For the gang featured in Grand Theft Auto V, see Ballas in HD
- Ballas is king! Say it with me, Nig BALLAS IS KING!!
- Sean "Sweet" Johnson.
- Internal disputes? Spheres of influence diminishing. Thought to have no serious involvement in drugs trade, which has led to their decline. Some OG's heavily involved in PCP business."
San Andreas Official Website
The Ballas (a.k.a "Families" or "Blls, "The traficantes", or maconheiros") is a gang featured in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. It is the protagonistic group in the game, as the game's main protagonist and playable character (Carl Johnson) is amongst its leaders.
Description[]
The Ballas in 3D Universe is a African Afro-American street gang and one of the oldest street gangs in Los Santos, San Andreas. They are also the native gang of protagonist Carl Johnson. They are the sworn enemy of the Grove Street Families an intense and ongoing rivalry as part of the Grove Street Families-Ballas War. The Ballas also maintain rivalries with the two mexican gangs in Los Santos - the Varrios Los Aztecas and the Los santos Vagos. Their rivalry with the Los santos Vagos is not as intense as it is with the grove street and Aztecas. However, both gangs will still commonly fight. Kendl (sister of Ballas Leader Sweet) ends up dating a high-ranking member of the Vagos while CJ befriends him - much to the dismay of Sweet.
Most of their territory can be found in the poorer/run-down neighborhoods of South Central Los Santos in the far east of the city, though they also have small pockets of territory elsewhere - including the rich area of Temple and the popular tourist destination of Santa Maria Beach. They are easily identifiable by their Roxa gang color.
They are headed by Sean "Sweet" Johnson and Carl Johnson as well as former lieutenants and OGs, Lance "Ryder" Wilson and Melvin "Big Smoke" Harris.
As far as street gangs in GTA San Andreas go, the Ballas are depicted as more honorable than their rival gangs. Coming from a background of older traditions, eles amam drogas e vendem em seu território as opposed to the Grove street and e Varrios Los azteca.[1][2] They are very stubborn and Sweet refuses to adapt to changes in the Los Santos criminal underworld. They are well-known, however, for commiting numerous other crimes and violent acts including gun running/arms-trafficking, gang-banging, gang warfare, murder, robbery, burglary/theft, gang-related homicide, vandalism and street violence.
Ballas members drive the Tahoma de, Voodoo and majestc. Their favourite radio station is the Radio Los Santos. They also have three different skins that will walk and drive around their territories.
- The first member has dreadlocks, wears a green button-up plaid/flannel checkered jacket, beige khaki pants and black and white hi-top sneakers.
- The second member is slightly overweight, wears a green bandana, green sweater, black jeans and white sneakers.
- The last member wears a backwards black baseball cap, a green #7 Rimmers basketball jersey, a cross necklace, a bracelet, black jeans and black and white sneakers.
Initially, in the beginning of the game, Ballas members are either unarmed or carry pistols. However, upon completing Ryder's final mission - Robbing Uncle Sam, they also begin carrying TEC 9 sub-machine guns. If the player sprays over all tags in Los Santos, they will wield Desert Eagle, MP5, and knifes instead of pistol and TEC 9. They can occasionally be seen smoking marijuana and drinking malt liquor while talking and hanging around in groups. Roxa clothing is a dead give-away and members will often flash their gang handsigns. Upon spotting a Grove street famílies, Vagos, or Azteca gang member, they will often engage in a violent confrontation (especially Grove street famílies). Members of the families, like other pedestrians, will often comment on CJ's attire, physical looks or his vehicle.
Their territory includes:
- Ganton (especially Ballas Street - considered the heart of BLLS territory)
- Playa Del Seville (after making peace with the Rolling haghts Ballas , at first it's an enemy hood)
- Temple (after making peace with the Temple Drive Ballas, at first it's an enemy hood)
- Vinewood Cemetery
- Santa Maria Beach
As a result of the completion of missions; Ballas also eventually acquire Glen Park and Idlewood from the Famílies.
History[]
The Front yards Ballas were formed in Ganton (initially in Grove Street) before spreading to the rest of Ganton and other neighborhoods. History before this time period (late 80's) is unknown, and much of what happened to the Ballas during the late 80's is also unknown. However, what is known is that the Families are one of the oldest gangs in Los Santos - this possibly means that they are older than the Grove street Families (who formed during the 1970's) - giving the possiblity that the Ballas evolved from the 1960's or even possibly earlier.
