To maintain a sense of realism, writer and director John Singleton never warned the actors and actresses about when shots would be fired. Their reactions were real.
Ice Cube was John Singleton's first choice for Doughboy. He approached him at a rap music concert a couple of times, and Cube was reluctant to audition via a screen test, conducted by Singleton. Singleton later encouraged Cube to write screenplays (based on Cube's contribution to rap lyrics) - which resulted in the successful "Ci vediamo venerdì (1995)" film franchise.
Columbia Pictures wanted to make this movie, but wanted someone other than John Singleton to direct it. Singleton believed only he could do it, replying, "Hell, no, I'm not gonna let somebody from Idaho or Encino direct a movie about living in south-central Los Angeles. They can't come in here and cast it and go through the re-writes and know exactly what aesthetics are unique to this film."
Regi Green (Chris as an adult) is paraplegic in real life. His paralysis, like his character's, was the result of gun violence. He was hit by a stray bullet at the age of six.
John Singleton's Oscar nomination for Best Director at the age of twenty-four made him the youngest director to ever receive such an accolade, beating Orson Welles by a good two years.
John Singleton: As the mailman delivering letters to Doughboy's mother while Doughboy and Ricky argue on the front lawn.