Tariq

Fictional aspiring rapper from real rapper Prince Paul's 1999 album, A Prince Among Thieves.

This concept album of 35 tracks and 77 minutes, features Tariq (played by real rapper Breezly Brewin of the hip-hop group Juggaknots) turning to drug dealing to get money to record a demo tape Before he can meet with Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA. A desperate Tariq skips work at his low-paying job and turns to his friend True, played by emcee Big Sha, who instead of loaning him the money, introduces him to drug dealing. The two make their way through the drug world, a police ambush, jail, and, finally, a deadly showdown. It ends badly for him.

The album features cameos by big name real life hip hop artists like Kool Keith, Big Daddy Kane, Chubb Rock, Biz Markie, De La Soul, Everlast, Sadat X, Xzibit, Kid Creole, Special Ed, Chris Rock, RZA and Buckshot. Prince Paul even tried to get Vanilla Ice to appear on the album but was turned down. Prince Paul helped De La Soul make their first couple albums.

A music video trailer was made Although conceived as a story that would be filmed, a movie never came about.