Yo. I will never forget. After his Coca Cola commercial I was hype and it just so happened right after that "what you like" came out along with baby boy. He was at a free concert on the beach in syracuse what I just happen to live at the time. I automatically hated his guts soon as I heard "TyyyYYRtreeEesssEeee!!!!".
Please, I need you guys to team up!!! Watching a collaboration between you guys would be like seeing a MCU and DCU movie in real time. Plus, just because I am an English teacher... can it be based on the English language or dialects? As it reflects society, culture and identity and how that plays into storytelling or cinematography? My Dutch students learn the language and its poorly illustrated culture through movies. I would definitely use your vid to show them they need to apply context and deeper meaning to what they are seeing. And oh my goodness, I love you guys all the way from the Netherlands...💖.
Great analysis, I think a flaw with Baby Boy is that the movie doesn't stress enough that Jody is 20, not 28 lol. Realizing that he's the same age as a college sophmore or junior who has room to figure life out adds sympathy to his character.
Maybe so. However, isn’t Yvette around the same age? Own car, own apartment, job at the bank. Jody is young but he’s a father nonetheless. It should (although it clearly doesn’t) take you into a different realm of responsibility and accountability. The only “baby boy” should be the child now.
@@nik-at-nite Jody's fear that leaving his mom will lead to an early death is what's preventing him from being responsible though. I'm saying that it never lands as a plot device because the audience assumes he's older. It also makes details like him not owning a car, wanting to sabotage his mom's dating life, and getting jumped by teenagers look bizarre instead of what Singleton might have intended to invoke.
@@nik-at-nite Do you actually know the plot or premises the movie? He’s afraid to leave his house, his safety net -“the crib” because the last person who did so ended up murdered; his brother that’s traumatizing.
@@nik-at-nite "should". A underratedly lofty word. You aren't wrong for thinking that way. It SHOULD be that way, shouldn't it? But it wasn't. Even today with as much wokeness as we have in the world it's not.
I don't think the fact that he was living at his mom's house is really what made Jodi flawed I just think Jody was a fuckboy man he was sleeping with all these different girls had all these baby mamas and he was childish literally was riding a bike instead of driving his his girlfriend who was pregnant to the clinic like didn't even have a car to drive her there like that's some f****** bum s*** like there ain't nothing wrong living at your parents if you don't have like a good you know financial situation but I think that Jody was definitely taking advantage because he had like three different baby mamas and his mom was literally doing half the work which I think was so f***** up she should have whuped him upside the head for every child that he produced
It's crazy, I was just telling my wife and therapist how a 37 y/o woman was having sex with me when I was 13, that shit broke my brain for a long time when it came to how I interacted with the opposite sex, I still have trouble with women as authority figures...but I'm working on it. I'm glad he touched on that
Thank you for being so vulnerable and sharing that. I’m so happy you experienced that. I hope you know that it wasn’t your fault and you’re not to blame. I’m sorry you weren’t protected. 💔
My ex dealt with serious mental health issues behind an adult woman molesting him as a child. Thank you for bringing this up. We have to protect our boys from predators.
A quite of few young black boys i grew up with was so call groom by a older teen age girl are young woman. But most young boys feel like their entering manhood & enjoy it 🤔
Did your husband also comment on this video? 😂 I just read one that said he just told his wife and a therapist that he was molested as a child.. what are the odds?
@@FDSignifire bro, we need to talk about the appeal of asian martial arts to blacks. I'm jamaican and when i came to america, i could strike up conversations easily by bringing up kung fu movies. Hiphop goes so well with anime too. I loved all the kung fu references in boondocks.
One thing I loved about Singleton's movies is the "cycle" trope. One part that was missed was that Jodie positioned himself to try and "protect" his mother from other men and then Jodie/Evette's son ended up being part of the "cycle" having to position himself to protect his mother from Rodney.
