The Empire State Army was originally known as the Bronxwood Boys, a small gang that controlled a few blocks of territory in the Wakefield neighborhood of the Bronx between Bronxwood Avenue and White Plains Road from East 233rd Street to East 236th Street. Back when it was known as such, the group amounted to very little. They fought turf wars with similar small-time gangs, and were non-players in the politics of The Bronx.