Boyz N the Hood is a 1991 film directed by African-American director John Singleton. Starring Cuba Gooding Jr, Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne and Nia Long, the film depicts life in crime-ridden South CentralLos Angeles, California. It is the story of a young man navigating his way through the pitfalls of being young and black in an American ghetto ('hood', abbreviation of neighborhood). It is notable for de-sensationalizing, exploring the roots of violence in urban America and the cinema. It was nominated for both Best Director and Screen Play during the 1991 Oscar Awards.