Boyz n' the hood is the critically acclaimed coming of age story of growing up in a south central los angeles neighborhood. It is a place where harmony co exists with adversity, especially for three young men growing up there doughboy ice cube, an unambitious drug dealer his brother ricky morris chestnut, a college bound teenage father and ricky's best friend tre cuba gooding, jr., who aspires to a brighter future beyond the hood. In a world where a trip to the store can end in death, the friends have diverse reactions to their bleak surroundings. Tre's resolve is strengthened by a strong father larry fishburne who keeps him on the right track. But the lessons tre learns are put to the ultimate test when tragedy strikes close to home, and retaliation seems the only recourse.