Exploring the Mysterious Origins of Brother Mouzone | The Wire Explained

[@emiajjnoir8156]

As a black man from the NYC metro area I can attest that brother Mouzone is far from weird.....one would need exposure to the culture to understand his character, appearance and verbal cadence. His impact on the show is what one would expect....as soon as I saw him, I already knew he was a "professional cleaner"....a ronin (masterless samurai) who comes to perform a task effectively and efficiently, nothing more or less. No screaming, shouting or making a scene.....just get in, do what needs to be done and get out.....Stringer f*¢ked up by assuming his money and influence could usurp the "honor" embodied in Omar and Mouzone....once they saw past Stringer's facade, his days were numbered

[@shannongreen1520]

Realest shit ever 🔥🔥🔥

[@mwenvlay]

i was gonna say- if you're from ny or philly (especially if you came up in the 80s and 90s) you're not gonna find brother mouzone to be far fetched.

[@kakacoco5]

I wish he was in more episodes. He was such a cool character.

[@dragonballbeatz558]

Son was a calculated killer

[@radicaledwards3449]

I was going to say exactly this.

[@alifrombenhill3374]

Mouzone fits the Wire perfectly. If you don't grow up in areas in America with NOI then he will seem like a weird character. But Mouzone fit in perfectly.

[@refusefntk]

Well said , we had our share of those dudes in my hood in the 80s and early 90s.

[@zacshimmer3890]

Facts

[@foyfamily6960]

Right I was thinking the same thing

[@heavylift9582]

Everyone in the show fits.

[@maximilianoperugini1268]

what is NOI?

[@javonrob1]

For people growing up near black urban areas like Philly or New York brother mouzone wasn't weird at all.

[@mansamusa9465]

Facts Philly Black Mafia, was full of Brother Mouzones, the Italian Mafia in Philly didn’t want no smoke

[@AB-nb2ic]

This white Italian from NYC agrees

[@inlikflint]

Not at all he did play the role of a hit man 💯!!!

[@davidwheeler773]

I agree it was people like him in Detroit

[@seltonk5136]

Dime a dozen 30 years ago. Mostly extinct now

[@mbryson2899]

I worked in a Chicagoland hospital mid to late 80s. I met a few Nation of Islam guys there, visitors to an NoI patient. They were scary _because_ they were so calm and courteous. Even the neighborhood players shut up or faded when they were around.

[@Thestray187]

What's so scary about being calm and courteous? That should be a great thing

[@laurenceprice9509]

@@Thestray187 it means they are calm under all pressure. They can’t be easily intimidated, manipulated, or bribed. You can only kill them and that carriers more consequences than prison. The Nation of Islam arent violent people but their friends and family who are further from the faith don’t have the same restrictions.

[@Bobbibouchersmumwasright]

It’s like they are trained by the special forces or something…….

[@jasongist3791]

I remember when the city hired them to do security in my projects in Brooklyn late 80s. They where able to shut down the crack trade in the middle of the crack era. These brothers can reach in jail if needed.

[@mbryson2899]

@@Thestray187 Many people carry on, rage, weep, and cause trouble when they can't immediately see an emergency patient. These guys were rational, logical, and reassuring. Their presence chilled out others and frightened off thugs. Compared to our normal ER/Trauma visitors they were a breed apart.

[@brvalentine1]

I noticed that a lot of people who discuss The Wire have a common description of Bro Mouzone as "cartoonish" and "fake". The "hood" mess with Mouzone because we know or know of guys like that.

[@johnallenbailey1103]

Exactly

[@BanuHaqim]

Brother Mouzone is also reminiscent of Amir Muhammad, someone implicated in the death of Biggie Smalls.

[@Karlitos.Reviews]

Exactly , my brother was this way

[@Exzactz]

What hood you in with well spoken, suit and bow tie wearing hitmen ? 😂

[@rubyjr2743]

Brother mouzone fits in perfectly

[@valmarsiglia]

Anyone from the States (at least a larger urban area) immediately understood that Mouzone was a member of the NOI because of the suit, bowtie, and clean-cut appearance, nothing at all unrealistic about the character because of his appearance. Also, Cheese makes a comment during their first meeting about Mouzone being "in the Nation" and even jokes about whether he's selling bean pies, something that NOI members are known for. They sell individual-sized bean- or sweet-potato pies on the street and give out copies of their newspaper.

