"A young street hustler attempts to escape the rigors and temptations of the ghetto in a quest for a better life."
Tyrin Turner
as Caine 'Kaydee' Lawson
Larenz Tate
as Kevin 'O-Dog'
Glenn Plummer
as Pernell
Jada Pinkett Smith
as Ronnie
Samuel L. Jackson
as Tat Lawson
June Kyoto Lu
as Grocery Store Woman
Toshi Toda
as Grocery Store Man
Reginald Ballard
as Clyde
Khandi Alexander
as Karen Lawson
Jullian Roy Doster
as Anthony
Brandon Hammond
as Five Year Old Caine
Eugene Lee
as Man #1
James Pickens Jr.
as Man #2
Nancy Cheryll Davis
as Teacher
Marilyn Coleman
as Grandmama
Arnold Johnson
as Grandpapa
Saafir
as Harold Lawson
Pooh Man
as Doc
MC Eiht
as A-Wax
Vonte Sweet
as Sharif
Ryan Williams
as Stacy
Cynthia Calhoun
as Jackee
Garen Holman
as Junior
Joy Matthews
as Nurse #1
Clifton Powell
as Chauncy
Too $hort
as Lew-Loc
Christopher M. Brown
as Lloyd
Stacy Arnell
as Deena
Dwayne L. Barnes
as Basehead
Ian Davids
as Insurance Man
Alvin Mears
as K-9 Police Officer
Bill Duke
as Detective
Robert Gonzales
as Car Dealer
Martin Davis
as Car-Jack Victim
Erin Wiley Sands
as Ilena
Charles S. Dutton
as Mr. Butler
Charles J. Grube
as Officer Fassel
Mike Kelly
as Officer Gadd
Rolando Molina
as Vato #1
Clifton Collins Jr.
as Vato #2
Samuel Monroe Jr.
as Ilena's Cousin
Daniel Villarreal
as Vato #4
Yolanda Whitaker
as Girl at Party
Anthony Johnson
as Tony
Tony Valentino
as Vato #3
Tyger Williams
Screenplay
Albert Hughes
Director
Darin Scott
Producer
Kevin Moreton
Executive Producer
Allen Hughes
Quincy Jones III
Original Music Composer
Lisa Rinzler
Director of Photography
Christopher Koefoed
Editor
Sylvia Vega-Vasquez
Costume Design
Penny Barrett
Production Design
Story
Adel A. Mazen
Set Decoration
Ken Teaney
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Lisa Boutillier
Set Dresser
Scott Ganary
Tony Sereno
David Farmer
Sound Effects Editor
Tim Gedemer
Lance Brown
Henry Kingi Jr.
Stunts
Thomas Rosales Jr.
Bruce Paul Barbour
