Brucie B

Some DJs, like Jazzy Jay, made the transition from party to studio, from cutting up names to making beats. Others remained local, like Brucie B, who thrived solely off his mixtape legend, "World Famous" across blocks and boroughs. Brucie's patented treble yell opens "Paid In Full," a Hollywood take on the story of Harlem crack dealers Rich Porter, Alpo, and AZ, all of whom attended Brucie B parties at Harlem Rooftop in the mid- to late '80s. Playing Dennis Edwards the break used for Eric B. & Rakim's "Paid In Full" Brucie was "servin' it nice and easy," R&B for hustlers, alternating between "Don't Look Any Further" and Fresh 3 M.C.'s. Brucie B also foreshadowed a mixtape standard, the shout-out, now both curse and commodity. Dame Dash came home from a Rooftop party an extra $20 lighter, just to get named-dropped by Brucie B. The price of the tape itself became the cost of recognition. The music in this case "Friends" by Whodini was there to make everybody look good.