Street gangs typically refer to organized crime units consisting of a group of people who share a common identity (most gangs have names, symbols or hand signs, and designated colors that distinguish their group). Street gangs often "control" certain areas of a city and take part in robberies, drug dealing, gun trafficking, and other crimes.FBI: Violent Gangs Gang violence results from rival gangs warring with one another.

Some gangs are modernizing their operations via the Internet in a movement of what are being called "netbangers."Newsweek: 'Netbangers,' Beware The web allows gangs organized across multiple cities to operate as a more organized unit.

• BBC News: Violence and hip-hop (2002)

• Wikipedia: Gangsta Rap

• Metacafe: Chappelle Show: Gang Wars

• Fan Site: The Warriors Movie

• Note: The majority of the links in this timeline are to IMDb, which has pop-ups.

• 1988: Colors

• 1990: King of New York

• 1991: Boyz n the Hood

• 1991: New Jack City

• 1992: American Me

• 1993: Bound by Honor

• 1993: Mi Vida Loca

• 1994: Gang War: Bangin' in Little Rock (documentary)

• 1995: Clockers

• 1998: American History X

• 2002: City of God