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Band... or Gang?

Try to guess whether these groups are a musical act (band) or a criminal organization (gang).
Some of these are both. GUESS WHICH CAME FIRST!
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: February 19, 2022
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First submittedFebruary 19, 2022
Times taken23,591
Average score66.7%
Rating4.27
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1. The Backstreet Boys
Band
Gang
The best-selling boy band of all time
2. Cosa Nostra
Band
Gang
Another name for the Sicilian mob, translated as "our thing"
3. The Chicago Outfit
Band
Gang
The Chicago arm of the Italian mob, once led by Al Capone
4. The Sugarhill Gang
Band
Gang
Hip hop group whose 1979 song "Rapper's Delight" was the first rap song to reach the top 40
5. Murder, Inc.
Band
Gang
Jewish/Italian group that carried out an estimated 400–1000 contract killings in New York City
6. 18th Street Gang
Band
Gang
Criminal gang started in Los Angeles which now spans Latin America
7. Wu-Tang Clan
Band
Gang
Hip hop group founded in New York City
8. The Crips
Band
Gang
Alliance of Southern California gangs that wear blue
9. Latin Kings
Band
Gang
Chicago street gang founded by Puerto Rican immigrants
10. Violent Femmes
Band
Gang
Folk/punk band from Milwaukee
11. 2 Live Crew
Band
Gang
Hip hop group from Miami with naughty lyrics
12. Black Flag
Band
Gang
Punk rock band from Los Angeles
13. UB40
Band
Gang
Reggae/pop band from Birmingham, England
14. Hells Angels
Band
Gang
Outlaw motorcycle club considered a criminal organization by several governments
15. The Purple Gang
Band
Gang
Bootlegging operation of mostly-Jewish gangsters in Detroit
+27
Level 24
Feb 20, 2022
there is a rap group that is similar to the gang murder, inc. but that rap group does not use the comma..it is just murder inc. ...but there is a a rock group by that name uses the comma..was formed in 1991 by members of killing joke, soundgarden, and PIL..so what you going to do about that question since obviously it is both?
+14
Level 83
Feb 20, 2022
Oddly enough, there is also a band named "Murder, Inc." They are not very well known though, only releasing one studio album. They probably also took their name from the gang. Perhaps this quiz could add a "Both" option. Either way, this is a great quiz!
+3
Level 60
Feb 20, 2022
There’s a caveat now, not sure if that was always there though and I’m not gonna be one of those people who accuse people of things without remembering updates exist.
+3
Level 71
Mar 15, 2022
Yes! I had heard of Murder, Inc. (the band) and assumed it was the correct answer. Obviously, it makes sense to go for the most famous answer.
+1
Level 65
Mar 15, 2022
I also recall a record label called Murder Inc.
+8
Level 85
Feb 20, 2022
If you're going to have UB40, might want to have MS-13 too.
+1
Level 95
Feb 20, 2022
Just realized that the pattern goes band, gang, gang the whole way through except for questions 10-12, which is band band band. Not sure if that was intentional or not lol
+3
Level 89
Feb 20, 2022
Newsies should be added.
+3
Level 70
Feb 20, 2022
Soak 'em for Crutchy!
+3
Level 74
Feb 21, 2022
Black Flag is one of the three least known? I figured being one of, if not the most important hardcore punk band ever would bring them some amount of name recognition, but they're barely over the 50% mark which would come from everyone just guessing randomly. Especially since I haven't even heard of a few of these in the first place.
+3
Level 78
Feb 22, 2022
Hardcore Punk is a particularly niche genre of music. Not many of the general public would have heard of 80% of the bands in that genre. Same with Grunge or Death Metal, only a tiny number of bands are known outside of their fanbase, and thats usually because the band has mellowed from the hardcore to reach more of an audience
+2
Level 84
Feb 22, 2022
For most people outside their fan base, if they've heard of them at all, it's because Henry Rollins was in the band for about 5 years.
+1
Level 54
Mar 15, 2022
Boo Henry Rollins
+2
Level 69
Feb 21, 2022
Murder, Inc could be seen as a band, Ja Rule, etc.
+4
Level 77
Feb 22, 2022
Might want to replace Murder Inc. There's a very strong case for it to be either.
+1
Level 54
Mar 15, 2022
Not really, Murder Inc is a record label, it'd be like calling Rocafella or Deathrow a "band".
+1
Level 71
Jul 25, 2023
Not the, they were a supergroup in the 90s.
+1
Level 81
Feb 22, 2022
intersting
+6
Level 75
Feb 23, 2022
Wasn't the Purple Gang the rhythm section in the county jail? So... a band.
+1
Level 86
Feb 24, 2022
Just coming here to say exactly that.
+1
Level 83
Mar 2, 2022
I believe that was "a" purple gang as opposed to "The" purple gang
+1
Level 62
Mar 15, 2022
I've always heard it as "the" purple gang.
+1
Level 73
Mar 17, 2022
Add “both” as a choice?
+1
Level 62
Mar 15, 2022
I still have problems with calling a group of singers or rappers a "band". I know that any group of people can be called a band, as in Robin Hood's "band" of merry men, and there is the common use of the term "boy bands" (which makes me cringe every time I hear it), but equating that generic usage with the musical term denoting a group of people playing instruments together has always irked me.
+1
Level 61
Mar 15, 2022
Thank you for the explanation on wrongly answered questions. Usually on multi choice the explanation is not given.
+1
Level 74
Mar 15, 2022
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder,_Inc._(band)
+1
Level 62
Mar 15, 2022
Super idea! The notion of UB40 as a bunch of serious criminals gave me a laugh.

How about Damage, Inc. by Metallica for a future part II quiz?

+1
Level 71
Mar 15, 2022
Hilariously good quiz!
+2
Level 72
Mar 15, 2022
The whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang.
+1
Level 69
Mar 15, 2022
That's what I thought!
+1
Level 64
Mar 15, 2022
purple gang was also a moderately successful brit invasion/psychedelic band
+2
Level 68
Mar 15, 2022
Wasn't there a band called Murder Inc?
+1
Level 67
Mar 16, 2022
Why would a murderous gang call themselves that?
+1
Level 71
Jul 25, 2023
Because they were a secret offshoot of the NCS, they didn't go around with branding...
+3
Level 70
May 18, 2022
There's a band by the name Latin Kings in Sweden.