It doesn’t seem like trust is a big part of the drug trade, especially when you factor in the money and the influence it can buy. Paid in Full is the kind of movie that shows the flash, the hustle, and the power that such money can bring, but it also shows the unrelenting problems that can come from such a life and the constant paranoia that has to emerge in order to keep a person alive and on their toes just in case someone comes calling, wanting more than what they were promised. Some might say that such movies glorify the lives of drug dealers and show kids and adolescents the upsides, but honestly it shows the downsides as well, no matter how much of it is drama and not entirely real. How real it can get however is the real horrifying part since those of that aren’t touched by the drug trade can only sit back and listen to the stories.
Let’s see what happened to the cast of the movie.
Regina Hall
Regina has had a long and very full career at this point as she’s probably known better for the spoof movies she’s helped to create than anything. The Scary Movie series has kind of made her a big star, though she’s had plenty of other projects that have shown her range and versatility. From TV to movies Regina has been a favored actress among many people, showing that she can go nuts on screen and still be quite serious and even enjoyable.
Kevin Carroll
Kevin has certainly had a long and prosperous career since he’s been one of the many dramatic actors that has managed to find a place in many different projects that have allowed him to show his range and his skills in equal measures. At this point it doesn’t seem as though he has anything in the works, but seeing how busy he’s been throughout the years it’s easy enough to understand that he might feel the need for short break.
Damon Dash
Dash has not had the brightest of times following the film since it seems as though he’s been embroiled in one lawsuit or another and has had to really hustle to remain relevant. At this point many people still know who he is but his notoriety seems to come with a price tag now and again since it would seem that as well as he’s done for himself there’s almost always something cropping up.
Mekhi Phifer
Mekhi is a nice surprise to see in a movie or on a TV show whenever he appears. He’s usually a pretty serious individual when he shows up, as he was in 8 Mile and the remake of Dawn of the Dead. He does have lighter side to him and lets it out pretty frequently it seems though, interspersing his humorous side with his dramatic roles. But since the movie there’s no disputing that he’s had a successful career.
Wood Harris
Wood Harris doesn’t seem to age since he doesn’t look too different than he did when he filmed Remember the Titans. His career has been going very well since Paid in Full and has seen him kind of step into the spotlight and then fade back out of it. Roles in movies such as Above the Rim have rendered him all but invisible despite being front and center as the enforcer that handled the business for his boss, but despite that he’s been a well-known and well-respected actor for years now.
Cam’ron
Cam’ron’s career seems to have been stable enough since the movie but he did suffer a shooting in 2005 that seemingly came out of nowhere and left him wounded but still capable enough to drive as he made his getaway. With the number of supposed feuds he’s had with other rappers it almost seems as though something might have come back to bite him in the rear, but it’s hard to tell without any solid evidence. In any case he’s still around and it’s still evident that he’s doing well enough to be called something of a success.
The movie definitely shows the glitz and glam of the drug dealer lifestyle, but it also shows just how trust is not a huge commodity among those that engage in such a lifestyle. The arguments that fly around, levied by those that admire the money and power that comes from the life, is easily countered by the downsides that come along, such as the lack of trust, the constant paranoia about who might turn on you, and the unrelenting fear that at any moment someone might try to take what’s yours simply because they think they deserve it. There’s no security in the drug business, only quick money and a quicker death if a person is caught slipping.
