This Day in Film: "Boyz n the Hood"

Today marks the anniversary of the groundbreaking urban-drama Boyz n the Hood .  While Matty Rich 's Straight Out of Brooklyn was released only a month before and dealt with many of the same issues, Boyz n the Hood captured the nation.

Directed and written by John Singleton , the story was based in South Central, Los Angeles and dealt with themes of drug abuse, violence, Black masculinity and fatherhood. The powerhouse cast included Angela Bassett , Laurence Fishburne and Ice Cube . The movie was also a big break for a flock of new actors — Morris Chestnut , Nia Long , Regina King and Cuba Gooding, Jr. , who eventually won an Oscar for 1996's Jerry Maguire .

Boyz N the Hood received two Oscar nominations — Best Director and Original Screenplay. Singleton was the youngest person to be nominated for Best Director and the first African-American.

What is your favorite moment from Boyz n the Hood?