Big Tone on Getting Jumped By Sureño Gang in 4th Grade, Sureños in Northern Cali (Part 1)

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In this clip, Bay Area artist Big Tone delves into his tumultuous early years growing up in Antioch, California. Reflecting on a pivotal moment in his life, Big Tone recalls being jumped by Sureño gang members when he was in fourth grade. Despite being in Northern California, Big Tone explained that section was a diverse area with both Sureños and Norteños. Raised in a traditional Mexican household, Big Tone had a stable home environment with hardworking parents—his father was an ironworker, and his mother was a homemaker. However, life outside was different. Despite his early encounter with gang violence, Big Tone was initially involved more in low-riding culture than gang activities but eventually found himself connected to neighborhood conflicts as he grew older.