Watts has the most public housing west of the Mississippi and one of the highest crime rates in L.A. But more resources have been slowly making their way into the community.
Charter schools have opened their doors and City Hall recently approved a $1 billion redevelopment effort to turn the Jordan Downs housing project into mixed income apartments and retail spaces.
But Watts is still in the early stages of change. KPCC visual journalists Mae Ryan and Grant Slater followed two young musicians in Watts who took advantage of some of the resources in the community and now are trying to get out.
(For more on this story — and to hear some of their music — click over to KPCC's AudioVision blog.)
Warning: This video contains strong language and drug use.