Paid in Full is making its way from cult-classic film to television screens, and this time, 50 Cent is behind the wheel.
The rapper-turned-mogul announced on Instagram that he has officially acquired the rights to the 2002 Harlem crime drama and is developing it into a premium TV series. True to his formula, 50 is tapping one of the original stars, Cam’ron, as an executive producer.
“I now have the rights to PAID IN FULL, I’m developing it into a premium TV show. If you like Godfather of Harlem, you’re gonna love this. Cam set to executive produce alongside me. If you want in get at him—I’m out of the country,” 50 wrote.
Released in 2002 through Roc-A-Fella Films and Dimension Films, Paid in Full starred Wood Harris, Mekhi Phifer, and a young Cam’ron. Directed by Charles Stone III, the film dramatized the lives of Harlem legends Azie Faison, Rich Porter, and Alberto “Alpo” Martinez.
Though not a box office hit at the time, Paid in Full became a cultural staple. Its gritty depiction of loyalty, greed, and betrayal in the drug trade made it a go-to reference in hip-hop lyrics, conversations about hustler cinema, and Harlem’s cultural storytelling.
For Dame Dash, who produced the film under Roc-A-Fella Films, it was proof of his ability to move beyond music and into Hollywood. Now, over two decades later, 50 Cent is reimagining the story for television, leaving Dame on the sidelines as his former friend Cam’ron join forces.
For 50, this move fits a proven playbook. With Power, Power Book II, and BMF, he’s shown he knows how to transform gritty street tales into mainstream success. Adding Paid in Full to his TV empire is less a risk and more a natural continuation of his brand, bridging hip-hop authenticity with cinematic storytelling.
And having Cam’ron involved only adds to the buzz. Once part of Roc-A-Fella’s roster, Cam had a fallout with Dash years ago. Now, his role as executive producer on this new adaptation underscores just how much the Harlem story has evolved, and who gets to tell it.
