John Singleton's debut as a director, Boyz N the Hood, was naturally compared to other urban dramas that came out during the early '90s -- such as New Jack City, Straight out of Brooklyn, Menace II Society, Fresh, Juice, and South Central. While the soundtrack for South Central was heavy on late-'70s and early-'80s funk, the soundtracks released for all the other films were filled out with up-to-date hardcore rap and youthful R&B, so they too were stacked up against one another. Boyz N the Hood's soundtrack is uneven as the others, though it does contain a handful of tracks that no fan of early-'90s rap should be without. (Granted, most of them had already appeared on studio albums by the respective artists.) While none of the R&B cuts are poor, not a single one would be remembered if they weren't bound to scenes in the film. Bits of the evocative score, from Stanley Clarke and Quincy Jones, are also included. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide