Damon Dash is looking for talent in Newark.
Dash, who co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records with Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke, has produced a series of films since the early 2000s.
Now he’s holding local auditions for two of his upcoming movies, both sequels to his previous films.
Dash’s production company, Dame Dash Studios, is casting for “Paid in Full 2″ and “Honor Up 2.”
“Paid in Full” (2002), directed by Charles Stone III (”Drumline”), stars Mekhi Phifer (Mitch), Wood Harris (Ace) and Cam’ron (Rico) as three friends living large in the drug trade in 1986 Harlem.
The story, which takes its title from the 1987 Eric B. & Rakim song and album of the same name, was inspired by the real lives of Harlem drug dealers Alberto “Alpo” Martinez, Azie “AZ” Faison and Rich Porter.
Damon Dash in August. The hip-hop mogul and film producer is casting for his films in Newark.Paras Griffin | Getty Images
The film, distributed by Miramax, became a favorite of Dash’s oeuvre — it wasn’t a box office smash but it became a cult classic. Dash, 51, produced the movie through Roc-A-Fella; co-producers included Jay-Z, Brett Ratner and Faison.
“Paid in Full” co-starred Regina Hall, Kevin Carroll (”The Leftovers”), Emmy winner Ron Cephas Jones from Paterson, Esai Morales (”Titans”), Chi McBride (”Pushing Daisies”) and Elise Neal (”Hustle & Flow”).
Dame Dash Studios will hold auditions from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at Newark Symphony Hall (1020 Broad St.) in partnership with the Newark International Film Festival (which is in progress and running through Sept. 11). Actors are asked to bring a photo.
Dash previously told AllHipHop that he would be filming “Paid in Full 2″ in Newark.
“Honor Up,” another Harlem crime drama directed by and co-written by Dash, was released in 2018.
Cam’ron starred in the film alongside Dash’s cousin Stacey Dash (an alum of Paramus High), rapper Murda Mook, Nicholas Turturro (”NYPD Blue”) and Daniel Jenkins (”The Irishman”).
Damon Dash co-starred in the movie and served as narrator. Kanye West produced the film with Dash.
