian rappers. Jojo actually has talent is he connected at all
Actually, I respect the sicilian kid Russ, he has a lotta hustle in him.....
To All: Came in late to the discussion. My apologies if I am off base with the following. Read this from Sonny Blackstein:
""What is the traditional epitome of a wiseguy?
Well dressed, sophisticated, suit n fedora, respectable, business/community leader.
Low pants, hand signs, tatts n’ modern ‘bruh’ speak are as far removed from Cosa Nostra as it gets.
Street gang banging does not equate to Cosa Nostra.
By any stretch of the imagination.
‘Times’ n all, included.""
I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. I would only add "soft-spoken" to the aforementioned "traditional epitome" definition.
Any yes, I am over 50. And both from a "personal" and academic perspective, I remember when "L'Onorata Societa", in all its forms, was a SECRET society.
Grouchy Sinatra wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2019 12:17 pm
What gets me is how it seems some people actually wish the mob was still active in their region, like it would somehow improve their life. A lot of mob rackets just got taken over by legitimate business. Gambling, loan sharking (high interest loans, payday loans, etc). Wall St. took a page from the mob and bought them out. I know the Genovese was active in real estate scams and that's supposedly what kept them strong but I can't see them doing anything that the legit real estate industry hasn't picked up on and found legal loopholes around. At the end of the day all that's left is drugs.
Mike Genovese was NEVER involved in real estate scams
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
Grouchy Sinatra wrote: ↑Sun Nov 17, 2019 10:19 am
Maybe a little more context is necessary. Are we talking about actual activity from what's known as the LaRocca or Pittsburgh crime family? Are we talking about surviving members of this family still involved with rackets yet not necessarily working as an organization? Are we talking about members of this family merely being alive still? Are we talking about any kind of traditional organized crime rackets taking place in Pittsburgh, connected to the LaRocca family or not?
I believe someone said there's made guys from NY families operating in Pittsburgh. This I tend to believe. Most of these families started off with people who were there by way of NY or Chicago anyway, or were heavily connected to people from there. All roads lead back to NY and Chicago, do they not?
First, at this stage, there's no "all roads lead back to New York and..." It's just New York now. Chicago can no longer be spoken of in the sense you are, where they're a twin mob capital.
Second, that doesn't mean there's New York members active in Pittsburgh. There's zero evidence of that. The ongoing trend has been the sphere of activity shrinking, not expanding with New York families moving into other territories.
Third, Pittsburgh is one of the best examples of what I've been talking about. One of the cases the original poster may have been talking about was in 2013 when there waa a big video poker machine bust (354 machines in 70 locations). Sports betting and numbers were also included in the charges.
Among the 16 charged were Ronald "Porky" Melocchi Sr. (ring leader, owner of Back Alley Vending), Jeffrey Risha (a bookmaker who had been involved in a 2001 Pittsburgh LCN gambling case), Kirk Mollica (son of late Pittsburgh LCN associate Primo Mollica), and Rodney Iannelli (son of Pittsburgh LCN associate Robert "Bobby I" Iannelli), Joseph Nistico (nephew of former Philadelphia LCN boss Nicodemo “Little Nicky” Scarfo).
To top it all off, this case had started with an investigation into an increase in McKeesport annual sanitation costs (i.e the garbage business), and found Melocchi has donated thousands of dollars to local politicians.
This is the kind of thing a lot of people on the forum, who don't know any better, would jump on immediately. Guys with mob connections? Gambling? The waste industry? Political corruption? Surely the Pittsburgh family must still be going.
Nope.
It's just remnants now. And Buffalo is essentially no different. There may be more made guys still alive in Buffalo you're also just looking at remnants at this point.
Joseph Nistico was Nicky Scarfo’s brother in law. Nistico was the brother of Scarfo’s wife
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
Lou_Para wrote: ↑Sun Nov 17, 2019 10:26 pm
As far as any outside Made guys operating in Pgh, I would have to say no. There is 1 made guy left in the area and that is Cianciutti. During the Mike Genovese LaRocca years,Pgh was represented at the Commission table by the New York Genovese Family. If I were a betting man,(and I am) I would have given even money that Rodney Ianelli (son of Bobby ) would have gotten straighted out by now.
Agreed on Iannelli. Also, if you are a betting man, Frank unis Jr would have been made had it not been for his crack cocaine problem. When he was operating as the Boss of Beaver County, PA, his operation was tied to Paul Hankish in West Virginia and Joey Naples in Youngstown. Pittsburgh was notorious for having "high ranking" associates who they gave major responsibility to.
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
Lou_Para wrote: ↑Sun Nov 17, 2019 10:26 pm
As far as any outside Made guys operating in Pgh, I would have to say no. There is 1 made guy left in the area and that is Cianciutti. During the Mike Genovese LaRocca years,Pgh was represented at the Commission table by the New York Genovese Family. If I were a betting man,(and I am) I would have given even money that Rodney Ianelli (son of Bobby ) would have gotten straighted out by now.
