CB4
A "rockumentary", covering the rise to fame of MC Gusto, Stab Master Arson, and Dead Mike: members of the rap group "CB4". We soon learn that these three are not what they seem and don't appear to know as much about rap music as they claim... but a lack of musical ability in an artist never hurts sales, does it? You've just got to play the part of a rap star...
Despite its limited budget of $6.0M, CB4 became a solid performer, earning $18.0M worldwide—a 199% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
CB4 (1993) demonstrates deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of Tamra Davis's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 28 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Albert Brown
Euripides Smalls
Otis Wilson
Virgil Robinson
Trustus Jones
Gusto
Sissy
A. White
Main Cast & Characters
Albert Brown
Played by Chris Rock
A mild-mannered cell phone salesman who transforms into hardcore rapper MC Gusto, stealing the identity of a real gangster.
Euripides Smalls
Played by Allen Payne
Albert's thoughtful friend and DJ for CB4, who provides the group's musical foundation and conscience.
Otis Wilson
Played by Deezer D
Albert's friend who becomes Dead Mike, the hyperviolent member of CB4 who takes the gangsta persona too seriously.
Virgil Robinson
Played by Chris Elliott
A documentary filmmaker who chronicles CB4's rise to fame and eventual exposure of their fraudulent gangsta personas.
Trustus Jones
Played by Arthur Evans
A positive, conscious rapper who represents authentic hip-hop and serves as CB4's moral opposite.
Gusto
Played by Charlie Murphy
The real gangster whose identity and street credibility Albert steals to create his MC Gusto persona.
Sissy
Played by Theresa Randle
Albert's girlfriend who struggles with his transformation from sweet boyfriend to fake gangsta rapper.
A. White
Played by Phil Hartman
CB4's sleazy record executive who exploits their gangsta image for profit without regard for consequences.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Albert Brown is a small-time rapper and cell phone salesman living an ordinary life with aspirations of music success but no real edge or authenticity.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Albert witnesses a violent confrontation with a real gangster and decides to adopt a fake gangsta persona, renaming themselves CB4 (Cell Block 4) and fabricating criminal backgrounds.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to CB4 performs their first major show with their new gangsta image and it's a massive success, launching them into fame and committing them fully to the fake persona., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat The real gangster whose identity they stole is released from prison and sees CB4 on TV, threatening their entire fabricated empire and raising the stakes significantly., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 66 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, CB4's true identities are exposed publicly in a humiliating revelation, destroying their credibility and causing the group to fall apart as their career appears dead., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 70 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Albert realizes he must embrace his true self and make music that's honest rather than fabricated, choosing authenticity over the fake gangsta image that brought fame., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
CB4's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping CB4 against these established plot points, we can identify how Tamra Davis utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish CB4 within the comedy genre.
Tamra Davis's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Tamra Davis films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.8, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. CB4 takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Tamra Davis filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Tamra Davis analyses, see Half Baked, Crossroads and Billy Madison.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Albert Brown is a small-time rapper and cell phone salesman living an ordinary life with aspirations of music success but no real edge or authenticity.
Theme
A character questions what it means to be "real" in hip-hop, foreshadowing the film's exploration of authenticity versus manufactured image.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Albert and his friends Euripides and Otis, their failed rap performances, the local hip-hop scene, and their desire for recognition despite lacking street credibility.
Disruption
Albert witnesses a violent confrontation with a real gangster and decides to adopt a fake gangsta persona, renaming themselves CB4 (Cell Block 4) and fabricating criminal backgrounds.
Resistance
The group debates the ethics of their fake personas, creates their new image, and prepares their act with increasingly outrageous gangsta rap performances and costumes.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
CB4 performs their first major show with their new gangsta image and it's a massive success, launching them into fame and committing them fully to the fake persona.
Mirror World
Albert develops a relationship with a woman who represents authenticity and begins to see the contrast between his real self and his fabricated image.
Premise
CB4 enjoys the spoils of fame: music videos, concerts, money, groupies, and media attention while playing up their fake gangsta image to increasingly absurd levels.
Midpoint
The real gangster whose identity they stole is released from prison and sees CB4 on TV, threatening their entire fabricated empire and raising the stakes significantly.
Opposition
Pressure mounts from multiple directions: the real gangster pursues them, public controversy over their lyrics intensifies, internal conflicts emerge, and Albert's lies become harder to maintain.
Collapse
CB4's true identities are exposed publicly in a humiliating revelation, destroying their credibility and causing the group to fall apart as their career appears dead.
Crisis
Albert faces the consequences of his deception, confronts his own fraudulence, and struggles with whether he can redeem himself or if his music career is truly over.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Albert realizes he must embrace his true self and make music that's honest rather than fabricated, choosing authenticity over the fake gangsta image that brought fame.
Synthesis
Albert and the group confront their past mistakes, make amends, deal with the real gangster, and perform as their authentic selves rather than manufactured personas.
Transformation
Albert has transformed from a faker seeking fame through lies into someone who values authenticity, performing music true to himself rather than a manufactured image.