[@Brotha00]

He also talks about a “line to NY.” He’s a soldier, not a merc. He was sent by the nation.

[@dskillzharrisa.k.a.skillzm8357]

I’m from Baltimore. Brother Mouzone fits in perfectly. Also it is implied that even though Mouzone is from NY he has family in Baltimore. Poot mentions a girl he was talking to that had that last name.

[@vintage_sole4065]

Very true I seen that.. The sacred and the propane

[@eazyeighty5590]

@@vintage_sole4065very allegorical

[@gerarpope6581]

Glad to see that some finally posted on this character. Good Research...! As a nerd for the Wire series, I’ve found myself defending the relevancy of Brother Mouzone In many forums. You mentioned the Philly Mafia which was Black Muslim influenced. Those were my original thoughts, then I looked more into it. With what I learned some time ago, I will do you one more for those that want to research further so that they can see that Brother was not some randomly made up character. I'm also surprised that David Simon didn't mention this as well, but here is my quote from another video on KZbin-> “In March 1977, when David Simon was still in high school, Simon's father was one of a group of over 140 people held hostage (and later released) in Washington, D.C. by former national secretary of the Nation of Islam Hamaas Abdul Khaalis in the Hanafi Siege.”

[@RuckBuckington]

He said who mouzone was based off in the video. I mean, he read the David Simon quote and everything. Did you watch the whole video?

[@JayJackson1981]

Simon also lived in the streets of Baltimore on purpose to do his own research. He and Burns both had an admiration for many of the guys that they based the Wire characters off.

[@ButtersCCookie]

I had no idea he took any of those buildings hostage. Only that his family was killed. I vaguely remember it being discussed on American Gangster. Wonder why that basketball player wasn't canceled long ago, if not recently seeing as he was in cahoots with opposition to that man. And the drowning of the baby in a kitchen sink. Why and how this is removed from history and fake ones are created should but doesn't horrify many. If any at all.

[@MrIreneadler]

Exactly! And don't overlook a lesser known Black Muslim splinter group, the New Jersey based New World Nation of Islam. The "mainstream" NOI considered NWNOI as a sort of dangerous, criminal and renegade outfit.

[@realtalk6195]

Brother Khaalis was ex-NOI. He was Sunni Muslim specifically. He followed the Barelvi subschool of the Hanafi school of Sunnism.

[@nagone11]

Mouzone was very much like one of These Nation of Islam "Fruit of Islam" type brothers. Well read, well dressed , well mannered and "very well capable".. When "The Fruit of Islam" came your way, you had a very serious problem and depending on what one might have done, things actually might go poorly for you. So any brotha' from the NYC who knows about "The Nation of Islam" would be very familiar with what this character Mouzone was about and his capabilities... CineRanter..you're my dude bro! Nice work...nice work.

[@mansamusa9465]

Facts

[@swdelamentay4802]

What is the Fruit of Islam?

[@nagone11]

@@swdelamentay4802 The former military defense arm of the N.O.I.

[@mizaron1]

The character Brother Mouzone is FOI. Most are very learned and sometimes dangerous men.

[@thecloser677]

Most times!

[@lh6843]

What do I think of this character? Genius. One would have to know the origin’s of the Philadelphia black mafia and their connection to the NOI to understand the significance of his character on the show. I was disappointed that he did not have more of a presence in the series. Measured, humble, deliberate, purposeful, intelligent, fearless, calculating, disciplined, standards, what’s not to like about him. Oh, and “PRESENCE.” One of my favorite characters from the wire.

[@realtalk6195]

His Muslim references on the show were extremely limited too. The character wasn't as fleshed out as it should have been.

[@AJ1990.]

He represents New York. That's why he's so much different. Not all of NY per se, but just the fact that New York is so big and diverse. A character like brother could very well represent a whole group of well learned African American Islamic men. New York is such a stark difference from the smaller, more gritty Baltimore. And of course that's not to say Bmore isn't diverse. I'm just saying Brother represents New York, Seriousness, discipline, and the reaper all in one character. He isn't Baltimore. He's very different. That's my take on it. If that makes sense.

[@realtalk6195]

Maryland and DC had a large Moorish Science influence back in the day. Now it's mostly Sunni Islam, just like Philadelphia.

