Can you help me understand "Da Hood"?

I don't get it, I mean in this decade what is this delusion where this so called "gangsta life" is ok to be a part of? Specially when African American people act as if that is the only way they have to survive, What a joke. I'm getting sick of seeing "City kids" act like this garbage is Ok. Like this is the way of life, where in the hell does this sound like a good idea? I personally blame the sudden explosion of hip-hop/rap, it's like some sort of diluted cult.