John Singleton: Reel Genius

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John Singleton: Reel Genius - Considered by many a pioneer in Black cinema, Singleton has used film as an artistic medium ripe with strong socio-political messages and thought provoking images. Whether he is adding broad strokes of inner city anguish (Boyz N Da the Hood) or analyzing the male maturation process (Baby Boy), Singleton has never been afraid to stray from poignant subject matter. (Photo: Toby Canham/Getty Images)

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John Singleton: Reel Genius - Considered by many a pioneer in Black cinema, Singleton has used film as an artistic medium ripe with strong socio-political messages and thought provoking images. Whether he is adding broad strokes of inner city anguish (Boyz N Da the Hood) or analyzing the male maturation process (Baby Boy), Singleton has never been afraid to stray from poignant subject matter. (Photo: Toby Canham/Getty Images)

Boyz N Da Hood - Singleton's first feature film is considered by many his best work. The sobering tale of three teens living in South Central, Los Angeles would go on to receive two Oscar nominations and forever be remembered as the movie to set off the trend of "growing up in the 'hood" films that permeated throughout the early 90s.(Photo: Columbia Pictures)

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Boyz N Da Hood - Singleton's first feature film is considered by many his best work. The sobering tale of three teens living in South Central, Los Angeles would go on to receive two Oscar nominations and forever be remembered as the movie to set off the trend of "growing up in the 'hood" films that permeated throughout the early 90s.(Photo: Columbia Pictures)

Poetic Justice - Before Brown Sugar, before Love & Basketball, before Save the Last Dance, there was Poetic Justice, a classic tale of tragedy, romance and self-affirmation. Though not nearly as emotionally heavy as Boyz N Da Hood, Singleton would find more mainstream success with the film as well as a default for all couples to cuddle up too on boring Friday evenings.(Photo: Columbia Pictures)

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Poetic Justice - Before Brown Sugar, before Love & Basketball, before Save the Last Dance, there was Poetic Justice, a classic tale of tragedy, romance and self-affirmation. Though not nearly as emotionally heavy as Boyz N Da Hood, Singleton would find more mainstream success with the film as well as a default for all couples to cuddle up too on boring Friday evenings.(Photo: Columbia Pictures)

Higher Learning - Singleton showcases the lives of three different students on a college campus in this powerful look at race, class, and sexuality. The film also marks Tyra Bank's first appearance on the big screen.(Photo: Columbia Pictures)

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Higher Learning - Singleton showcases the lives of three different students on a college campus in this powerful look at race, class, and sexuality. The film also marks Tyra Bank's first appearance on the big screen.(Photo: Columbia Pictures)

Baby Boy\r - Singleton returned to South Central  as the setting for his 2001 drama, Baby Boy. Starring Tyrese Gibson as Jody, the role was initally meant for Tupac Shakur who died 5 years prior. Singleton explored the male maturation in the inner city community, with Jody starting off as an immature young male at the beginning of the film and eventually becoming a responsible adult by the end.\r \r(Photo: Columbia Pictures)

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Baby Boy - Singleton returned to South Central  as the setting for his 2001 drama, Baby Boy. Starring Tyrese Gibson as Jody, the role was initally meant for Tupac Shakur who died 5 years prior. Singleton explored the male maturation in the inner city community, with Jody starting off as an immature young male at the beginning of the film and eventually becoming a responsible adult by the end.(Photo: Columbia Pictures)

2 Fast 2 Furious\r - Changing gears (no pun intended), Singleton directed the second installment of the automobile action thriller, and once again casting Tyrese Gibson into a lead role (this time as Roman). 2 Fast 2 Furious was a box office success worldwide and his first and only foray into the automobile action thriller genre.\r \r(Photo: Universal Pictures)

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2 Fast 2 Furious - Changing gears (no pun intended), Singleton directed the second installment of the automobile action thriller, and once again casting Tyrese Gibson into a lead role (this time as Roman). 2 Fast 2 Furious was a box office success worldwide and his first and only foray into the automobile action thriller genre.(Photo: Universal Pictures)