[@mattstakeontheancients7594]

Always enjoyed his character. Highly intelligent, respectful, well spoken and cold blooded. He’s so calm you wouldn’t know he’s a killer unless you know. A wolf among sheep in the guise of a sheep. Just a well dressed brother that looks out of place in the projects but not on Wall Street or in a church.

[@mstephens44]

I would love to have seen a Brother Mouzone miniseries. It would've been EPIC!

[@rainbowslushy223]

It would be cool to see his rising up story

[@edwardgiovannelli5191]

interesting to think about, but it would ruin the 'minimalism' of David Simon. Simon put out the story that he needed to put out, he did it well, and nothing more.

[@thechurchoflogic1670]

He is exactly the gangster form of Malcom X. The gate keepers of the black community. Keeps the morals and ethics in the streets in tact. The character is very much necessary in the series and probably more dangerous than Avon and Marlo put together.

[@glennfontaine726]

One of my favorite characters from The Wire. Intelligent, articulate, but deadly as a cobra. I feel like he’s someone I could sit down with and have an interesting conversation with, so long as he did have a contract on me.

[@IbelieveinJesusAmen]

Captain obvious

[@TheSolidSnakeOil]

If you've ever met a few of the guy in The Nation, you'd understand him better. I've personally met a few like him in Baltimore on the east side in like the mid/late 90s when they ran security for everything. Educated brothers but you knew never to step out of line with them. At the very least, that's the vibe they gave off.

[@christophervanepps4264]

Illustrating your point about Mouzone being street smart like Avon; in season 2 episode 12, Stringer asks a bedridden Mouzone (having been shot by Omar) who it was that came after him. Mouzone understood (like Avon) that in this situation, Stringer is the employER and Mouzone is the employEE, a soldier for hire. Stringer is a businessman first and foremost. He even attends the local business school to get hot marketing tips to better peddle his dope but there is no college class that teaches street smarts. When String asked Mouzone who shot him, String was placing himself as a subordinate to Mouzone, which is inappropriate given their contractual agreement, not to mention displaying ignorance in front of a soldier. Better to just say nothing and craft a new plan. Avon imparts this to Stringer later in the episode, saying "it ain't that part of it. It's that OTHER thing" meaning the street element. Plus, the way Avon emphasizes the word 'other' indicates that they've had multiple conversations like this in the past. Superlative writing.

[@RetroVideoGamer23]

I believe when Stringer asked it put him as number 1 suspect right away, and Avon understood that also, it came full circle when Brother met Avon at the barber shop

[@SonicMegaKing]

It's that Stringer came to see him at all that raised red flags. He's a cleaner. Him getting shot doesn't warrant a visit from the number 2 in the org. And even if it did, it should've been Avon, not Stringer. By showing all that unnatural interest and digging for info, Mouzone knew something was foul about him. If he were street smart, he would've known not to go there at all, but by doing so he made himself a suspect for Mouzone to investigate when he recovered.

[@Damianoutlaw]

Fantastic video! I'm black. I've always understood who Brother Mouzone was, and where he came from. He was never weird or strange to me. A lot of white fans of the WIRE have a hard time taking Brother Mouzone seriously because they have no clue who the Fruit of Islam are. Many rappers and entertainers use the FOI for their security at concerts, or events being held in dangerous neighborhoods. Many FOI members founded their religion in prison. It's very possible that Brother Mouzone was already a stone cold killer before he founded Islam in prison. He most likely spent those years in prison reading books and educating himself.

[@SteadyRoosevelt]

facts. I am a white dude from Philly, grew up with many black friends and such in my neighborhood and I heard of stories and knew of people affiliated with the black mafia and Islam influence. So for me, his character on the wire was easily understood.

[@majorpromotion6018]

Exactly when I 1st heard he was backing Avon I was damn Avon got major stain

[@mykelengieza7057]

is that the 5%er's?

[@jrb2280]

We’re they also the ones that provided security for Muhammad Ali after he converted?

[@Dcain2]

Right. I thought it was obvious that was his background. I guess I was ignorant of the fact that whites (and others) wouldn’t know the “prison -convert to NOI -release” cycle.

[@IandiBoats]

In the 80's and 90's the NOI had a security company. They held the security contract with HUD for the towers and other projects here in Baltimore. They were a real business and did a great job.

