Azie Faison Jr. (born November 10, 1964), sometimes known by the nickname AZ, is an American former drug dealer and businessman from Harlem, New York City.[1] He attained notoriety during the War on Drugs era as an individual drug dealer during the 1980s. His five-year reign as crime boss ended in 1989.[1]
Azie Faison
Born
Aziel Faison Jr.
(1964-11-10) November 10, 1964 (age 58)
New York City, U.S.
Other names
AZ
Ace
Occupations
Drug dealer
rapper
entrepreneur
Children
5
Born in New York City, Faison turned from selling drugs to advising youth in impoverished neighborhoods to avoid the lures of drug trafficking. Faison formed the hip-hop group MobStyle, where he released an album as a member in the 1990s, as well as a solo release. He has also been subject to various dramatic portrayals, with his legacy serving as inspiration for rap songs, documentaries, books, and movies, notably the 2002 film Paid in Full.
Faison was born one of seven children in New York City on November 10, 1964[1] to Margaret Rogers and Azie Faison Sr.[citation needed] He lived with his single mother and six siblings in the Bronx neighborhood until 1970, where, at age six, a fire destroyed their tenement. After staying in a shelter for six months, Faison's family were then forced to relocate to the Sugar Hill neighborhood in Harlem. Faison, who struggled academically, dropped out of high school following ninth grade and worked at several odd jobs around Harlem, including a two-year stint at a local dry cleaners.[1]
Career
After attending a screening of the 1983 film Scarface, Faison was influenced to enter the drug trade, and later that year, established a working relationship with a local Dominican supplier, who would frequently go to the dry cleaners. By the time he turned 21, Faison would transition into becoming the cocaine wholesaler in Harlem, reportedly earning $40,000 a week or more. He would eventually expand operations until 1990, and became one of the most notable distributors during the War on Drugs era in the United States. During this, he would become re-introduced to Rich Porter, a childhood friend who lived in the neighborhood prior to serving a sentence in prison. After his release, Porter would introduce Alpo Martinez to Faison, and the trio worked to expand operations in order to rise and become the largest distributors of cocaine in the state of New York.
However, Faison's downfall began in 1987. In the early morning hours of August 21, 1987, Faison was the victim of attempted murder after a robbery went awry at his aunt's house (which served as one of his stash houses) at 1295 Grand Concourse the Morrisania section of the Bronx which left three people dead and three others seriously injured.[1][2] Faison was shot a total of nine times in the robbery attempt,[1] and caused the drug network to falter as he aimed to recover from his injuries. This caused severe strains in the relationship between Faison, Porter, and Martinez, with the latter eventually murdering Porter in 1990, and while later being arrested and convicted for a plethora of charges in 1991.
Retirement and later life/career
After Porter's death, Faison effectively retired from drug dealing, and adopted a mission to steer youth away from the lure of drugs. In 1989, he formed a rap group called MobStyle, which then transitioned into a conscious hip-hop group. They released an album in 1991, while Faison also released a solo album. Faison also aimed to extend his outreach through television and media, eventually working on an autobiographical movie. The movie, titled Paid in Full, was released in 2002, with Faison being portrayed by Wood Harris.