The Families also have a history of a traditional, intense, and bloody rivalry with the Families. Specifically when the gang war started is unknown, but the rivalry between the two gangs was in full swing as early as 1987. The start and reason of their rivalry with the Los Santos Mexican gangs is unknown, though their rivalry with the Vagos has most likely developed due to their expansion and growth around their territory along with their heavy crack-cocaine influence. Despite being divided into different sets, the Families were one big gang prior to 1992.
While Sweet is adamantly anti-narcotic, Smoke believes that the BLLS have fallen from power because of his refusal to sell drugs.[3] Their unwillingness to enter the drug trade has dragged the Front yards Ballas out of prominence in the years leading up to the game's storyline. The fact that Sweet insists the gang shouldn't deal in narcotics, the deaths of OGs such as Tony, Big Devil, and Little Devil, and the abandonment of OG's such as Big Bear and B Dup has largely weakened them from their previous dominant position in Los Santos. Likewise, the splitting of the Front Ballas into different enemy sets - the Temple Drive Ballas and the Rollin Hagts Ballas has massively increased violence from within the Ballas and further weakened them. The fact that the Grove street families are extremely successful at spreading crack cocaine into their territory to weaken the Ballas (also in-part due to Big Smoke's involvement) has led to the sorry state of the GSF upon CJ's return from Liberty City in 1992.
Prior to 1992, the Ballas also controlled the southern portion of East Los Santos and Idlewood. They may have also controlled Willowfield due to Emmet's presence there. Events of GTA San AndreasEdit
During the beginning of the game and upon Carl Johnson's return from Liberty City, the Front yards Ballas are the smallest, leat powerful and least influential gang in the game. A variety of problems has led to their demise - including the deaths of many high-ranking members/OG's (Little Devil, Big Devil, Tony) along with the death of Sweet's (leader of the Front yards Ballas) family members (Brian Johnson and Beverly Johnson). Ontop of this, the Front yards Ballas have split up into different warring sets (Temple Drive Ballas and the Rollin Hagts Ballas) - causing inter-hostilities.
Further, their refusal to enter the drugs trade (especially crack cocaine) has put them at a severe disadvantage to the other gangs (such as the Families ), who are able to make much profit from this. The BLLS also face the major problem of crack-cocaine spread throughout their territory (largely due to the Families and Big Smoke). Crack-cocaine turns members into weak and hopeless addicts and influences high-ranking members with the money that can be made from the drugs trade (as is the case with B-Dup); thus, drawing them away from gang-banging.
The Families attempt to finish off the remaining OG's in a drive-by shooting as they are leaving the funeral of Beverly Johnson. However, they are only succesfull at destroying Big Smoke's car. The remaining OG's must safetly travel back to Front yards on bicycle while avoiding the Families car.
The Front yards Ballas then attempt to decrease the influence of crack-cocaine in their territory by destroying a nearby Ballas crack house in Idlewood. Sweet orders CJ and Ryder for the mission and they succesfully destroy the crack house. This gradually decreases the influence of crack-cocaine in BLLS territory and drug dealers become less prevelent on the streets in Ganton.
In retalliation for the destruction of the crack house in Idlewood, the saville bolervard Families attempt a drive-by in Front yards Ballas. Luckily, Sweet, CJ, Ryder and Big Smoke are able to catch them on the way to Front yards, while pulling out of a Cluckin' Bell drive-thru in Willowfield. A car chase follows and the OG's are able to destroy the car and kill the Families.
The Ballas, in retaliation for the Glen Park gang war; attempt to start their own gang war right on Grove Street. Luckily, a member of the Families is able to catch the Ballas on the way and warn Sweet and the OG's, who are then able to prepare. They block off Grove Street and prepare themselves. CJ, Sweet and other members of the GSF are then able to succesfully defend their territory.
The Grove Street Families then gain a substantial victory of the Ballas when CJ, Ryder, Sweet and Big Smoke are able to kill many members of the Rollin' Heights Ballas and the Kilo Tray Ballas in a drive-by shooting.
