Chicago Gangsters

Formed from the ashes of late 1960s and early 1970s Akron, Ohio-based soul group The Harmonics, the Chicago Gangsters was founded in the early ‘70s by brothers James, Sam, Chris, and Leroy McCants. The Chicago Gangsters blended the smooth soul sound of the Harmonics with a heavy funk groove and a dose of disco. Signing with Gold Plate Records and working with songwriter Richard Evans, the group released their debut album, Blind Over You, in 1975. The full-length release contained the minor hit “I Choose You” and the band’s most popular track, “Gangster Boogie”. Their sophomore album, Gangster Love, was released in 1976. The group released one more single, “I’m an Outlaw”, before leaving the label. Their third album, Life Is Not Easy… Without You, was released on Heat Records in 1979. Two years later, the band reemerged under the band name Gangsters and released their fourth and final album Heat 1. The band may have split up shortly afterwards, but their music continued to live on – “Gangster Boogie” was sampled heavily in the 1990s and beyond, most notably “Mama Said Knock You Out” by L.L. Cool J.