LaVita Raynor in Belly (1998)

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Review

Famed music-video maven Hype Williams made his directorial debut with the urban gangster drama Belly (1998), co-scripted by rapper Nas. Nas and fellow hip-hop star DMX take the lead in a gritty, violent tale of dealers in Queens who’ve been eyeing a move to Manhattan. As the pressures of gang life grow, the two friends find their allegiances pulled in separate directions; Tommy Boy (DMX) favors a return to his African roots, while Sincere (Nas) is swayed by the words of Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan. Despite their differences, however, the two friends can happily agree on one thing—life affords few pleasures more satisfying than women. When it’s Taral Hicks and LaVita Raynor clamoring for more, the drugs and god talk can happily wait.