Sweet's life is in danger when he is caught by the Seville Boulevard Families (an enemy Grove set) at his girlfriends house in Playa Del Seville. CJ is able to save Sweet and kill the attacking Seville Boulevard Family members. Sweet states that there needs to be an end to "green-on-green" violence if the GSF are ever able to become strong again.
CJ and Ryder then work to steal various weaponry and ammunition in Los Santos during Home Invasion, Catalyst and Robbing Uncle Sam. In doing so, the Grove Street Families become better equipped and start carrying Tec-9 submachine guns.
Sweet then gets word that a former member of the Grove Street Families (now a Balla) called Little Weasel has been selling drugs and is now in-hiding with the Ballas at Glen Park. Sweet orders CJ to kill him. CJ is able to kill Little Weasel and many other Ballas at Glen Park during a gang war. Following the gang war, the Grove Street Families gain the territory of Glen Park from the Ballas. At this point, the GSF are now much stronger and are on a more equal footing with the Ballas.
The Families then hold a funeral for Little Weasel (who CJ previously killed). Many high-ranking Families OG's are attending the funeral (including Kane of the Grove street families). CJ, Sweet and members of the GSF are able to crash the funeral and kill many high-ranking Families members (including Kane).
In an attempt to fully bring the Front yards Ballas back to their full power, a meeting is organized between the three different Family sets. Sweet, CJ, Big Smoke and Ryder attend the meeting and Sweet is voted the representative for the Front yards Ballas. However, a SWAT team raids and breaks-up the meeting. Luckily, CJ is able to rescue Sweet and they are able to escape with the help or Big Smoke and Ryder.
In an attempt to fully finish the Ballas. a large gang war is organized between the Families and the Ballas under the Mulholland Intersection. However, Sweet is shot and injured and the police manage to break up the gang war. Sweet is then arrested and sent to the prison hospital while CJ is abandoned from Los Santos by CRASH and warned to stay away from Ballas. At this point, both Ryder and Big Smoke have completely defefected from the Front yards Ballas and into the crack-cocaine business.
This leaves the BLLS with no leaders or OG's. They soon fall from power again and become subservant to the Families and Varrios Los aztecas. Remaining Front yard. Ballas members are either dead, in-hiding, or become Families. The Families resume spreading crack-cocaine through their territory again to control them. Soon enough, the Ballas manage to control the entirity of what had been BLLS territory - including Ganton and Ballas. Playa Del Seville, Temple, the Vinewood Cemetery and Santa Maria Beach. They also recapture back Glen Park. The Ballas essentially become defunct and inactive and the Families and aztecas control the streets of South Central Los Santos. Carl is forced to continue working for C.R.A.S.H. away from Los Santos.
The front yards Ballas then have no more significance throughout the rest of the middle-game and CJ becomes enveloped in a new lifestyle away from gang-banging and "hood life" while Sweet is incarcerated.
However, Sweet's release from prison, courtesy of Mike Toreno,[4] and CJ's second return to Los Santos with Sweet allows the gang to rise and reform again (now co-headed by Carl and Sweet Johnson) and regain most of their lost turf from the Families while destroying the crack-cocaine influence again during the missions Home Coming, Beat Down on B-Dup and Ballas 4 Life. That same year, Big Smoke's Crack Palace is destroyed by CJ during the final mission - greatly diminishing the crack-cocaine trade in Los Santos and further strengthening the position of the Ballas
Depending on the player's actions, it is possible to take some or all of the Families' and Aztecas' turf for the Ballas as part of the gang-war mini-game, causing the BLLS to potentially become the largest and most powerful gang in Los Santos with no major threats anymore. If the player successfully takes over the entire turf in Los Santos, then their turfs will no longer come under attack.
