If you like hip hop gangster life, east coast and west coast style, then 1998’s “Belly” now on Blu-ray Disc and “Belly 2: Millionaire Boyz Club” are the films for you.
These are hardcore gangster films that are not far from the truth of the streets. Drugs, thugs and money add up to murder and mayhem.
“Belly 2: Millionaire Boyz Club” inspired by a true story stars The Game (“Street Kings,” “Waist Deep”) as “G,” a young man who spent 8 years in prison, deep in his heart he wants to be free of a life of crime. But like most ex-cons, change isn’t about to come easy. And the life he’s more familiar with beckons him, and he embraces the opportunity to flex his hate, anger and muscle.
Hooking up with an old friend they wreak havoc; steal, kill and deal…drugs that is. Shootouts in the streets and taking innocent lives in the crossfire makes them no difference, needlessly to say, they are not likable people.
With the law breathing down on him, he falls in love with a beautiful undercover cop, former model Shari Headley (“Coming to America”), and against her better judgments she falls for him too. There relationship shows a softer side G, but even love can’t change the life he’s cut out for himself. 
Love has a way of complicating matters, and with the law, mob and street thugs ready to take G down, he has only one way out and it ain’t pretty. 
The Game fans may get a kick out of this movie, but it’s dark, really dark.
East Coast, West Coast gangster life is all the same. 
In 1998 hip hop fans were introduced to the talents of DMX (“Cradle to the Grave,” “Romeo Must Die”) and Nas (Ticker). Now on Blu-ray Disc, this high powered ‘hood-flick’ makes you whence at the harsh reality of the east coast streets.
Tommy Brown and his friend, Sincere, are gangsters who have learned how to make a good living by dealing drugs and pulling armed robberies.
Tommy and Sincere have been able to move out of the ghetto in Queens where they were raised and relocate to an upscale section of Manhattan; they would seem to have it made, but both realize that their lives are headed toward a dead end. 
What makes this flick interesting is how these thugs try to change their lives around. But can you ever truly leave your past, especially a very violent one.
Belly also stars Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins (“House Party 3”), Method Man (“How High”), and Taral Hicks (“The Salon”).
The “Belly” Blu-ray features a never seen before deleted scene, spoken word poetry, and a music video. 
Both “Belly” and “Belly 2: Millionaire” are now available DVD.
- Gail Choice gcprods@aol.com.