Boyz n the hood: Three friends struggle to survive in South Central Los Angeles where friendship, pain, danger and love form a true picture of life in "the hood."

Baby boy: Jody doesn't have or want a job, because he lives with his mother Juanita in South Central L.A. Her new boyfriend Melvin is an ex-convict, ''original gangster," and landscaper. Jody views Melvin's arrival with suspicion--the last time Juanita had a boyfriend, she threw out his brother Ray. Jody has a son with Yvette and a girl with Peanut, and along with his friend Sweetpea, he is just trying to live large. He wants to be a good daddy, but first he will have to learn some hard lessons about living, loving, and surviving.