CULTURE CLASSICS – Boyz N The Hood – Creators For The Culture

#RunTheCulture

For today’s #CultureClassic we’re going back to the genesis of hip-hop meeting Hollywood with the OG that started it all, Boyz N The Hood.

Boyz N The Hood was the 1991 film written and directed by John Singleton in his directorial debut, and starring big names at the time and future prominent creators for The Culture including Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding Jr., Morris Chestnut, Laurence Fishburne, Nia Long, Regina King and Angela Bassett. This film also served as the acting debuts for both Ice Cube and Morris Chestnut.

The film centered around a young man (Cuba Gooding Jr’s Tre Styles), his father and his friends trying to navigate life in the unforgiving streets of South Central L.A. It touched on so many topics facing young African-American men in the 90’s (and even to this day) including gang violence, police brutality, black fatherhood, sports vs education, socio-economical issues and more…basically life in “the hood.”

“Either they don’t know…don’t show…or don’t care about what’s going on in the hood.”
– Doughboy (Ice Cube)

Boyz n the Hood was filmed in (the-then district of) South Central Los Angeles, California, and was as authentic a representation of life in that area at that time as could be done. It was the work of NWA, DJ Quick, MC Eight, and all the other west coast “gangsta rappers” songs put on film shocking most of America. But it was too well done and too poignant to be ignored. It made 57 million with only 6 million-dollar budget and was nominated for both Best Director and Best Original Screenplay during the 64th Academy Awards. And with so many classic lines and moments that are still part of The Culture to this day, and for opening the doors for more film and film makers to share OUR stories of growing up in OUR communities, Boyz N The Hood is an undisputed #CultureClassic.

#FunFact: John Singleton’s Oscar nominations were historic on two levels. He was the youngest person ever nominated for Best Director and the first African-American to be nominated for the award.