Cast
Shawn Wayans as Ashtray, the everyman, trying to make his way through a confusing world, is sent by his mother to live in the ghetto where his father might teach him how to become a man. Based on Tre Styles from Boyz n the Hood, Bobby Johnson from South Central, and Caine Lawson from Menace II Society.
Vivica A. Fox as Ashtray's mother, whose one-scene, one-line cameo at the beginning ends with her son asking, "So will I see you again?" and her replying, "Sorry baby. You know there ain't no positive black females in these movies". Based on Reva Devereaux-Styles from Boyz n the Hood.
Lahmard Tate as Ashtray's father, Ashtray's temperamental role model who dispenses sage advice to his son. According to Ashtray, he is only "a couple years older than I am", although some references were made to Ashtray possibly being older than he was, such as Ashtray attending a party that his father is not old enough to attend. Based on Furious Styles from Boyz n the Hood.
Marlon Wayans as Loc Dog: Ashtray's cousin and gangsta/drug dealer/criminal. He drives a USPS delivery truck which is loaded in the back with ballistics, including a nuclear weapon. Based on O-Dog from Menace II Society, Lucky from Poetic Justice and Doughboy from Boyz n the Hood.
Helen Martin as Grandma, Ashtray and Loc Dog's grandmother; a marijuana-smoking, foul-mouthed, church-going woman. Based on Delilah Benson from Dead Presidents.
Chris Spencer as Preach, Ashtray's friend and former gang member turned "politically conscious" activist, resembling a Nation of Islam member, but is now just "confused"; he has a fetish for white girls. Based on Sharif from Menace II Society and Ali from South Central.
Suli McCullough as Crazy Legs: Ashtray's friend; was paralyzed in a drive-by. Has a dream to be a professional dancer. Based on Chris from Boyz n the Hood.
Tracey Cherelle Jones as Dashiki, the object of Ashtray's affections. A "hood mother" with seven kids by seven different men. Dashiki's address is 6969 Penetration Avenue. Based on Ronnie from Menace II Society and Justice from Poetic Justice and Brandi from Boyz n the Hood.
Isaiah Barnes as Doo Rag: Dashiki's oldest son and the only one of her kids who has more than one line of dialogue. He pulls a gun on Ashtray after losing a video game. When he admits he learned about guns from "cartoons and 'hood movies'", Ashtray passionately declares that he and Doo Rag are an endangered species—not because their lives are in danger, but because "rappers are taking all the good acting jobs!". The kid rolls his eyes as Ashtray lectures him about the values of education. Based on Anthony from Menace II Society.
Darrell Heath as Toothpick, Dashiki's ex-boyfriend, who was just released from prison and still acts like he's incarcerated. He swears he will kill Ashtray for romancing Dashiki. Based on Ferris from Boyz N the Hood and Ilena's Cousin from Menace II Society.
Antonio Fargas as Old School, an OG associate of Ashtray and his group.
Bernie Mac as Officer Self Hatred, a cop who harasses Ashtray and Loc Dog. As he has Ashtray pinned against his squad car, he goes on and on about how much he hates black people and anything black. Based on Officer Coffey from Boyz n the Hood.
Terri J. Vaughn as Keisha: A possessed woman Loc Dog met at the late night party and takes to the cargo hold of his truck. While he has sex with her, she morphs into a demonic version of herself and proceeds to force Loc Dog to have sex with her. It is unknown what happened after this. Based on Abby, the title character of a 1974 blaxploitation horror film about a woman possessed by an African sex spirit.
Benjamin N. Everitt as The Man, a pale white man with red hair and glasses, who systematically robs a convenience store while the Korean owners are keeping a close, racist eye on Ashtray and Loc Dog and completely ignore his crimes. When Loc Dog is firing his gun at the owners and not hitting them, The Man fires his gun once and hits a hanging light that falls on the owners and kills them. He then tosses his gun to an unwitting Ashtray and Loc Dog, who mistakenly catch it as he scratches their names off his list of black men whom he's framed for crimes and peels off a single glove (a reference to the O. J. Simpson case).
Keith Morris as Dave the Crackhead, a drug user apparently going through withdrawal who offers to perform fellatio in return for spare change or directions to a person's house. Based on the nameless "Basehead" character from Menace II Society.
Keenen Ivory Wayans as The Mailman; he appears various times throughout the film shouting "Message!" whenever a moral lesson is expressed without subtlety in dialogue. At the end of the film, when Loc Dog gives a rambling speech to Ashtray, the Mailman appears, and says, "What the fuck is he talking about?" He is based on the mailman from Boyz n the Hood
Omar Epps as Malik, his character from Higher Learning. Taking place a year after the events of Higher Learning, this movie depicts him returning to school for his sophomore year, giving Ashtray and Loc Dog hope. As soon as the two depart and wish Malik good luck on a new school year, he is shot and killed by a new Skinheads member who then scratches his name off the list of "brothers who are trying to make it out of the hood".
Lawanda Page as Old School's Mom.
Guy Torry as Doo-Rag's Father. Ashtray, Dashiki and Doo Rag visit him in prison before they move. He is based on Pernell from Menace II Society.
In the opening credits, Robert Schimmel is listed but never appears in the film; his name is also missing from the end credits.
