'' Baby Boy '' is a 2001 American coming-of-age hood film written , produced , and directed by John Singleton . The film follows bicycle mechanic Joseph " Jody " Summers as he lives and learns in his everyday life in the hood of Los Angeles . It represented the film debut of actress Taraji P. Henson and R&B singer Tyrese Gibson . Gibson and Henson later starred in the film '' Four Brothers '' . The film , originally set to star Tupac Shakur , instead switched to Gibson after Shakur 's death in 1996
death in 1996
Murder of Tupac Shakur
Baby Boy (film)