<Tr> <Th> Language </Th> <Td> English </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $3,090,862 </Td> </Tr> <P> Paid in Full is a 2002 American crime drama film directed by Charles Stone III . It takes place in Harlem in the 1980s . The title of the film is taken from the 1987 album and 1987 song by Eric B. & Rakim . "Paid in Full" is based on three friends Azie "AZ" Faison, Rich Porter and Alpo Martinez and their professional criminal exploits . The characters Ace (Wood Harris), Mitch (Mekhi Phifer) and Rico (Cam'ron), respectively, are based on these three drug dealers . </P> <P> Ace (Wood Harris) is a young man from Harlem stuck in a dead end job at a dry cleaning shop . His sister's boyfriend, Calvin (Kevin Carroll), is a local cocaine dealer who tries to lure Ace into the drug trade with promises of fast money and women . Ace resists Calvin's temptations, not caring for his unsophisticated ways . Likewise, Ace's close friend Mitch (Mekhi Phifer) is a flashy, popular drug dealer who exposes Ace to drug dealing lifestyle . When Calvin gets arrested on drug charges, Ace ends up filling his position on the street . This happens after Ace starts getting cocaine from Lulu, one of the customers at the dry cleaners shop . 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 operates on the mantra that there is plenty of money to go around and that everyone can "live and maintain ." While Ace is building up his drug operation, 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 (Cam'ron) who impresses Mitch by his ferocity and show of solidarity . </P>

When did the movie paid in full come out