The Egyptian Cobras can be viewed as the oldest living Chicago street gang, although the group has undergone several identities since their inception. The gang originated on Chicago's west side in about 1954 in an area known as "Jew Town", near the business intersection of W Roosevelt Rd. and S Maxwell St. Shortly after the Cobras emerged, members moved to the Lawndale community and set up operations there. The gang began as a "humbugging" (brawling) club in the west side slums. Their initial enemy was the Clovers, who were based in the "K-Town" section of the west side, near the intersection of W 16th Street and S Pulaski Ave. The Clovers were a major force on the west side, however they were an aging gang. The gang more than likely had been in existence since the 1940s. The Clovers were challenged fiercely by the Egyptian Cobras and were eventually forced into retirement by them. The gang also fought other aging gangs in the Lawndale community, such as the Imperial Chaplains and El Commandoes. However, in the late 50s, a new enemy would present a vital threat to the Egyptian Cobras: the Vice Lords. The Vice Lords set up operations in Lawndale in 1958, and based their main operation on the corner of W 16th Street and S Lawndale Ave. The gangs fought a vicious war for the Lawndale community, with the Vice Lords eventually gaining significant territory east of Pulaski Ave. The Cobras were a particular stylish gang, wearing sweaters, capes, and "cloth" wrapped around their heads, styled after the headwear of the ancient Egyptians. The gang was also particularly violent, and were one of the first gangs to regularly employ the use of firearms -in addition to zip-guns, pipes, bats, chains, and other traditional weapons- in gang warfare.

It is unclear who founded the Egyptian Cobras, but we know that by the late 50s, an individual known as "Crazy Horse" was the reputed leader of the Lawndale Egyptian Cobras. During the early 60s, the Cobras set up operations on the city's south side. This faction of Egyptian Cobras would fall under the leadership of James "Pony" Cogwell. This an important notation, for Pony was the uncle of future Cobra leader, and Chicago gangland legend, Henry "Mickey Cobb" Cogwell. Despite an early reputation of violence and brawling, the Egyptian Cobras began to decline in operation dramatically on the west side by the mid 60s. This is primarily due to the growth of and challenging by the Vice Lords, who had established many branches and factions, absorbing and aligning with rivals of the Egyptian Cobras. Nevertheless, the Cobras still presented enough of a presence for private founders to donate money to the gang, which was used to open a carwash and gas station in Lawndale.

Meanwhile, on the south side, the gang was thriving in area of the city known as the "blackbelt", in the Robert Taylor Homes projects, along with sets in the Oakenwood-Kenwood, and Bronzeville neighborhoods. Under Pony Cogwell, the gang grew at a sufficient pace, taking on many rivals and even engaging in narcotics sells. Another gang, titled the King Cobras operated in the Oakenwald-Kenwood community, exercising a presence in the Lakefront Homes. The gang had recently gained a reputation by eliminating the Deacons presence in those particular high rise housing projects. At a meeting, the King Cobras agreed to merge with the south side Egyptian Cobras, as both organization adopted the moniker Egyptian King Cobras. The entire "Cobra Nation" fell under the leadership of Cogwell's nephew Mickey in about 1963. Mickey had an incredible charisma and leadership qualities that would allow the Cobras to flourish and gain political connections throughout the city. During the same period, Jeff Fort and Eugene Hairston's Blackstone Rangers street gang was growing in notoriety.

In 1964, Fort made a proposal to Cogwell- an alliance. Cogwell accepted and transformed his gang to the Cobra Stones, falling under the umbrella of the Almighty (or Mighty) Black P-Stone Rangers Nation. This would signal a new identity, beginning, and evolution for the Cobras. For information pertaining the Cobras, post P-Stone merger, view the Mickey Cobras page at the CHI-MOBS website.

former sets (as Egyptian Cobras):