Nearly-Forgotten Crime Drama On Netflix Unites Fast & Furious Star With Hip Hop Icon

Baby Boy was written and directed by the late, great auteur filmmaker John Singleton, following up some of his most iconic works such as Boyz n the Hood, Poetic Justice, and 2000’s Shaft. The lead roll in the film was originally written with rapper Tupac Shakur in mind, though Singleton was ultimately convinced to hire Tyrese Gibson for the part after Tupac’s untimely death in 1996.

Despite the tragic circumstances, this partnership would come to be a cornerstone of Gibson’s success, as the R&B singer would once again collaborate with John Singleton for his first foray into the Fast & Furious universe with 2003’s 2 Fast 2 Furious.

The narrative of Baby Boy centers on a struggling motorcycle mechanic named Jody, as he attempts to navigate the tribulations and dangers of gang culture and poverty in Los Angeles, California.

Baby Boy doesn’t pull any punches or flinch away from its raw setting, as the film opens with Jody and his girlfriend Yvette arguing about the state of their relationship from the waiting room of a Planned Parenthood clinic, as they wait for a doctor to terminate their pregnancy.

Jody is perpetually disloyal and unfaithful to Yvette, and is shown to cheat on her with numerous women even as she raises their son JoJo by herself.

After one particularly nasty argument between the pair, Yvette officially kicks Jody to the curb and reunites with her ex-boyfriend Rodney, a career gang member fresh out of prison. As the narrative of Baby Boy continues, Rodney’s nefarious gang activity causes waves in Yvette and JoJo’s lives, creating a brutal blood feud between the gang member and Jody.

Eventually, Jody must come to terms with his situation and agree to commit to his family fully, or succumb to the violent cycle of the streets.

While Baby Boy is certainly a fascinating glimpse into the culture of marginalized Los Angeles communities in the late 1990s, the film pales in comparison to some of John Singleton’s other works.

Singleton is a known pioneer in the hood drama genre, including the creation of the FX original series Snowfall, which served as his final project before his death in 2019.

Still, Baby Boy pleased critics and general audiences alike, resulting in a solid 71 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, with an 87 percent general audience score to match.

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While Tyrese and Snoop Dogg give the most compelling performances in Baby Boy, the pair are joined by a number of talented actors, including Ving Rhames, Taraji P. Henson, Omar Gooding, Adrienne-Joi Johnson, and stand-up comedy legend Mo’Nique. Those interested in catching Baby Boy today can stream the film on Netflix.