Years later, after he reunites with his childhood sweetheart (Joy Bryant), he is thrown in jail. During his time in prison, he befriends a fellow inmate named Bama (Terrence Howard). Marcus decides to leave the drug trade behind in order to pursue and eventually fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a rap-star and entertainer, calling himself Young Caesar, after the Roman conqueror himself, with Bama as his manager and producer.
Unfortunately, he and his drug crew end up robbing a local shop, and Majestic doesn't want to let him go, resulting in a tragedy that might have destroyed his life forever. Marcus is gunned down outside of his family's home by his associate Justice (Tory Kittles), who secretly works for Majestic, posing as Marcus' friend just to obtain information and report back to Majestic. The shooting leads Marcus to rethink his life and put his priorities in order, including that of his young child. Angered that he failed to kill Marcus, Majestic brutally murders Justice with a sword cane. Shortly after, Marcus meets with Levar, who remorsefully reveals