This gritty ghetto drama was an impressive debut for director Ernest R Dickerson, who was formerly Spike Lee's cinematographer. Four lads from the 'hood attempt to rob a grocery store - and leave the owner dead. This is bad enough, but Bishop (Tupac Shakur), the one who pulled the trigger, gets a high out of the killing and starts to terrorise his friends. Coming as it did, in the wake of Boyz N the Hood and New Jack City, this could be seen as a lesser film. Technically, Dickerson is spot on, but the storyline is flawed. Having said that, the young stars, Shakur, Omar Epps, Jermaine Hopkins and Khalil Kain, are fresh and sharp. A movie with attitude.

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