[@munnygawn9480]

I was a Fruit back in 93'. There was always a group a team of Brothers with these skills that were often times used. I won't go into detail as I'm still a registered member but every F.O.I. I have met is capable of what Brother is.

[@Amir1969-]

I got my X too back in 92. You and I both know that what you say is very true. And True with you and I too.

[@patrickbateman8916]

He’s was more gangster than anyone on the show

[@brownpunk1794]

Nope..frog was the realest

[@ChaseVercetti]

THANK YOU!!! very calculated, calm, and uncommon

[@Filthy_Larry]

@@brownpunk1794 yeah yo

[@StockyDude]

Naw, Omar was realest.

[@joebalmond3036]

The Homicide book (page 353) mentions a Clarence Mouzone, who beat three or four murders before being convicted of another. Don't know if that's supposed to be the real-life inspiration for Brother or if they just used the name, but it's interesting. PS Michael Potts is a great actor who helped make the character so memorable and was also really good in True Detective

[@jaycareaga9929]

As said by David Simon himself in an interview: "Brother Mouzone, like all of our characters, is a composite of attributes from a variety of people. No one is entirely fictional or entirely real.

[@MrIreneadler]

Just looked him up. Clarence Mouzone was arrested for two counts of murder and two counts of using a handgun in 1979 in Baltimore! Interesting!

[@tomz5704]

Mouzone not carrying his gun doesn't mean he went to prison, it's just called being smart, in case they ever get checked lamar takes the fall, easy, besides that his reputation is enough to almost never having to carry a gun, kind of like Omar in certain scenes

[@ejkboxing]

I'm from Philly & I have two brothers in the NOI & they both could play Brother Mouzone, except they're both over 6' tall. They both move & speak in the same cadence & they both read all of the time & one even wrote a book. Guys who behave just like him, even though they might not be hitmen, are all over Philly. Brother fits right in in Baltimore, which is a twin city of Philly. You just never met any NOI guys. If you did, you'd know the word "cartoonish" to describe them could end you on the spot. They speak clearly & don't use slang or cuss words, like Brother does, to ensure that every word they say is understood so you can't have an excuse to say you misunderstood them.

[@youngkim5909]

Good research and analysis man. When you showed the pictures of the members of fruit of Islam all the pieces fell into place. 👍

[@paulodifficiliora820]

The Wire needs an own cathegory, it was a unique series, so realistic , so true, and the young guys that in the last season start their road to replace some of the main characters, the cycle of life, brilliant.

[@Tainoblazed]

Living in Harlem I can assure you people like this exist. He most likely found the nation in prison.. but never left the game.

[@petermj1098]

I would love a spin-off show featuring Brother Mouzone and the New York Black Mafia.

[@Tainoblazed]

@@petermj1098 OHH that would be EPIC!!!

[@bladebrown3754]

Brother is very realistic. They're well spoken and intelligent Muslims in every black community. They are very elegant and dignified..yet deadly when provoked

[@johnpenley]

Love your analysis, however Brother Mouzone is a real archetype. If you spend anytime in older East Coast cities like B More, NY, Philly, Detroit, Chicago, etc...you would be somewhat familiar with the Nation of Islam and the way they carry themselves.. that's why I think he was so real and innercity folk know bout them.😁 Love you channel! Never disappointed in your content.✊

[@majorpromotion6018]

Bean pie with a final call paper my brother 😂

[@rysclark]

Facts!!

[@mja2873]

Agree with, only one correction though, Chicago and Detroit are Midwest. Peace

[@realtalk6195]

I think you meant Northen cities. The NOI and FOI are very active in LA too. In fact, since the 90s and 2000s it's California where the NOI has the most influence still.

[@macfilms9904]

I worked on the Wire for all seasons from the HBO end, but it was my earlier work on a film that shot in South Central L.A. had security from the Nation of Islam - Brother is dead-accurate for the guys I met.

[@dmagwaza]

With analysis like this, you are fast becoming one of my favourites.

[@leonardjackson842]

The wire was based on real Baltimore police files. Most of the characters were actually real people so Brother Mouzone probably was an actual real life killer. I know a guy who was very entrenched in the drug/street life in Bmore careful during the early 80- 90 and did business and serious time behind bars with most of the people these characters were based on. He told us some very interesting back stories that were never televised.

