In this drama enriched by parallels to Jackson’s own life, Marcus (Jackson) has always known he was going to be a rapper, but when his mother is murdered, he turns to dealing -- hustling drugs pays the rent. Only his grandmother (Viola Davis), girlfriend Charlene (Joy Bryant), and violent-but-loyal friend Bama (Terrence Howard) keep him grounded as his world spirals out of control. As Marcus applies the same manic intensity to his writing as he does to dealing, he finds that writing down his words helps him to stay sane. For years, he endures this living hell until a tragedy that nearly kills him forces Marcus to change his life.