Taraji P Henson was over-acting and being over the top because that's how Baby Boy saw her. The entire movie is through the eyes of the protagonist. You commented on that regarding Ving Rhames' character in the way he is shot and framed. Taraji's character elicits a specific response from Baby Boy, and regardless of what she actually said or did, *HE* felt that her reaction was that confrontational, and therefore that was "reality".
I needed this breakdown for two reasons. 1 I too critiqued baby boy and called it horrible based on the over exaggerated acting and Jody just being down right toxic. You have Jody his humanity while not excusing his downfalls. 2. I had to examine the Jody in me, past and present, and examine how I fix my brokenness for the betterment of my wife and future children. I’ll be 30 yo 8.13.21 and I’m still trying to figure out who I am outside of a financial provider and a protector.
I love how this movie shows the different types of "boys in the hood". Its not just the gangster types ice cube, or the sports types like Morris Chestnut, or the playboys like Cuba. Its men/boys in between those categories. We need more movies that display the variety of black men in our culture!! That would be a good essay topic!
Oooh I’m here for this!! This came out when I was in middle school and I remember HATING Jodi with every fiber of my being. As a teen I saw it again and wondered why someone would create such a pathetic character, like what was the reason? As an adult I’m here to re-examine with you as I think I was too young to catch the message - this is so fun!
As a female from the hood I can say the female characters were not exaggerated. Yvette was a great representation of what you could call a 'dingy' female. I have definitely seen women act just like that. It makes since for her character to be that way considering Jodi's immaturity.
This video is very well analysis. You made a lot of valid points, especially on Black men losing their "virginities" at a younger age to older teenagers or grown women. Topics like this are important to discuss and less avoiding the "uncomfortable" situation. Same thing with Black women losing their "virginities." Thank you for talking about this movie. Maybe one day I will give the movie a chance. I am not into most "gangster" related movies/shows, but it's good to watch time to time, especially since I want to become an actor😅💯
I feel like so much of this is the way we are not allowed to be children. We have to grow up too fast, act grown, be more mature and that shit starts with slavery.
Here from Real Talk with Yanie’s community tab! I just rewatched Baby Boy recently and this is an excellent analysis! This film is so well done. One of the best scenes to me is when Jody gives the gun to Melvin. Very powerful.
Same. I found it interesting to think that some people read her as cartoonish or over the top. It's not a COMMON personality, but it definitely exists.
Love this movie...I sometimes still call my closest friends baby boy lol. Sure Taraji's character might seem over the top and cartoonish but... it's kind of spot on...look around...her character is everywhere in real life
Geez man. You always have a deep sense of insight into black masculinity. Something about the analysis always touches home and reveals something about the intuitive understanding behind these themes, and the direct correlation to my lived experience. It strikes me in the heart every time.
Melvin knocking Jody across the living room was one of the most satisfying punches in cinematic history 😆 I still can't stand this movie but your analysis was artfully done, per usual 🙌🏽
You had me at “Baby Boy”. Thanks for shining a light on a fantastic coming of age film that’s very relatable in a lot of ways. I remember being fresh out of high school when this dropped and it always stuck with me.
Baby boy is a black cult classic & seeing this video excites me. It brought back so much nostalgia with amazing analytical takes. The movie is still so relevant, and the complexities of the circumstances then and how they stemmed from previous issues historical that lead even into today is just wildly unbelievable. You have this man, allowed to be overtly coddled like a child , while also being hyper-sexualized and representative of the stereotype of masculinity and the standard for black male gaze and fetish. He’s coddled much like what we can see done in some cases today due to the fear and pain of from effects left from enslavement. The mom was obviously probably a product of an environment that didn’t have the same coddling and consideration for her and so she produces two male sons receiving the complete opposite of her upbringing which in turn hinders them instead of helps them and then he goes out and creates issues he doesn’t feel responsible for by seeing in these women what he sees in his mother a martyr and a support system. I definitely agreed with a variety of your points. Great videos so far !!!!!