Agreed on Iannelli. Also, if you are a betting man, Frank unis Jr would have been made had it not been for his crack cocaine problem. When he was operating as the Boss of Beaver County, PA, his operation was tied to Paul Hankish in West Virginia and Joey Naples in Youngstown. Pittsburgh was notorious for having "high ranking" associates who they gave major responsibility to.
the feds are going after rocco ferruccio for a criminal case related to the money they took from him , some guys just never retire
"if he's such A sports wizard , whys he tending bar ?" Nicky Scarfo
Lou_Para wrote: ↑Sun Nov 17, 2019 10:26 pm
As far as any outside Made guys operating in Pgh, I would have to say no. There is 1 made guy left in the area and that is Cianciutti. During the Mike Genovese LaRocca years,Pgh was represented at the Commission table by the New York Genovese Family. If I were a betting man,(and I am) I would have given even money that Rodney Ianelli (son of Bobby ) would have gotten straighted out by now.
Agreed on Iannelli. Also, if you are a betting man, Frank unis Jr would have been made had it not been for his crack cocaine problem. When he was operating as the Boss of Beaver County, PA, his operation was tied to Paul Hankish in West Virginia and Joey Naples in Youngstown. Pittsburgh was notorious for having "high ranking" associates who they gave major responsibility to.
An old employee of Joey Naples and friend of mine told me a few years ago that his understanding is that Bobby I is still getting envelopes every month.
"Never walk in a room unless you know your way out" - Henry Zottola
Grouchy Sinatra wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2019 12:17 pm
What gets me is how it seems some people actually wish the mob was still active in their region, like it would somehow improve their life. A lot of mob rackets just got taken over by legitimate business. Gambling, loan sharking (high interest loans, payday loans, etc). Wall St. took a page from the mob and bought them out. I know the Genovese was active in real estate scams and that's supposedly what kept them strong but I can't see them doing anything that the legit real estate industry hasn't picked up on and found legal loopholes around. At the end of the day all that's left is drugs.
Mike Genovese was NEVER involved in real estate scams
When the hell did I say he was?
Glick told author Nicholas Pileggi that he expected to meet a banker-type individual, but instead, he found Alvin Baron to be a gruff, tough-talking cigar-chomping Teamster who greeted him with, “What the fuck do you want?”
Pittsburgh never made anyone and there was also the rumor that they had their charter pulled after the 1991 fiasco.
But more to the point they literally were so stingy with buttons and kept it so close that eventually they killed sjy continuity. Because honestly there is a large enough pool of Italian crooks who are mostly huge drug dealers but also have gambling and escort services that they could sustain a good sized small family.
But they were really closed up and greedy. They had guys who were 75 years old who had brought them money and done time and would never be made. Dozens of those.
People just broke off cause after a while they were like "fuck you".
Targenmantarian wrote: ↑Wed Dec 18, 2019 7:41 pm
Pittsburgh never made anyone and there was also the rumor that they had their charter pulled after the 1991 fiasco.
But more to the point they literally were so stingy with buttons and kept it so close that eventually they killed sjy continuity. Because honestly there is a large enough pool of Italian crooks who are mostly huge drug dealers but also have gambling and escort services that they could sustain a good sized small family.
But they were really closed up and greedy. They had guys who were 75 years old who had brought them money and done time and would never be made. Dozens of those.
People just broke off cause after a while they were like "fuck you".
Grouchy Sinatra wrote:What gets me is how it seems some people actually wish the mob was still active in their region, like it would somehow improve their life. A lot of mob rackets just got taken over by legitimate business. Gambling, loan sharking (high interest loans, payday loans, etc). Wall St. took a page from the mob and bought them out. I know the Genovese was active in real estate scams and that's supposedly what kept them strong but I can't see them doing anything that the legit real estate industry hasn't picked up on and found legal loopholes around. At the end of the day all that's left is drugs.
I actually agree with you on this. There may be hope after all. It's almost Christmas which is a peaceful time (unless it's Montreal when some people are in mortal danger towards the end of the year).
If you are involved in illegak activity and are nonviolent but profitable then the mob was convenient. For a tax they'd keep people from robbing you, abusing your credit be it juice or fronted drugs, and pay off local law enforcement to let you work, and or punish rats for turning you in. Without a government for the streets everyone can earn to their full potential. But they also just get ratted out and robbed constantly and if they svenge themslevs then they get in more trouble.
Having an organized group that could bribe cops and shoot people professionally if needed watching your back because of an arrangement was super helpful.
You could front someone drugs or loan them cash and if they beat you then you had some recourse other than yourself and a friend or two.
Grouchy Sinatra wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2019 12:17 pm
What gets me is how it seems some people actually wish the mob was still active in their region, like it would somehow improve their life. A lot of mob rackets just got taken over by legitimate business. Gambling, loan sharking (high interest loans, payday loans, etc). Wall St. took a page from the mob and bought them out. I know the Genovese was active in real estate scams and that's supposedly what kept them strong but I can't see them doing anything that the legit real estate industry hasn't picked up on and found legal loopholes around. At the end of the day all that's left is drugs.
Mike Genovese was NEVER involved in real estate scams
When the hell did I say he was?
You said it bro just admit it
That’s the guy, Adriana. My Uncle Tony. The guy I’m going to hell for.