[@ice843]

Ah man I’d love to read them somehow you should maybe right a blog or somthing I met an Irish guy once on holiday as a kid he had a ton of stories on a laptop all about undercover ira shit They where awesome although a little sus as they talked about money disappearing and this man had multiple properties all over the world To this day I dunno wether they where real or not he wouldn’t say obviously

[@mansamusa9465]

Philly Black Mafia study then

[@drpancake4103]

Not related to the topic of the vid, but his sidekick is played by the real D'Andre McCullough from David Simon and Ed Burns previous HBO show, 'The Corner'. Definitely worth a watch if ya haven't seen it.

[@Supremmo]

Who sadly died from an overdose years ago.

[@Analytical_Lens]

Very well researched video. For your future videos on The Wire I think these would be some interesting videos - What happened to McNulty - What happened to Marlo - The backstory and identity of The Greek - The cyclical nature of The Wire / who becomes who

[@georgejackson4426]

I thought it was pretty sad that one of the nicest kids (Dookie) became the new Bubbles.

[@FloydofOz]

+1 for the Greek

[@johnsmyth8815]

The Greek was a spy. Worked for CIA/FBI as part of the counter terrorism programme post 9/11

[@rustylocks4596]

I always wondered about Donut. The little black boy who would steal cars. 1 if them being a black Lincoln navigator... He couldn't have been over Twelve

[@f67739]

greek is a cypriot lol

[@blackanonymous7215]

Brother Mouzone is my favorite secondary character on the Wire.

[@erics362]

Although the drug trade was a central theme throughout The Wire, the series didn't utilize the structures emphasized in each season to show how each of them contributed to it. These structures were emphasized to show how they played a part in the city of Baltimore. The drug trade is one of those structures; not an end product of police, labor unions, schools, or media.

[@luanderson.ferreira]

A Brother Mouzone spin off would be fire bro

[@aSouthFloridian]

When I was in rehab one of the therapists was a NOI Baltimore guy, he also used to talk about Nicky Barnes and the counsel a lot, who was coincidentally connected to the Italians, a few of which I was related to when they were alive like my Papa. All of the men from the old school have this half street half professions disposition. Also, they used to say dealing drugs was not allowed and that was only half true. The bosses wanted control over what neighborhoods drugs were in and didn’t want their soldiers selling it just anywhere.

[@mansamusa9465]

Study the Philly Black Mafia, the Italian Mafia didn’t want any smoke them

[@troyglan4082]

I'm from NYC born and raised. There are dozens of Mouzons there. These are often men that were once incarcerated but found themselves in the NOI. They are just as immaculately dressed, articulate and gangster at the very same time.

[@Tempest87]

I’m from Philly where we have the Black Mafia, The Beys, and lots of people like Brother. We have messy and violent Muslim gangsters but have just as many as Brother. You’ll find Brothers in Philly, Newark, New York, Chicago, and Detroit.

[@realtalk6195]

Philly's Black Mafia was mostly in the 70s and 80s. They're long disbanded now and Philly and Newark's NOI followers largely became Sunni Muslim in the 90s onward.

[@TheBigThinker944]

For people familiar brother mouzone is NOT out of place. In cities a cross the globe in the black communities brothers like him have existed for a very long time and play an important role in the environment

[@toddadams8420]

The Ronin samurai seems pretty close to who brother Mouzone is. Disciplined, smart and deadly

[@SantomPh]

Ronin tended to be wild and careless. Removal from a well organized social order meant removal from discipline and strategic thinking

[@Forevertheprophecy]

He’s not out of place at all. He’s meant to portray a member of the nation of Islam. And they have a branch within the nation which is called the FOI. Or rather the fruit of Islam. The FOI acts essentially as The nations military. Like they actually undergo training in combat martial arts etc. and many of them are well spoken and even down to the Outfit. It’s very standard for members of the nation. They have a strict dress code. The red bowtie being a sign of membership

[@michaeljefferson3041]

Underrated Actor who went from a cameraman for a News Station on the hit HBO show, "OZ," to this character.👍

[@marquisfelder3170]

being african american and knowing of the nation i didnt understand why oyu said he seemed cartoony but i get it now if you dont know what he is he seems out of place but knowing what he was as soon a i seen him he handled himself the way he shouldve he was well written and they didnt make him do out of character things

[@JayJackson1981]

You should fall into the Internet rabbit hole that is the Wire. You'll quickly find out how out of touch many white Americans are with black Americans. They don't think men like Brother can exist because they're conditioned to think that all black men are like Cheese or Stringer. It's extremely hard for them to imagine a well spoken, educated, articulate sharp dressing black man. I always hit them with what y'all don't understand about Brother, we don't understand about Ziggy Sobotka.

