P.Y.G, sometimes written as PYG or the Peckham Young Gunners, was a road rap group and gang set of the Peckham Boys gang. PYG were historically known as the “Younger Younger Peckham Boys” (YYPB), the youngest generation of the Peckham Boys, and later as “Young SI” (Young Shoot Instant) due to their association with Shoot Instant, another Peckham Boys set.
In 2021, former PYG member Y.Killa (now known as Sinko Ceej) revealed how the group gained its name:
There was like four of us, texting eachother at night […] me, Young Butch, Shockz, and Jimmy, and I think Boost, and there was like five of us that were texting each other different names. […] and one of us just said “yeah, Young Gunners”. And then we just put the “Peckham” infront of it.
In the mid-2000s, alongside the rise of MySpace and YouTube, PYG became more prominent due to their music. This occurred alongside the rise in prominence of older Peckham Boys sets: Spare No-1 (PB) and Shoot Instant (YPB), and the success of SN1 rapper Giggs.
P.Y.G undoubtedly had a huge impact on the Road Rap scene, along with a notorious reputation for violence. They also had a long running rivalry with G.A.S Gang based in Brixton.
In 2010, a ‘civil war’ in Peckham arose. Some members of PYG splintered off and formed the Lettsom G’s. As a result, remaining PYG members renamed the set as ‘Anti’. The Anti members formed a close relationship with another Peckham-based set GMG, with the partnership known as ‘Anti 2 GMG’.
A list of PYG members:
Baby Grem (aka B.Grem, B.G) – Later joined the Lettsom Gees gang.
Benz (aka Ben)
Blackz (aka Blacks, Richard Riakporhe) – Joined SI, eventually left gang life and became a professional boxer. You can read his story here.
Blocks
Cs (aka Young Reekz, Y.Reekz, Certified Showerman, Samuel Browne-Morgan)
Dumpz
JR
Hoodz
Jim Jones (aka JJ, Young SK, Y.SK, Jimmy)
Lil Grem
Mad B (Mad Brants) – Older brother of Young Mad B
Mystic – Member but he didn’t rap.
Ounce
Qwamz
Shocks (aka Shockz, Young Nuttie, Younger Nuttie) – Ended up in America and quit rap at some point.
Shooting Size (aka Y.Size, Young Size, Young Sizer, Size) – Later joined the Lettsom Gees gang.
Stigs (aka T.Butch, T Butch, Tiny Butch, Stiggs, Stigz) – Stigs was in 2011 served the first ever ‘gang injunction’ from the police, that banned him from making any songs or videos that might encourage violence.
T.Darks (aka T.Darkz / T.Darks, T.Darko, Darko, Tiny Darks, Tiny Darko)
T.Littleman
T.Man (aka T-Man)
T.React (aka Tiny React)
T.Smasher
T.Snap (aka Tiny Snap, T Snap / T.Snaps, T.SN, Y.Josh, Young Josh, Tiny SN) – Would end up in the ANTI / GMG gang, then went to prison. Once released, he began a solo music career.
Tiny Boost (aka T.Boost, T.Boosta, Tiny Taz, TB, Hollowman Junior, Daniel Collins) – Joined the SN1 Peckham Boys set.
Y.Butch (aka Young Butch, Y Butch, Gritz, Big Nath) – Went to prison.
Y.Killa (aka Des Boy, Y Killa, Tantrum, Young Killa, Ceej, Young Killa Ki, Young Kills, Yung Killz) – Joined the OPB gang, another Peckham Boys set.
Y.Lap (aka Y Lap, Y.Lapz, Younger Laps / Younger Lap, Mad Max, Mr. Lap Ryder, Lap, Young Lap) – Joined another Peckham Boys set, OPB. Would eventually change his name to Lap/Mr. Lap Ryder, become a biker and pursue music on his own.
Young Mad B (aka Y.Mad B) – Had his eye cut in 2005 in prison, went to jail later on. Has since been released and makes music solo. Younger brother to Mad B.
Y.Mega
Y.Menace (aka Y.Menice, Menace)
Y.Shaq (aka Y.Shak, Young Shak, Shaqavelly) – Joined the Lettsom Gees gang. He would also hang out with Brixton based Drill group 410 under the name Shaqavelly.
Y.Spend (aka Young Spen, Young Spend / Young Spender, Young SP, Young Spendkid, Jesse Williams, Spendkid, Y Spend) – Joined another Peckham Boys set OPB.
Y.Sykez (aka Young Sykes, Sykes)
Y.Termz (aka Young Termz)
Young Gunna.D (aka Young Gunna Dee, M1)
The most popular song by P.Y.G's is The History
P.Y.G's first song Line Up released on Thu Jan 01 1970.