Nicky Barnes was the most powerful black drug kingpin in New York City history. A brilliant organizer who combined boardroom strategy with street-level tactics, Barnes became a stunning success and a bone fide folk hero above 110th Street. From humble beginnings he came to dominate the heroin distribution business and make himself and his comrades rich beyond their wildest dreams.

Trusted and trained by the Italians, he set up his own black crime family--The Council--a formidable drug collective. The chronichle presents the testimony of Nicky Barnes himself, who has broken the street code and his 23-year silence to tell all in this epic American dream story. Also interviewed are former members of The Council and others in the Barnes drug Collective. The epic provides an inside look at the heroin business from the Kingpin at the top, to the dealer and user on the street.

Directed by
Marc Levin

Cast
Leroy 'Nicky' Barnes - Himself
Thelma Grant - Herself
Carol Hawkins-Williams - Herself
Joseph Jazz Hayden - Himself
Leon Scrap Batts - Himself

Production Co.
Blowback Productions Inc
Damon Dash Enterprises
HDNet Films

Produced by
Will Albright
Daphne Pinkerson
Mark Cuban
Mary-Jane Robinson
Todd Wagner
Emir Lewis
Alex Gibney
Jason Kliot
Joana Vicente

Studio
Magnolia Pictures

Music
John McCullough