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Hood movies are gangster. The genre is a gritty, yet realistic portrayal involving poverty, power, struggle and the grim portrait of life in the inner city.
Critically acclaimed films like Boyz N The Hood, Menace II Society and Ice Cube's Friday are some of the best movies the sub-genre has to offer.
10. Gangster's Paradise
One of the most underrated Jamaican gangster movies is Gangster's Paradise, a 2004 film where the criminal worlds of Kingston, Jamaica and Los Angeles collide.
When West Coast drug kingpin Diamond Mitchell (Samuel Marshall) finds himself in trouble with the Jamaican Yardies and Mafia after being exposed by his wife, he sends out the most loyal and competent henchmen (Shotta) to tie up any loose ends.
Gangster's Paradise was directed by Trenten Gumbs and stars John 'Ras Kidus' Cornelius. The film also features cameos from Beenie man and Ninjaman.
9. The Wash
Directed and produced by DJ Pooh, The Wash is a funny hood movie released in 2001, starring Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg.
Sean and Dee Loc are two roommates who are behind on rent and are given a 3-day eviction notice by their landlord. After losing his job at Footlocker, Sean joins his roommate at a carwash job to recuperate the funds.
8. 3 Strikes
Another comedy film written and directed by DJ Pooh is 3 Strikes (2000), which stars Brian Hooks. The title refers to California's habitual offender law, where three convictions equals an automatic life sentence.
Rob Douglas is a convicted felon who has just being released from jail and wants to better his life. However Hooks has 2 strikes and trouble comes knocking when a homie picks him up, they are pulled over and his friend shoots at cops.
Hooks manages to escape, but is now a wanted man and must clear his name of any wrongdoing. Although the film was somewhat a commercial success, it was truly lambasted by critics.
7. Strapped
The HBO movie Strapped is a 1993 crime drama film directed by Forrest Whittaker. It was also the cinematic debut of Bookeem Woodbine and features several rappers including Fredo Starr, Sticky Fingaz and Busta Rhymes.
Diquan Mitchell, a nineteen year old ex convict attempts to change his life, but things go left when his girlfriend is caught selling crack to an uncover cop and sent to jail with bail set at $2500.
Due to not having the money to bail her out, Mitchell becomes an informant for the police in an undercover operation that involves selling guns on the street with his homie Bamboo (Freedo Starr) while selling information to the police.
6. Jason's Lyric
Released in 1994, Jason's Lyric is a romantic physiological film, starring Allen Payne, Jada Pinkett and Bokeem Woodbine. The film is about two brothers who choose different paths while come to terms with their childhood trauma.
As kids, brothers Jason and Joshua Alexander witness the fatal shooting of their abusive father (Forrest Whittaker), one night when he comes home drunk and attacks their mother. This tragedy leaves deep rooted scars and prompts them to choose different paths in life.
Jason (Allen Payne) becomes a responsible young man working as a sales clerk, who eventually falls in love with Lyric (Jada Pinkett). Meanwhile Joshua (Bookeem) has just being released from prison and has become a disturbed ex-con who can't stay out of trouble and is a liability to his family.
5. Fresh
Fresh is a 1994 film which revolves around a 12 year old drug runner nicknamed Fresh (portrayed by Sean Nelson), who works for gangsters.
Inspired by the chess lessons of his dad, a chess playing alcoholic (Samuel L. Jackson). Fresh executes a smart plan to save himself and his drug-addicted sister from their hopeless lives.
Fresh was overlooked by the mainstream audience, but won critical acclaim. Critics praised the film for it's realistic depiction of life in New York City's projects during the crack epidemic.
4. Bullet Boy
The 2004 british crime drama film Bullet Boy starring Ashley Walters, is about a family living in crime ridden Hackney, East London, the oldest son's participation in gun crime, and the rippling effect this has on his younger brother.
Ricky (Ashley Walters) is picked up by his good friend Wisdom, a roadman with ambitions to be the top G in his neighborhood.
Immediately after arriving back, Wisdom accidentally damages a car belonging to a local gang member and following a heated confrontation, things escalate to the point of no return.
3. New Jersey Drive
Starring Sharron Corley and Gabriel Cassesues, New Jersey is a 1995 film about joyriding teenagers in 1990s Newwark, New Jersey, which at one point gained the notorious reputation of being the Grand Theft Auto capital of the world.
Jason Petty and his best friend Midget are among a crew of car thieves who find their freedom at risk when a crooked police lieutenant makes it his mission to spoil their fun and take them down.
2. Clockers
Directed by Spike Lee and starring Mekhi Phifer in his debut film role, Clockers centres around Strike (Phifer), a sickly drug dealer who becomes the prime suspect of a murder investigation.
In a Brooklyn housing project, Strike and a group of street level drug dealers work for Rodney Little, the local drug lord. Rodney (Delroy Lindo) wants Strike to murder another dealer, Darryl Adams, who is allegedly stealing from him. Strike meets with his brother Victor (Isaiah Washington) and asks if he knows someone who could ice Darryl. The film received generally positive reviews from film critics, but sadly bombed at the box office.
1. Dead Presidents
Starring Larenz Tate, Dead Presidents is a 1995 film co-written, produced and directed by the Hughes Brothers.
The movie follows the tragic life of Anthony Curtis (Larenz), a young man who turns to a life of crime in his howntown in The Bronx, after returning from the Vietnam War and struggling to support himself and his family.
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