In 1984, 10-year-old Tre Styles III lives with his single mother, Reva Devereaux, in South Central Los Angeles. After Tre gets into an altercation at school, his teacher informs Reva that although intelligent, he lacks maturity and respect. Reva sends him to live with his father Furious Styles Jr., a strict but caring man, in the Crenshaw neighborhood. There, Tre reunites with childhood friends Darrin "Doughboy" Baker and Ricky, who get entangled in the neighborhood's gang culture. Years later, Doughboy becomes a Crip and drug dealer, while Ricky lives a relatively stable life as a high school star. Meanwhile, Tre grows up, hoping to attend college with his girlfriend Brandi Harris, amidst increasing violence and gang warfare in South Central Los Angeles.