What was the goal and intentions of folks who were in the game during the crack era ? It wasn’t to build the community, it was about as you mentioned being THE HNIC. Economical power, paying your “TAXES” allows your community to controls rules, laws and legislations. Money speaks and if your community is poor you will have no say so and become food for the vultures.
But then again it was designed this way …
It basically made the law abiding black folks who have 9-5s as "lames" and "squares" that gotten 2nd class citizen treatment and ridiculed in mainstream rap, for simply not participating in the destruction of their areas. "Crack Era" was a small group of selfish black folks that wanted the Ronald Reagan mentality of "me me me" while destroying their community for instant gratification, much like the drug abusers.
Now after 40+ years later, we FINALLY see the outcome of the fast life, and everyone that ain't the CIA lost hardbody. Burnt out, old, delusional, still in the streets in your older years, mentally enslaved of the TRAUMA of a war veteran.