Mob Mentality: 12 Hip-Hop Crews, Clans, and Gangs to Watch for the Rest of 2012

Year Formed: 2007
Group Leader: A$AP Rocky
Other Members: A$AP Yams, A$AP Bari, A$AP Ferg, A$AP Ty Beats, A$AP Nast, A$AP Twelvy, A$AP Ant
Notable Upcoming Release(s): Long.Live.A$AP (A$AP Rocky)

In the past year, A$AP Mob has made a tremendous impact both in the studio and out. The explosion of interest in the crew came after Rocky released his Live.Love.A$AP mixtape last fall. With September tentatively bringing Rocky’s Long.Live.A$AP album, a group project on the horizon, and members like Bari influencing fashion in a major, they'll be around for a long time.

Year Formed: 2010
Group Leader: Danny Brown
Other Members: DopeHead, Chip$, Skywlkr, Chavis Chandler
Notable Upcoming Release(s): N/A

Love him or hate him, Danny Brown is making plenty of noise right now. Head of his own clique, the Bruiser Brigade, Brown and his posse have been able to make an otherwise crazy niche group into a collective famous for its raunchy antics on and off the mic. After his cult masterpiece, XXX, dropped last year, Brown’s hype has only been building. The Bruiser Brigade’s next move will be one to watch.

Year Formed: 2010
Group Leader: Chief Keef
Other Members: Fredo Santana, Lil Reese, Tadoe, SD, BallOut
Notable Upcoming Release(s): Finally Rich (Chief Keef)

Chief Keef has recently taken the Chicago scene by storm and has everyone from Soulja Boy to Kanye West taking notice. Glory Boyz Entertainment is now an imprint on Interscope thanks to Keef's solo deal, and even his Chi-Town homies are getting major label looks, with Lil Reese recently inking a deal at Def Jam Records. Chicago’s drill scene has a long way to go, but it's off to a great start.

Year Formed: 2004
Group Leader: Kanye West
Other Members: Common, John Legend, Big Sean, Kid CuDi, Q-Tip, Hit-Boy, Mr Hudson, Cyhi the Prynce, Mos Def, Pusha T, 2 Chainz, D’banj, Teyana Taylor
Notable Upcoming Release(s): Cruel Summer (Group release)

Perhaps the most anticipated album of the year, Cruel Summer may have every artist not down with G.O.O.D. screaming “Mercy.” Kanye West has assembled a mix of hot artists (2 Chainz) and longtime rap contributors (Pusha T) to make one of the most diverse collectives in rap history. With 2012 releases still to come from Big Sean and 2 Chainz, expect G.O.O.D.’s artists to keep a solid solo buzz and remain involved as a powerhouse group.

Year Formed: 2009
Group Leader: Rick Ross
Other Members: Meek Mill, Wale, Rockie Fresh, Omarion, Gunplay, Tripple C’s, Stalley, Masspike Miles, Magazeen, Teedra Moses, Audra The Rapper, Maybach Dice, Dice Pound
Notable Upcoming Release(s): Dreams & Nightmares (Meek Mill), Electric Highway (Rockie Fresh)

You know how the drop goes: M-M-M-Maybach Music. After releasing their newest group effort, Self Made Vol. 2, Maybach Music continues to show that they are not only a power record label but a cohesive group as well. Rozay is about to have the No. 1 album in America with God Forgives, I Don't, as well.

Year Formed: 2007
Group Leader: Tyler, The Creator
Other Members: Frank Ocean, Hodgy Beats, Earl Sweatshirt, Left Brain, Domo Genesis, Mike G, Syd Tha Kyd, Matt Martians, Jasper Dolphin, Taco Bennett
Notable Upcoming Release(s): Radical 2 (OFWGKTA), Wolf (Tyler, The Creator)

After group effort The OF Tape Vol. 2, OFWGKTA is back to testing waters on the solo tip. Singer Frank Ocean dropped his now critically acclaimed channel ORANGE last month and Domo Genesis recently released his No Idols mixtape with Alchemist. Outside of music, they've dominated in fashion, too, succeeding with Odd Future pop-up shops that feed merchandise to their legions of hungry fans.

Year Formed: 2011
Group Leader: Joey BadA$$
Other Members: Dyemond Lewis, CJ Fly, Kirk Knight, A La Sole, Capital STEEZ, T'nah, Powers Pleasan†, Dessy, Dirty $anchez, BRUCEE LEEKIXX, Explicit, Chuck $trangers
Notable Upcoming Release(s): N/A

It all started with Joey BadA$$ and Capital STEEZ’s video for “Survival Tactics.” Ever since then, people have been rushing to figure out what the Pro.Era movement is all about. With the release of BadA$$’ 1999 mixtape along with favorable reviews of STEEZ’s AmeriKKKan Korruption and group effort The Secc$ Tape, it seems like the crew is onto something special.

Year Formed: 2011
Group Leader: SpaceGhostPurrp
Other Members: Ethelwulf, Amber London, Denzel Curry, Key Nyata, Grandmilly, Yung Nyata, Yung Simmie, Yung Raw, Chris Travis
Notable Upcoming Release(s): N/A

Based in Florida, but with offices across the U.S., Raider Klan or RVIDXR KLVN, encompasses the principles of Houston trill mixed with the synth-based raunchiness of early '90s Three 6 Mafia. The Klan’s space-influenced, lean-induced musical bent has a large group of followers trying to decode everything they do. SGP’s Mysterious Phonk has been well-received, but it was all old material remastered. Another impressive release will be necessary for this clique to fully break through.

Year Formed: 2007
Group Leader: Hit-Boy/Chase N. Cashe
Other Members: Chili Chil, BCarr, Kent M$NEY, Stacy Barthe
Notable Upcoming Release(s): N/A

It’s no secret that these two know how to make a beat, and they've created musical backdrops for everyone from Lil Wayne to the Pussycat Dolls. Hit-Boy appears to be more occupied with his new G.O.O.D. Music affiliation, but Surf Club is indeed still intact. His success over here just brings more light to the crew he started with.

Year Formed: 2006
Group Leader: Wiz Khalifa
Other Members: Juicy J, Chevy Woods, LoLa Monroe, Cardo, Sledgren, Berner, Tuki Carter, Courtney Noelle
Notable Upcoming Release(s): O.N.I.F.C. (Wiz Khalifa)

Wiz Khalifa is one of the most successful artists of the past few years, but the question remains if he can carry his crew with him to the top. The acquisition of Juicy J was a power move, as the former Three 6 Mafia member has happened upon newfound cult success in his own right. O.N.I.F.C. is one of the year’s most anticipated, and producers Cardo and Sledgren continue to build names for themselves. That alone has the crew in a very promising position.

Year Formed: 2005
Group Leader: Lil Wayne
Other Members: Drake, Nicki Minaj, Birdman, Tyga, Mack Maine, Jae Millz, Cory Gunz, Lil Twist, Gudda Gudda, Lil Chuckee, Short Dawg, T-Streets, Shanell
Notable Upcoming Release(s): Dedication 4 (Lil Wayne)

As the most statistically successful crew in rap music, YMCMB often faces backlash for their pop appeal. Drake and Nicki Minaj are superstars beyond the realm of hip-hop, and purists may shun that, but it's obviously great for YMCMB, and really, the genre as a whole. Lil Wayne is a fraction of his former self at the moment, but he's still an in-demand artist, and the YMCMB roster is so stacked, that Weezy's current focus on skateboarding doesn't particularly hurt them as a collective.