Detroit’s street-geography maps have evolved over the last five years, shifting from early community-created lists to detailed cultural archives referenced by news outlets, researchers, and online documentaries. This page provides a neutral overview of the three major maps currently known, listed in no particular order.
For definitions of terminology related to activity, conduct, demographics, gang-related terms, identifiers, and classifications used on this page, refer to the site glossary.
Status: Most current and comprehensive
Released: Mid-2025
Views: 100,000+
Entries: 1,100+
Creator: “Tiny Joker”
Verification: Partially corroborated by law enforcement in a 2025 Detroit News article (tag wars, set activity, neighborhood conflicts)
Coverage: Detroit, Metro Detroit, and multiple Michigan cities
Overview
The Real Detroit Map is the most detailed modern archive of Detroit’s streets, sets, cliques, historic crews, defunct groups, cultural landmarks, schools, and verified graffiti and gang conflicts. Widely used in mini-documentaries and street-topic breakdowns, it has become the current reference standard.
It includes extensive sections such as Streets & Hoods, Reputables, Historic Gangs, Famous Murders, Projects, Closed Schools, and regional expansions covering Flint, Grand Rapids, Muskegon Heights, Lansing, Holland, Battle Creek, and more.
Notable Features
- Over 1,100 entries with consistent updates
- Broad historical scope combined with modern graffiti documentation
- Detailed color-coded key for nations, cliques, defunct sets, schools, and cultural sites
- Public, non-affiliated disclaimer clarifying no insider knowledge
- Used by researchers, YouTube documentaries, and street-topic channels
- Referenced by outlets like Kulture Vulturez and Detroit News
Assessment
- Reliability: High
- Depth: Very High
- Weakness: Large scale requires ongoing maintenance
Status: First modern map; now outdated but historically important
Released: Early 2020
Last real update: 2022 (page later shows Aug 2025 edit but no meaningful changes)
Views: 1.5 million+
Entries: 167
Creator: Reddit user r/scbkdeezy
Scope: Detroit only
Overview
The “Detroit Gang Map (W.I.P.)” was the first large-scale attempt to map Detroit neighborhoods and sets. Allegedly created by a user from Schoolcraft (722), it became a staple in early Detroit street-topic videos and online hip-hop discussions.
It remains the most widely viewed map, but its information is several years old and does not reflect newer cliques, shifting alliances, or modern tag wars.
Notable Features
- Four sections:Hoods, Old School Gangs (50s–2000s), Gang Sets, Cliques
- “For entertainment and musical purposes only” disclaimer
- Heavy cultural footprint: used in early documentaries despite limited accuracy
Assessment
- Reliability: Moderate to Low (current day)
- Depth: Low to Moderate
- Weakness: Limited updates; functions more as a relic than an active reference
Status: Accurate statewide overview; not as detailed locally
Released: Late 2024
Views: 25,000+
Entries: 457
Creator: Reddit user r/WHATHUH699
Scope: Entire state of Michigan
Overview
The Michigan Gang Map offers a broad look at gang nations and cliques across the state. Created by a 6 Mile resident, it includes a clear color-coded system covering Detroit, Pontiac, Flint, Saginaw, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Muskegon Heights, and the southwest region.
The map openly states its limitations—some info may be outdated, some lines mark roads rather than borders, and all entries should be taken cautiously. This transparency contributes to its credibility.
Notable Features
- Simple, clear nation-based color key (Bloods, Crips, GDs, VLs, BPS, Sur, etc.)
- Regional layers for major Michigan cities
- Cultural/demographic explanation of Detroit and Southwest
- Not widely used in documentaries but often referenced by Reddit and Discord users
Assessment
- Reliability: Moderate
- Depth: Moderate
- Weakness: Not a deep-dive; lacks neighborhood-level detail compared to 2025 map
| Map | Year | Views | Reliability | Depth | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Real Detroit Map | 2025 | 100k+ | High | Very High | News outlets, documentaries, research |
| Detroit Gang Map (W.I.P.) | 2020 | 1.5M+ | Moderate–Low | Low–Moderate | Early mini-docs, historical reference |
| Michigan Gang Map | 2024 | 25k+ | Moderate | Moderate | Reddit, statewide overview discussions |
Detroit’s online gang-geography mapping has moved through three major stages:
- Foundation (2020): The first Detroit Gang Map introduced the concept but became outdated quickly.
- Expansion (2024): The Michigan Gang Map broadened the frame statewide with careful disclaimers.
- Verification Era (2025): The Real Detroit Map emerged as the most accurate and comprehensive, combining street-level documentation with historical and cultural archiving.
Together, these maps form Detroit’s modern digital record of neighborhood identity, set history, and urban geography.
Notes & Verification Status
Information is compiled from public records, community reports, and law enforcement sources.
Use of this page is for informational and historical purposes; it is not legal documentation.
Sources:
*Sources are listed in no particular order. Numerical placement does not indicate priority, authority, or primary-source status.*
- 1. Detroit News Article 2025, Purported Crip-Affiliated Gang Member Documents City’s ‘Tag Wars’
- 2. 2025 Detroit Crips Mini-documentary, Most Dangerous Crip Gangs in Detroit: The Real Story of Power, Bloodshed & Survival
- 3. 2025 Detroit Bloods Mini-documentary, Most Dangerous Blood Gangs in Detroit EXPOSED: 55 Seven Mile Bloods, 82 Headbanger Bloods & More!
- 4. 2025 Detroit Hybrid gangs Mini-documentary, Detroit’s Most Dangerous Hybrid Gangs: Crips, Bloods & Gangster Disciples Unite
- 5. 2025 Detroit Gangster Disciples Mini-documentary, Detroit’s Most Dangerous Gangster Disciples Sets EXPOSED
- 6. Alamy Stock Photos 2015-2025, “Detroit Crips Graffiti,” 330+ photos with EXIF data and detailed titles/captions used for identification and location context
- 7. The Real Detroit Map (2025), Featured in a 2025 Detroit News Article
- 8. Detroit Gang Map (W.I.P), The original Detroit “gang map”
- 9. Michigan Gang Map 2024, Made by a local in late-2024