JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A recent string of gun violence in Jacksonville is shining the spotlight on gangs and the dangers of life in the streets. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, there are 47 documented gangs in the River City and their main connection is drugs.
Joseph Williams says he grew up watching men he admired sell drugs and he aspired to one day walk in their shoes. He worked for that chance and quickly regretted entering into the violent lifestyle. Williams eventually found a way out and now hopes to help others avoid his same mistakes.
The path into the drug game for Williams appeared clear. He says he watched how his older brother operated and drove right in.
"I started seeing friends dying and people getting incarcerated," said Williams.
His way out did not prove to be as seamless.
"I had actually got out the game, but it still came back to bite me," said Williams who in 2010 was sent to federal prison for conspiracy to traffic cocaine and marijuana.
While incarcerated his older brother, who he loved and admired, died. Williams, who is also known as Young Cash, says music saved his life. Now signed to a major record label, he shares his story of life on the streets of Duval. Sitting back and watching familiar neighborhoods being riddled with bullet casings doesn't sit well with Williams who is now a father of three.
"It's getting out of hand and it's a lot of senseless death at that," said Williams. "People don't have anything to do with the situation. Innocent people are getting hit. And it don't affect everybody until it happens to your child or your brother or your sister."
He now speaks to youth groups about not becoming victims of their circumstances or being products of their environments.
"It's ignorance and it starts at a young age," said Williams. "You can't wait until they get to high school middle school you have to start on them early. There's nothing sweet about these streets. If you're out here you already know how this is going to end, either prison or death."
Williams was released from prison in 2012. He says he has never been affiliated with gangs.
A photo posted by Young Cash (@youngcash) on
