CHAPTER 38 : Signs of an Internet Banger: Lessons from Observing Zahid Sekou (Tiny Joker)

 

Internet bangers are individuals who aggressively project street credibility and gang knowledge online while lacking the real-world foundation that actual gang members possess. Zahid’s activity provides a clear case study of how this behavior operates. Common Tactics and Mindset of Internet Bangers Like Zahid Sekou for example 

 • They insert themselves into conversations about established gangs in major cities like Chicago/NY/Detroit/Los Angeles, claiming to “expose” or “document” them.

 • They demand endless proof from others while providing mostly self-generated content (blogs, maps, repeated posts) as their own evidence.

 • When challenged, they quickly resort to personal attacks, name-calling, and questioning the other person’s background or motives.

 • They maintain multiple accounts across platforms to amplify their voice and create the appearance of broader support. 

• In their mind, they are the sole truth-teller fighting a grand battle against “fakes,” while in reality they are often the only person vigorously defending their own group’s image online. 

Also Creating and maintaining full websites dedicated to promoting a small local crew as an established Crip gang is another clear form of internet banger activity. Real gang members with actual street history rarely feel the need to build professional-looking sites, complete with maps, chapters, photo galleries, and “documentation” sections, to prove their set’s legitimacy. This level of effort is typically done by individuals seeking digital validation and narrative control rather than relying on organic street reputation. A prime example is Zahid Matthews (Zahid Sekou), who has registered a sites called Detroitstreetgangs.com under his own real name to heavily promote ScoreGang as a major Crip organization. Real gang members with confirmed credibility almost never register gang-related websites using their government names — it brings unnecessary attention and risk. The fact that Zahid openly uses his full name across these platforms further highlights the online-driven nature of his activity rather than traditional street behavior. This type of self-promotion through dedicated websites, combined with constant blogging and multi-account posting, shows more concern with crafting an image than with actual street credibility. It’s the digital equivalent of trying to force a reputation that the streets themselves have not widely validated.

Real Bangers vs Internet Bangers: the Clear Differences usually show:

 • Multiple independent photos and videos of them on the block with homies or older members.

 • Recognition from locals, hood documentation pages, and sometimes law enforcement records.

 • They rarely argue in comment sections trying to prove their gang exists — their reputation is already known in the streets.

 • They do not spend hours writing long blogs or chapters “documenting” their own gang’s history. 

• Posting detailed gang information online often brings consequences from older peers or younger homies who prefer discretion. 

Internet Bangers like Zahid typically:

 • Argue endlessly in comments trying to prove or disprove gangs exist.

 • Have almost no independent photos or videos of themselves with verified gang members or on the block.

 • Become the main (and often only) person aggressively defending their own group online. • Rely heavily on self-created content (blogs, maps, repeated posts) while calling it “documentation.”

 • When real gangs with actual history are discussed, they try to insert themselves, deny activity, or shift goalposts instead of accepting evidence from the streets. 

Internet Banger Behavior: Pitching Interviews for “My Gang Made the News” 

Pitching interviews or stories with the main goal of being able to say “my gang made the news” is a classic sign of internet banger behavior. Real members of established gangs rarely seek out media attention to validate their set’s existence — street reputation is built quietly on the block, not through press releases or self-promotion. In Zahid’s case, the August 2025 Detroit News article on tag wars is the perfect example. The piece refers to his circles as “purported” and describes them as smaller, short-lived tagging crews focused on graffiti and online activity. Zahid constantly cites this article as proof that ScoreGang is a legitimate Crip gang, but the article does the opposite — it highlights the self-documented, online-driven nature of the tagging rather than confirming any deep organizational structure or traditional Crip status. This approach actually makes him appear more like an internet banger than a real crip. Real gang members with confirmed history don’t need to push for media coverage to prove their set exists. Zahid’s “proof” ultimately boils down to:

 • Graffiti tags he personally put up

 • Notebooks and maps he created

 •Blogs and online posts he wrote himself 

None of these independently confirm that ScoreGang is a verified, longstanding Crip organization. They simply show one person working hard to document and promote his own narrative. Seeking news coverage to legitimize your crew is the exact opposite of how actual street credibility works — it’s digital validation-seeking, not street reality.

Realistic Ways to Handle or Shut Down an Internet Banger Argument

 1. Block and Move On — 

The simplest and most effective. Internet bangers thrive on engagement. Denying them attention starves the behavior. 

2. Demand independence or third party Evidence that confirms them as being Gang Members not a Crew/Clique  —

 Ask calmly: “Show independent photos or videos of you with verified members on the block.” 

Real members can usually provide this. Internet bangers cannot.

 3. Point Out the Pattern —

 “You’re the only one defending this group online while attacking others. That’s not how real street reputation works.”

 4. Mock the Hypocrisy Lightly — “You’re online telling people who’s a gang member & who’s but you not even a gang member . That’s wild.” Keep it short — no need to match their long essays.

 5. Ignore Completely — 

Many times the best response is none. Their obsession often fades without fuel. Real street credibility is quiet, backed by photos, videos, and community recognition. Not documentation. It does not require 30+ Blogs, online posting or constant comment arguments. 

Internet bangers, by contrast, create noise to compensate for what they lack in the actual streets. Zahid’s pattern — sustained online campaigning, multiple accounts, personal attacks, and selective denial of visible evidence about established gangs — fits the Internet Banger profile clearly. The difference between real presence and digital performance is usually obvious once you look at the actual evidence instead of the loudest voice in the comments.

- Timothy Becker 

Evidences of Self Promotion Sites Created by Internet Banger Tiny Joker

 Detroit Street Gang Website, Resister to Zahid Matthews aka (Zahid Sekou) 

Youtube Channel Created to Post Youtube Shorts of  Self painted Graffiti 

X account Promoting Scoregang Crips with 0 Followers or barely Engagements

Subreddit Made called “313Graffiti” 

“Interview To say “My Gang made the news” 

Tiktok made to promote  Tattoos,Graffiti, & the Article Tags wars 

All these is internet banger attempts