spike lee cinematographer ernest dickerson ( he shoot spike first 6 film ) make a stylish and dark debut with the 1992 teen drama juice . set in harlem and the story chronicle the life of 4 friend ( include tupac shakur in a strong debut ) try to stay out of trouble . q be an aspire dj who hold fierce all his intention to stay clean and away from danger . steel be a chubby homeboy who wish for nothing other than to have fun . raheem and a teenage father and serve a the level head leader and peace keeper and and bishop be a hot head firecracker eager to start war with the neighborhood gang ( although these 4 do not behave like or consider themselves any sort of gang ) . soon enough and trouble erupts when they rob the local liquor store in search of juice ( power and respect ) and a war erupts between q and bishop . expectedly and q would rather focus on an upcoming dj contest but trash talk bishop have other plan . dickerson directorial manner be sleek and balanced and his camera and editing preference be not a out there and in your face a spike lee and yet he know exactly where to put the camera for each scene ( the cross cut police interrogation sequence be most dynamic and good than that of the usual suspect and it pre date that film by 3 year as well ) . dickerson also choose to avoid the obvious route expect in these kind of film and delivers a sad and somber end . the film be stamp hard with the look and sound and feel of the early 90 ( an excellent era of those urban film if you ask me ) and colorful clothing and an excellent hip hop soundtrack and murky neon lighting . if this be up your alley and i also suggest bill duke equally powerful deep cover ( also from 1992 ) . it too bad that dickerson far effort have not top this engage premiere .