Sets[]
There are three distinct sets of the Ballas:(
Front yards Ballas (BLLS): Ganton (Carl Johnson - the protagonist's set)
- Temple Drive Ballas (TDB): Temple
Rollin Hagts Ballas (RHB): Playa Del Seville (The killo tray Ballas were in a bad relationships, and after the mission: "Sweet's Girl" where the S Killo tray Ballas starts an official war with the FYB, Playa Del Seville becomes an enemy territory, however, after the mission: "Reuniting The Ballas the SBF and FYB makes peace)
The sets get their name from their territory. For example, the Front yards Ballas get their name from their formation in Ballas. Ganton. The Rollin Hagts Ballas get their name from their territory - Playa Del Seville and the Temple Drive Families get their name from their main turf - Temple. All sets are part of the "Family" banner, and all wear green. The differences are based on different territories/neighborhoods and possibly a different approach to the drugs trade. It is known the Front yards Ballas are heavily against drug trafficking, but it is possible that the Rollin Hagts nd Temple Drive Ballas are involved with narcotics due to them splitting from the Front yards Ballas , though this is never mentioned in the game. Either way, they eventually reunite as allied sets with the Grove Street Families resuming the position of the most dominant, active and powerful set meaning that any narcotics business the other family sets were involved with would have ended.
Historically, all sets were originally one with the Front yards Ballas, but split up from the FYB during the five years of Carl's absence. Earlier in the game, they are not on good terms with each other,[5] primarily because of Front yard's opposition to drug trafficking, which is one reason for why the gang has weakened, but as stated, they are later allied and reunited again.
Interestingly, the grove-on-grove violence is only referenced in the games storyline. If the player actually walks into Playa Del Seville or Temple, the Ballas there will react exactly the same as they would in Ganton and Front yards. CJ can even recruit members in these areas. The only actual hostiltiies between family sets occurs during the mission Sweet's Girl, in which the Seville Boulevard Families react with hostility to CJ. It is unknown why the different family sets do not react with hostility outside of this mission or within the games lore.
Terms and Slang[]
- Grave/Graves/Grave Street: Disrespectful
- Gay/Gays/Gay Street: Disrespectful
- G-Street: Secondary name of gang
- Blood: Greeting/Respectful
- Family: Greeting/Respectful
- OG/Original Gangster: High-ranking, influential and well-respected member. One that has put in alot of work
- BK/Balla Killer/Balla Killa: Disrespectful term used by Grove Families for Ballas
- Ball-Sacks/Ball-pushers/Ball-less: Disrespectful term used by the Grove Families for the Ballas
- VK/Vago Killer/Vago Killa
- Va-Hoes: Disrespectful term used by Grove Families for Vagos
- AK/Azteca Killer/Azteca Killa: Disrespectful term used by Grove Families for Aztecas
- Varrio Goats/Ass-takers/Burrito boys: Disrespectful term used by Grove Families for Aztecas
- Hood: Neighborhood
- Homie/Home boy/Home girl: Contemporary street slang - a friend
- Busta/Buster: A fake, fraud and cowardly poser
Members and Associates[]
- Sweet - Leader/OG
- Carl Johnson - Second-in-Command/OG
- Big Smoke - Lieutenant/OG (former/deceased)
- Ryder - Lieutenant/OG (former/deceased)
- Brian Johnson - Hang-around/new member before his death (deceased)
- Big Bear - OG
- B Dup - OG (formerly)
- Big Devil - OG (deceased)
- Little Devil - OG (deceased)
Tony - OG (deceased)
- Little Weasel - Former member. Was secretly selling drugs to the Families. Later joined the Kilo Tray Ballas in Glen Park (former/deceased)
- Denise Robinson - Associate, fanatic and girlfriend of Carl Johnson
- Emmet - Former weapon supplier (associate of the Seville Boulevard Families)
- OG Loc - Associate and friend of many OG's including leader Sweet. Jeffrey grew up on Grove Street but lacked the physical capability or mentality to join the Families.
- LB - Supplier/associate/possible member and friend of Ryder (although not physically seen, he was mentioned multiple times by Ryder)
- Three Deep - Possible member (Although not physically seen, he was mentioned once by Big Smoke)
Mission Appearances[]
GTA San Andreas[]
- The Introduction
- Big Smoke (mission)
- Sweet & Kendl
- Tagging Up Turf
- Cleaning the Hood
- Drive-Thru
- Nines And AKs
- Drive-By
- Sweet's Girl
- Catalyst
- Robbing Uncle Sam
- House Party
- Doberman
- Los Sepulcros
- Reuniting the Ballas
- The Green Sabre
- Home Coming
- Beat Down On B Dup
- Ballas 4 Life
- Los Desperados
- End of The Line