I'm trying to help you to avoid making a decision that is going to affect and most probably ruin the rest of your life. Just because you feel suffocated by life, and feel as if you have no real future doesn't mean it's true. Life is difficult, and it never really gets any easier, but there is so much that you will miss out on by joining a gang. It will close so many doors for you later on (If you have a later on) that may never reopen.
Your friend may be a good friend, but he is bringing you down whether you can see that or not.
You might be having trouble with your family, but family is the only thing that is a certainty. You'll never get that level of love and commitment from a gang. Even though they yell when you aren't doing what you should it's because they still care about you, and see that you have more potential in life than you might think.
Take this situation:
Your on the street with your mom (Or brothers/sisters) and a few of your friends in the gang. Another car drives up slowly, and starts spraying gunfire in your direction. Who do you think is going to grab your hand, pulling you to safety behind a car? Your family member or the gang member? which is the one that will duck, saving their own butt? I'll tell you from my experience in life that it's going to be your family. The Gang might cover for you with the police, and lie for you when needed, but they don't truly have your back. On the streets it's you or them, and given a choice in a desperate situation, it's every man for himself.
Think about this mental image: Ever watch the TV show "Cops?" (Or others like it) When a kid gets arrested at home, you'll see the camera panning around and all his friends are yelling from the front porch or from a doorway, but the kids mom or sister are the ones that dive onto the hood of the police cruiser.
Listen to your family, and talk to them if you need to and if you can't talk to them, find a good hearted teacher at school (I know that sounds dumb, but you'd be amazed at how much help people are willing to give when you are willing to ask for it.)
You are your own person, and I can't tell you what to do, but I want you to recognize that I'm not just typing because I like to hear myself talk (so to speak), but I am pleading for your life, and what it could be.
I am deeply pained by what I see you putting on the screen.
is that while life can be cheap, sometimes help comes in a way or from a place we least expect it. 
Make a decision you can live with and will let you grow up and grow old.