[@Delightfully_Witchy]

Doubly so being a Brit, since Nation of Islam is mostly an American thing.

[@qizrquacolaban8813]

The thing about the characters in the wire is they are realistic. In the "Streets" legends and Myths are born and surround individuals. And due to humans and our imaginations these legends seem larger than life until we see it happen for ourselves. 10 people that witness the same event will tell 10 different tales.

[@intravinylCB]

That was a damn good researched breakdown! Thanks for that

[@lamontejh]

I'm 57 years old born and raised in Harlem. I guarantee you brother mazzone is based on a real life person or group of people. That's one of the realest portrayals on the show.

[@tyanaichigovera7308]

And I think a prequel series based on Mouzone, Stringer, Prop Joe and Avon would work if done well with a dedicated work and cast to make it happen.

[@delectableprovisions]

It would be the most popular thing on tv

[@SantomPh]

Without the context of the current time, a prequel would be weak

[@SteadyRoosevelt]

I love how you called him McNutty like Bubbles called him in the show 😂

[@grandmasterstudent8786]

As you pointed out later in the segment, people like him do exist and is based on real life characters like everything else in the Wire.

[@andrewvachon1943]

Such a fascinating character and likely Omar’s only equal.

[@vastpiano5552]

Slim

[@keithmichael112]

being real and having a code gives you an almost mystical power in this show

[@Damianoutlaw]

Kenard

[@keithmichael112]

@@Damianoutlaw Kenard only got him because omar broke his word to Bunk, so he received a major debuff to his luck stat

[@JayJackson1981]

@@Damianoutlaw Kenard was a child, that's why Omar didn't pay him no attention. Huge flaw in an almost flawless man.

[@gregoryporch8395]

Brother Mouzone was my favorite character. True player's choice of clothing, every time he speaks he insults his opponent's intellingence or psyche, and he's more likely to pull out a gun and get straight to it than talk at all. I know he was Avon's NY connection but I wish we saw more of him in the later conflicts of the show.

[@ThokoXaba]

If you ever heard, “Bean pie, My Brother?” Or “Hello”, “Hell is low, My Brother!” then you understand the origins of a Brother Mouzone.

[@edmadison9573]

This was a great video. I would love to see more indepth breakdowns of more characters of this absolutely amazing show.

[@D00M3R-SK8]

Mozoun and Omar is the best team up. I'd have loved to see a spin off.

[@anthonysmith2760]

"He got more bodies on him than a Chinese graveyard.." -Prop Joe😂😂😂😂

[@YouCallThataKnife253]

Oh, I've met some Mouzone's in my life. Yes, they are very much like this. Very intelligent. Very serious. Take no shit

[@coolpapab]

I'm very picky when it comes to spinoffs to shows. Especially for a great show like The Wire. But I would absolutely LOVE a spinoff centering around Bro. Mouzone! Like Gustavo Fring from Breaking Bad, there is so much to this character.

[@HBROGUH]

Thank you for this video. It's so interesting to hear that you thought he was out of place until you studied the Nation of Islam. Such a good video

[@sapphiredavis966]

I would have definitely loved to see a spin off following brother mouzone

[@rustylocks4596]

With a crossover from Walking Dead! Call Mouzone vs. Machone.

[@Sickzerrrt]

Anyone who knows how the nation of Islam moved (especially when they speak on the 5%), he really isn't cartoonish. The moment I saw him, I knew he came to put in work and gets it done. This is definitely explaining for non black ppl.

