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Boyz n the Hood is an Academy Award-nominated 1991 film directed by John Singleton. Starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Regina King, Nia Long, and Morris Chestnut, the film depicts life in economically deprived South Central (now South) Los Angeles, California, and was filmed and released in the summer of 1991. It was nominated for both Best Director and Original Screenplay during the 1991 Academy Awards, making John Singleton the youngest person ever nominated for Best Director and the first African-American to be nominated for the award. The film has influenced many Hip-Hop artists present day.

In 2002, the United States Library of Congress deemed the film "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry. IMDB Page: IMBD

In the film, John Singleton portrays the life of three young black youths, Tre, Doughboy, and Ricky, as they grow up in South Central, Los Angeles. Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is an intelligent young student, but encounters disciplinary problems at a young age. His mother Reva Devereaux, decides it would be best for her son if Tre were to live with his father, Furious Styles. Furious is a no nonsense disciplinarian who teaches his son how to be a man. Tre begins his new life in South Central L.A. and reunites with old friends Doughboy (Ice Cube) and Ricky (Morris Chestnut). All three boys lead very different lives. Tre is an aspiring college man, Ricky an All-American football player, and Doughboy a drug dealing gangster. The film offers a keen insight on racial inequality, drugs, sex, and gang violence in the hood.

The second (and primary) section of the film takes place in 1991. Doughboy (now played by Ice Cube) has just been released from prison and spends most of the time hanging out in the neighborhood with Monster and Dooky. Ricky (now played by Morris Chestnut) is a star running back at Crenshaw High School. He has a son with his girlfriend Shanice (Alysia Rogers) and is being recruited by the University of Southern California, but needs to earn a minimum SAT score of 700 to receive an athletic scholarship. Tre (now played by Cuba Gooding Jr.) also attends Crenshaw High School with Ricky and also has a girlfriend, Brandi (Nia Long). Tension exists between the two because he wants to have a sexual relationship with Brandi, who resists the idea because of her Catholic faith.

One of the most powerful scenes of the movie occurs when Ricky is shot and killed by members of a local gang. The men who shoot Ricky wear red and black colors, possibly associating them with the Bloods; a large gang from the Los Angeles area. Tre, who is Ricky's best friend, has to make a decision as to how he is going to react to Ricky's murder. Will he seek violent revenge on Ricky's murder, or will he realize that murdering another young African-American male will just add to the omnipresent violence taking place everyday around him? Tre chooses not to proceed with the murders of the men. Doughboy, unlike Tre, searches for and murders the men who did the same thing to his brother.

Themes of the film include gentrification, police brutality, gang violence, and male parental responsibility.

The following is the track list to the almost completely hip hop exclusive soundtrack to Boyz n the Hood. Notable tracks include "Every Single Weekend," Kam's first appearance on record and "How to Survive in South Central," an Ice Cube song that later appeared on the remastered version of Death Certificate.

"How to Survive in South Central" by Ice Cube

"Just Ask Me To" by Tevin Campbell featuring Chubb Rock

"Mama Don't Take No Mess" by Yo-Yo

"Growin' Up in the Hood" by Compton's Most Wanted

"Just a Friendly Game of Baseball (Remix)" by Main Source

"Me and You" by Tony! Toni! Toné!

"Work It Out" by Monie Love

"Every Single Weekend" by Kam

"Too Young" by Hi-Five

"Hangin' Out" by 2 Live Crew

"It's Your Life" by Too Short

"Spirit (Does Anybody Care?)" by Force One Network

"Setembro (Brazilian Wedding Song)" by Quincy Jones

"Black on Black Crime" by Stanley Clarke