Gangster Disciples
 | |
| Founded | 1966 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Larry Hoover |
| Named after | Supreme Gangsters, Devils Disciples, Black Gangster Disciples |
| Founding location | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Territory | Chicago, Illinois; New York City; Massachusetts; Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia; Houston, Texas; Norfolk, Virginia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; Raleigh, North Carolina; South Carolina; Indiana; Jackson, Mississippi; Nashville, Tennessee; Huntsville, Alabama; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Colorado; Florida; Georgia; Northeastern; Midwestern; Denmark; France; Westhill, United Kingdom; Mexico; Germany; Sweden |
| Ethnicity | Primarily African American |
| Membership (est.) | 30,000 members in Chicago and spreading into at least 35 other states with several thousand more members. Membership-count overseas remains unknown. |
| Leader | Larry Hoover (formerly) |
| Activities | Drug trafficking, assault, firearms violations, fraud, homicide, money-laundering, organized crime |
| Allies | Sureños 13 Folk Nation Simon City Royals Tiny Rascal Gang (in Michigan) |
| Rivals | Black P. Stones Black Disciples (conflict) Bloods Latin Kings People Nation Vice Lords Mickey Cobras |
| Notable members | Lil JoJo Famous Dex FBG Duck 22Gz SahBabii Young Pappy Larry Hoover |
The Gangster Disciple Nation (often abbreviated as the GDs; formally GDN, or simply Gangster Disciples), also known as Growth & Development, is an African-American street- and prison-gang founded by former rivals David Barksdale (1947-1974) and Larry Hoover (born 1950); in 1968, the two came together to form the Black Gangster Disciple Nation (BGDN).
Post-1989, following growing tension between its component parts, the BGDN split into two new factions: Larry Hoover's Gangster Disciple Nation (GDN) and the Black Disciple Nation (BDN). As of 2022, following Hoover's departure, the GDN has no full-time gang leader.