Faison also collaborated with street documentarian Troy Reed, in order to produce documentary about his life called Game Over,[3] while also working with Agyei Tyehimba in order to write Game Over: The Rise and Transformation of a Harlem Hustler.[4] The documentary and book were both released in 2007, and the latter was discussed at the Harlem Book Fair later that year, on a panel which featured co-author Tyehimba, and Congressman Charles Rangel.[5] The discussion was broadcast live by C-SPAN's Book TV.[6]
References
^ abcdef"Azie Faison on the Life & Death of Alpo, Rich Porter & the Real Paid in Full Story (Full Interview)". VLADTV. January 21, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
^"3 Slain, 3 Hurt in Drug-Tied Robbery". New York Times. August 22, 1987. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
^"Memoirs and Remembrances". C-SPAN. July 21, 2007. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
January 06, 2023
azie, faison, born, november, 1964, sometimes, known, nickname, american, former, drug, dealer, businessman, from, harlem, york, city, attained, notoriety, during, drugs, individual, drug, dealer, during, 1980s, five, year, reign, crime, boss, ended, 1989, bor. Azie Faison Jr born November 10 1964 sometimes known by the nickname AZ is an American former drug dealer and businessman from Harlem New York City 1 He attained notoriety during the War on Drugs era as an individual drug dealer during the 1980s His five year reign as crime boss ended in 1989 1 Azie FaisonBornAziel Faison Jr 1964 11 10 November 10 1964 age 58 New York City U S Other namesAZAceOccupationsDrug dealerrapperentrepreneurChildren5Born in New York City Faison turned from selling drugs to advising youth in impoverished neighborhoods to avoid the lures of drug trafficking Faison formed the hip hop group MobStyle where he released an album as a member in the 1990s as well as a solo release He has also been subject to various dramatic portrayals with his legacy serving as inspiration for rap songs documentaries books and movies notably the 2002 film Paid in Full Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Career 1 3 Retirement and later life career 2 ReferencesBiography EditEarly life Edit Faison was born one of seven children in New York City on November 10 1964 1 to Margaret Rogers and Azie Faison Sr citation needed He lived with his single mother and six siblings in the Bronx neighborhood until 1970 where at age six a fire destroyed their tenement After staying in a shelter for six months Faison s family were then forced to relocate to the Sugar Hill neighborhood in Harlem Faison who struggled academically dropped out of high school following ninth grade and worked at several odd jobs around Harlem including a two year stint at a local dry cleaners 1 Career Edit After attending a screening of the 1983 film Scarface Faison was influenced to enter the drug trade and later that year established a working relationship with a local Dominican supplier who would frequently go to the dry cleaners By the time he turned 21 Faison would transition into becoming the cocaine wholesaler in Harlem reportedly earning 40 000 a week or more He would eventually expand operations until 1990 and became one of the most notable distributors during the War on Drugs era in the United States During this he would become re introduced to Rich Porter a childhood friend who lived in the neighborhood prior to serving a sentence in prison After his release Porter would introduce Alpo Martinez to Faison and the trio worked to expand operations in order to rise and become the largest distributors of cocaine in the state of New York However Faison s downfall began in 1987 In the early morning hours of August 21 1987 Faison was the victim of attempted murder after a robbery went awry at his aunt s house which served as one of his stash houses at 1295 Grand Concourse the Morrisania section of the Bronx which left three people dead and three others seriously injured 1 2 Faison was shot a total of nine times in the robbery attempt 1 and caused the drug network to falter as he aimed to recover from his injuries This caused severe strains in the relationship between Faison Porter and Martinez with the latter eventually murdering Porter in 1990 and while later being arrested and convicted for a plethora of charges in 1991 Retirement and later life career Edit After Porter s death Faison effectively retired from drug dealing and adopted a mission to steer youth away from the lure of drugs In 1989 he formed a rap group called MobStyle which then transitioned into a conscious hip hop group They released an album in 1991 while Faison also released a solo album Faison also aimed to extend his outreach through television and media eventually working on an autobiographical movie The movie titled Paid in Full was released in 2002 with Faison being portrayed by Wood Harris Faison also collaborated with street documentarian Troy Reed in order to produce documentary about his life called Game Over 3 while also working with Agyei Tyehimba in order to write Game Over The Rise and Transformation of a Harlem Hustler 4 The documentary and book were both released in 2007 and the latter was discussed at the Harlem Book Fair later that year on a panel which featured co author Tyehimba and Congressman Charles Rangel 5 The discussion was broadcast live by C SPAN s Book TV 6 References Edit a b c d e f Azie Faison on the Life amp Death of Alpo Rich Porter amp the Real Paid in Full Story Full Interview VLADTV January 21 2022 Retrieved December 10 2022 3 Slain 3 Hurt in Drug Tied Robbery New York Times August 22 1987 Retrieved May 10 2018 Game Over Game Over Simon amp Schuster dead link Agyei Tyehimba bio Archived October 17 2007 at the Wayback Machine Memoirs and Remembrances C SPAN July 21 2007 Retrieved April 6 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Azie Faison amp oldid 1128997115, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
