The film is a prequel to the 1993 classic "Carlito's Way" and follows the young Carlito Brigante as he rises through the ranks of the criminal underworld in Spanish Harlem in the 1960s. Jay Hernandez plays the titular character, who starts out as a small-time hood and works his way up to becoming the area's top drug lord. Along the way, he makes alliances with ruthless gangsters, including Mario Van Peebles' gang leader, who becomes his mentor. However, as his power grows, Carlito becomes increasingly paranoid and ruthless, leading to a tragic downfall. The film offers a gritty and stylized look at the origins of one of cinema's most iconic gangsters.