Ace is a young man in the Harlem ghetto working a dead-end job at a dry cleaning shop. His sister's boyfriend, Calvin, is a cocaine dealer who tries to lure Ace into the drug trade with promises of fast money and women. Ace resists Calvin's temptations. Likewise, Ace's close friend Mitch is a flashy, popular drug dealer who impresses Ace with his expensive automobiles and jewelry. While at work, Ace finds some cocaine in one of his customers’s pants. The customer, Lulu, is a cocaine supplier who lets Ace keep the cocaine. When Calvin gets arrested on drug charges, Ace runs into one of his customers and easily sells him the cocaine for $100. Impressed, Ace goes back to Lulu and gets more product to sell. Lulu has a top-quality supply of cocaine which Ace sells on the street at a cheap price, quickly luring away customers from other drug dealers. Ace starts wholesaling his product to other dealers in the neighborhood, believing everyone can make money and maintain. Meanwhile, Mitch is arrested for killing a stickup man who robbed one of his workers. When a fight breaks out between Mitch and another inmate, Mitch is aided by East Harlem inmate Rico who impresses Mitch by his ferocity and show of support. Mitch is able to beat his murder charge and both him and Rico join Ace's drug empire. The trio become wealthy, buying foreign cars, jewelry and expensive champagne. Ace stays behind the scenes, while Mitch returns to his lifestyle as a popular hustler. Rico is a ruthless enforcer who worries Ace with his overzealous, high-profile behavior. When Calvin is released from prison, Ace gives him a job overseeing his old drug spot, but Calvin feels dissatisfied with his marginal position. When Ace refuses to let Calvin run his old block, Calvin retaliates by attempting to rob Ace at his Aunt June's apartment, holding June and Dora hostage. When Ace is unable to open the safe, June and Dora are executed by Calvin as another associate shoots Ace in the head, leaving him for dead. Despite his wounds, Ace survives as his baby is born the same night. Feeling the physical and psychological effects of the shooting, Ace decides to quit the drug trade. Rico tries to assuage Ace's concerns by revealing that he killed Calvin to show potential enemies that the organization is strong. Ace strongly disagrees with Rico's decision. Mitch understands Ace's perspective that the drug game does not reciprocate any love or generosity. Mitch decides to stay in the drug game because he loves the hustle, comparing himself to professional basketball players that continue to chase glory despite having enough money to retire. Ace eventually decides to let Mitch and Rico take over in his place, vowing to introduce them to his drug supplier. While Ace is recovering, Mitch's kid brother Sonny is kidnapped for ransom. Mitch goes to Ace for help, as Ace provides him with enough cocaine to pay Sonny's ransom and allow Mitch and Rico resume business. When Mitch brings the cocaine to Rico, he kills Mitch and robs him. Ace eventually meets up with Rico to find out about Mitch. Rico lies to Ace about his whereabouts that night, not knowing that Mitch had told Ace they were going to meet upthe night of his death. Rico is a wasteman. Ace settles the issue by giving him the contact to a pair of undercover FBI agents Ace had spoken to and avoided previously. Rico is arrested and is last seen in custody giving up information on his out-of-town drug connections in Washington D.C. in order to avoid a 25-to-life sentence. He refuses to inform on anyone in Harlem, intending on reclaiming his position when he is eventually released from prison. Sonny's kidnapping and subsequent murder were orchestrated by his own uncle who resented Mitch for not providing him with money and for kicking him out of his family's apartment. Ace retreats from the criminal underworld and makes a new life for himself and his family using diamonds that he found in Lulu's apartment.
The film received generally mixed reviews from critics, but it has gained a strong cult following amongst Hip-Hop fans over the years. The movie gained 51% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 41 reviews. On metacritic the film gathered a score of 49% based on 16 reviews.