[@blackmagickdancer2282]

Next to Bubbles and Michael, He was one of my favorites. And if you know...you know....these type of men don't need a back story lol...but here it is, something broke them, they went through a spiritual war within themselves, they won and now they can break you effectively.....if they so choose. 🤣

[@tiaboyd6416]

Hi I’m from Baltimore, Md where The Wire was created. Brother Mouzone was a real person and he was incarcerated for over 50 years before his passing just last year. Clarence Mouzone was his name and he was my Father in Law. He was the father of my husband. He was an amazing person and very educated, his son is the same. He also has a daughter and she to is a product of her father with being a principal of a high school here in Maryland. So yes he was a real person not fictional. Great Man!! ❤❤

[@jameseglavin4]

CR has had a few mentions of Arabic words and their interpretation, which to me shows either great research or a meaningful understanding of Arabic. Love getting educated my man, you smart as hell

[@bscarter100]

I’m from the hood been around a bunch of NOI brothers. Brother Mouzone is not the average FOI member. 🙄 Great analysis videos

[@businessman6104]

Right. Most FOI members don't have the reputation Brother Mouzone does. Clearly he was the best of the best not only in FOI but also in the streets.

[@JakeTheMuss10454]

I respect what they've done historically or at least tried to do. I also see where Malcom X & the NOI leader of that time went their seperate ways. Although their presence is felt even in a room full of SWAT & NYPD OR PPD IN A POLICE BALL THEIR PRESENCE IS FELT & EVEN FEARED. BUT THEIR VERY INTELLIGENT & VERY POLITE. Even the hardest thugz step to the side. As for Mouzune himself he's definately quick on the Draw & well at home in the streets beit Baltimore or Philly, DC or Compton but he's more from a NYC "todays" setting. He might be a little older than what he looks. Not 30 not early 40's but closer to 50. He probably lived in NJ Newark area. Travelled to NYC often definately spent time in NJ prison took a train ride to NYC eventually did time here also. Never looked back. His education isnt school based but he is More than GED prepared. Grew tired of school setting but not, education. May had come across some students from a nearby John Dewey system of education where exams werent part of the curriculum but took up self study seriously. Well Read in The Classics aspects of education but not impressed by it. He's aware of the falsehoods of Historians like Will Durant where Africans were viewed as the lesser to the European by the Greeks & so eventually the Romans but in fact it was the European who were viewed by Greeks as difficult & barbaric. Understood early on that the street code is a matter of life & death & life in prisonment is the same as death. Doesn't honor the double crossing aspect of the thug or gangster & maybe if GOOD reason would consider it. Some might view him as 5% but he's understands his intellect works above that of the 5%. He trusts his handlers in NYC & Vice a versa as to why he's sent to Baltimore? He's trusted within the inner circles. His reputation to exact the right measure of violence is respected & expected.

[@mitchelll3879]

This is partially true..the Africans have never been considered anything but non advanced, inferior..if Greeks thought anything about European countries was that they weren't as easy to plunder as African countries and slave traders

[@JakeTheMuss10454]

@@mitchelll3879 True but its also true that the Greeks viewed the Northern European as crude & under developed, but yeah made it hard to conquer & unforntunately easier to conquer the African the Greeks were an empire & had very lil interest in creating equals to their civilization the notion & interpretation of "Democracy" is still very much up for reinterpretation & application.

[@jacoboswald4726]

I usually save these vids for little moments of tedium, but I couldn’t help but check this one out pronto

[@lordbison]

Brother Mouzone was an Awesome Character!

[@chicosworld]

They were all around Chicago close to the Mosque on the south side.., as in most big cities.... selling final calls and bean pies 🔥🔥

[@afwaller]

Mouzone is not weird, he is just Nation of Islam

[@robertsmithlll8464]

The Italian Mafia didn’t want to go to War with the NOI that should tell y’all something about these brothas, there not to be fucked with plus they are hella deep 💯

[@justinbirrer3887]

Always thought he was a good contrast. Street life, language and such then add this intellectual enigma that’s just as lethal.👍

[@AaronLesterMedia]

Side note. The guy who played Brothers side kick was a man named Andre... I can't remember his last name. But HBO did a Mini Series called the Corner years ago based of the book. The story was based on Andre's family and his own battle with drug addiction in Baltimore. I know he and his father have passed on now i don't know about his mother. It's a great series if you haven't seen it yet you can find it on KZbin.

[@dogecoinbrothermouzone2500]

IM ALL FOR WIRE PREQUELS AVON BARKSDALE & BROTHER MOUZONE IN PARTICULAR 💯🤞🏿

[@johnbakker4828]

Fantastic analysis CR, loved it!

