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Metascore
49 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critics What's this?

User Score
9.6 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 20 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Chi McBride, Mekhi Phifer, Wood Harris
  • Summary: Amidst the 1980s drug scene in Harlem, a young native (Harris) builds an illegal empire only to have a crisis of conscience.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 16
  3. Negative: 4 out of 16
  1. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Wilmington
    75
    It's good, hard-edged stuff, violent and a bit exploitative but also nicely done, morally alert and street-smart.
  2. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    60
    A vivid telling of a familiar story -- the rise and fall of a street criminal -- bolstered by exceptional performances and a clear-eyed take on the economics of dealing and the pathology of ghetto fabulousness.
  3. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ernest Hardy
    30
    Lazily directed by Charles Stone III (the man behind Budweiser's "Whassup?!" campaign) from a leaden script by Matthew Cirulnick and novelist Thulani Davis.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. ChrisJ.
    10
    Excellent movie.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. erasmoe
    10
    This movie made me buy the game over documentary as soon as i saw it. This movie was off the hook. Im even trying to get the f.e.d.s. mag. 1st issue who has alpo on the fron cover and says he's side of the story. hot movie.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 13 User Reviews

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