Urban Legends: Alpo and Rich

Azie "AZ" Fasion "Alpo" and Rich Porter are urban legends in New York. AZ wrote a story based on their lives and “Roc-A-Fella” films licensed the rights and brought the story to the screen, titled, “Paid In Full,” which was released in 2002 starring Mekhi Phifer and Wood Harris. These teenagers, (16 and 17 years old) ran the most sophisticated drug ring on the East Coast in the 1980’s. They were major players in the New York drug trade. They were the first drug crew in the United States to use beepers to communicate and at the tender age of 17, Alpo became the first black man in this country to own a Lamborghini sports car. Meanwhile, AZ and Rich housed their luxury cars (Porsches, Mercedes’, BMW’s and Ferrari’s) in a big warehouse in New York City. This trio was flamboyant and ruthless and made millions of dollars but their lifestyle would lead to kidnapping, betrayal and death. Rich Porter’s little brother was kidnapped by a biological uncle and held for ransom. The uncle cut off his nephew’s finger to show he meant business. The uncle would eventually have the boy killed. AZ got shot several times by a disgruntled street soldier but he would survive. Rich Porter would be double crossed and killed, allegedly by crew member Alpo, who is now serving time in prison. A documentary of this story is also available, “Game Over.”