[@jonplukehughes2807]

Brother Mousone is , to me, the most fascinating character in all of television

[@anthonyhill1332]

I wonder how many fans of THE WIRE are actually from Baltimore! I remember when Lafayette highrises were still in existence and the NOI was the security before they were demolished(Lafayette were the first highrise projects to be demolished)

[@FATMAN1988]

U say you don't get or understand Brother but that's exactly how Muslims or 5percenter act their character, their demeanor the way they carry themselves

[@danyelbarnes9172]

This character is exactly how the Nation of Islam is represented in all American inner cities...

[@shannonpollard3964]

Brother Mouzone is the only man in a suit that scares me.

[@WilliamSmith-mz9qz]

I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago and based on my experience in the ghetto the Brother Mouzone character fit right in on the Wire.

[@Void7.4.14]

I feel like ya can only say that he seems out of place is if ya just don't know anything about the many different cultures within the US. It's not even that it's a NY vs Bmore thing either, it's just that he's a Black Muslim or NOI member. Plenty of em are also in the streets. It's about survival. And a lot of em are kinda odd lol

[@jimmartin2548]

Bruh a Wire prequel could totally work…yeah we might know Avon Stringer and Joe gonna be alive at the end…but it’s still all about the Game and shit you can end it like 5 years prior and that way it’s not much of a wonder what happened to em..there’s so much potential there Holy shit can somebody please get David Simon on the phone

[@thomasbrown3356]

Simon says he's not interested. He made the point that this scurge has gotten worse, nationwide and there's no more statements to make with a Wire continuation.

[@audiodramatist]

...a character that needed his own series spin-off; Like Spencer For Hire did with A Man Called Hawk.

[@Mister.P.]

If you don’t think the Nation is not in the game (as professional security, strong arming, connections to the drug trade), you need to do more research, respectfully. Brother was not a renegade. Even in the show, Avons NY connect is tied to Mouzone. Avon almost lost his connect to NY because of Stringer. Though, true, most of the NOI and FOI are strict followers of pacifism, there is also an arm that is paramilitary/protectionist. It’s no different than Italian, Asian, or our American government.

[@richjohnson8583]

I'm from Southside Chicago, and BELIEVE ME...Brother Mouzone is the REAL DEAL !!! You don't know about them because NO ONE MESSES with them in the streets, and they are WELL RESPECTED... You just don't know Street Dynamics. JUSSAYIN

[@Hum0ng0us]

I've never seen any of your other videos yet, but I've got to ask, are you doing a Baltimore accent for these videos or do you honestly have one? If not, it's a great touch!!

[@audiman7716]

As a former undercover narcotics detective and later sergeant in Baltimore, brother Mouzon isn’t that far fetched. I grew up in NY and guys like him do exist. Actually pretty cool dude. I used to pull up to them on North Ave and buy their bean pies. Bmore drug organizations have reached out as far as LA for help. And the name Mouzon has deep roots in Baltimore. They’re a huge family there

[@252Ron]

Officially my favorite The Wire character!

[@toneriggz]

Definitely Nation of Islam, probably makes a hell of a bean pie.

[@tyanaichigovera7308]

He's a damn good character

[@nadinerivers2384]

I loved Brother Mouzon, he was a force to reckoned with

[@jblassio]

It’s insane to me that Mouzone carries such a high rep in the street but is completely unknown to the police. Not once is he mentioned by the BPD or Homicide, yet the man had more bodies on him than a Chinese cemetery.

[@AMansWorldPodcast]

Great video👌🏽💯

[@MackeyDeez]

Men like Brother Mouzone are no different than a bright eyed rookie cop with good intentions. After years of seeing the worst of humanity and the corruption of superiors they become disillusioned with what they're doing and make the life altering decision to join what cannot be beaten.

[@karljjr]

I saw Brother Mozoune as a well-read well taught brother that found Islam which gave him discipline. Organized which his comment of dangerous Black man is one with a library card and how it resonates in today's world.

[@MattRotz-qe9fo]

Brother and Omar and the collision is more than brilliant 👏👏👏

[@kourtneyhanley]

His character makes sense becuase he's a hit man from New York rather than from baltimore and an assassin would likely move around looking out of place unless you wonder does he use the religious idea as a disguise