Thicker Than Water (1999)

Starring:

• Mack 10
• Fat Joe
• Ice Cube

IMDB.com
In Los Angeles, two rival gang leaders are also trying to be music producers. When DJ's equipment shorts out and Lonzo is cut out of the action by a record producer, the two join forces, which also requires a tentative peace between gangs. With backing from Gator, a smooth New Orleans drug king, DJ and Lonzo start dealing, organizing their gangs into pushers. Just as their finances are looking up, one of Gator's team pulls a double cross and two of DJ and Lonzo's gang bangers start a shooting war. Can the erstwhile music producers salvage anything of their bond or their plans?

I was highly impressed by the interesting and realistic storyline. This is a small budget film. However, it gives no indication of budget constraints. In fact, not many high budget urban drama films are as well done as this pièce de résistance. The writers and screenwriters seem to have created a film that moves effortlessly from attention grabbing cinematic dialog to gritty and realistic action with equal aplomb. I am very impressed with this film by Mack 10 who is also a very impressive rapper.

Thug Life (2001)

Starring:

• Thomas Miles
• Gregory O.
• Stewart, Napolean

IMDB.com
A young man trying to grow up straight in a crime-ridden neighborhood finds himself on the run after a friend accidentally lures him into a trap in this hard-edged urban drama. Boo (Thomas Miles) grew up in a rough section of Houston, TX, where many see crime as their only way out. Boo is determined to leave the street life behind and build an honest career for himself as a plumber, but his longtime friend Mecca (Gregory O. Stewart) talks Boo into helping him out as he tries to sell a stolen vehicle. Things don't go as planned, and when shots ring out, Boo and Mecca discover they've been framed for the murder of a gang leader and have to get out of Houston at once if they are to stand any chance of surviving the night. Thug Life also features noted hip-hop and reggae artists Vybz Kartel, Willie D., The Lady of Rage, and Napoleon.

When looking back, I start to realize how good this movie was. When I first started watching this movie, it came to the scene when Boo was fighting the four guys in the street and did an awesome array of kung fu moves that closely resembled Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. His fighting style was excellent, you can see that Boo the character is a sixth degree black belt, from his laser sharp punches, to his lighting fast kicks that could knock out a full grown hyena, not to forget his super human jumping ability from the help of a trampoline! The plot was a little hard at first because I got lost from time to time, but the acting and the fighting scenes pulled me back into it. I loved the gun scene when they killed the leaders brother, which by the way, the gun had no trigger and the knife seemed not to cut the throat of the victim. The sound and picture of the movie was not that great but why criticize when you can point out the positive aspects, like the way Mecca did an unbelievable kick to the kingpin leader. Sometimes I couldn't hear the people talking and sometimes that camera angles were positioned weird but again don't make fun just go with the punches like Boo!Again, the movie was not that great but I do recommend this movie to everyone to watch

Murda Muzik (2004)

Starring:

• Big Noyd
• Havoc
• Prodigy

IMDB.com
This movie is the story of Fresh (Big Noyd), a street kid with connections inside the music industry. When his friend (G.O.D. III of Infamous Mobb) comes home from jail with musical aspirations instead of returning to the life of crime, Fresh must choose between lyrics and larceny...With the help of mutual friends and Queensbridge neighbors, Mobb Deep, who play themselves, they seem to have a path laid for them in the music industry that will get them off the streets for good. But Fresh finds that walking away from the streets is not that simple....A very decent straight to video release, Mobb Deep only appear in spurts, as Prodigy produced and wrote the screenplay. Director Lawrence Page has a hilarious cameo as a rival drug dealer.