Taraji was so incredibly extra in this movie, but that's where most of the classic pop culture moments come from. I always thought of Baby Boy as a good bad movie, but your analysis really provokes another look. I think the parallel to the reevaluation of Jennifer's Body is really apt...if you went to Baby Boy expecting that more typical hood drama you were really going to be thrown by this zany thing that at moments felt almost like parody of that genre. You made some excellent points about gender dynamics and the challenges of both Black masculinity and what Black women face in the midst of it.
I think this guy has some good takes at times but I don’t believe he’s from the hood and it’s hard for him to relate because baby boy is spot on like a mf plus fd panders to women and gay men
Homie look at the videos about buck breaking and “the agenda “ while I agree there is some absurdity to these theories but we can’t discard the fact of what imagery does to the mind especially if it’s constantly being pushed into your now imagine what that does to a young developing.
You succeeded in getting me to watch you talk for almost an hour about a movie I've never seen. Goal achieved. Also, this analysis is amazing and now I am going to lie on the floor and stare at the ceiling for a while to process.
Like you said about John Singleton’s direction, it’s very intentional. And I believe the overt-ness of the character performances around Jody may have been to illustrate the idea that Black folks don’t have time for subtlety all the time; only when necessary. Subtlety is for those who have the luxury to spend time and energy figuring out challenges, and reading between the lines for fun and entertainment. When folks are trying to survive in their day to day life usually the direct and overt approach is best. It saves you more time and is sometimes less work to navigate when you have other, sometimes more important things on your plate. But that’s just a thought I had as you pointed out the bolder character portrayals in the movie. I haven’t watched the movie in a while so I could just be thinking about it in a different direction than what the movie is actually giving.
Really enjoyed this video and appreciated that you recognized where the execution kinda fell short. I wanted to quickly mention, I feel like the shot of Melvin smoking the black n mild with a red hat on symbolized Papa Legba, who is a deity in Haitian Vodou who is known to open gateways and doors. From how you described his character, I can see this being applicable, as his presence played a fundamental part in opening a door (to adulthood/manhood) for Jodie.
Wow. I never looked at it that way but it makes so much sense. Melvins character does represent an unwanted but much needed change for Jodi. Legba and his symbolism makes it into so many black films. If that was the intent, I wouldn’t be surprised at all.
only seconds in and i gotta say i LOVE the CJ the X promo... the best video essayist appreciates the other best video essayists. the two of you have different energies and styles but both of you have impressive delivery/chemistry in front of a camera (not to mention a truly terrifying ability to disseminate massive amounts of information while simultaneously analyzing everything in depth.) i get a really wide perspective from this channel because you cover really current topics as well as using knowledge about earlier media/situations that influence or have some sort of bearing on now. there are several movies that i didn't know about but ended up being drawn into the video you made on it anyway because it was just that interesting. similar to CJ's cat valentine video in that i never had to watch the source material to get a lot out of the video. so despite youtube's algorthm working against you i think you have a lot of qualities in your favor to hopefully get a wider audience. Good luck! and congrats on almost 2k!!!
I saw Baby Boy for the first time this past year and I appreciated the take on the black masculinity it had. I saw Baby Boy’s growth and development, and despite the downsides the film had I enjoyed the perspective Singleton chose to take. I’m glad I waited until I was able to understand the movie for what it was to watch it. Great video once again, truly!
Your analysis of this movie really encapsulates the whole energy that this film had, and it’s uniqueness. It’s an absolute classic. I stuck and saw it when I was 7 or 8.
You had me at CJ the X. One of the best to deliver the chaotic comedy with an investigative journalism spin. Really insightful look a how much a series of unfortunate events can change our perception (in terms of studio marketing v. director's intentions). Who knew BET was trying to do us a service with playing Baby Boy so many times?
As a black man and new fan of your channel I’m so grateful to have found you. So many of the topics you speak about are things I’ve mentally tried to avoid. Yet, when you bring them up, it gives me this great sense of relief.
I always loved this movie, I remembered watching it a few times in the theaters in my early 20`s, Im kinda ashamed to say it was a little art imitating life for me as a black man with no father, but you definitely gave it a proper review my man thanks!
Same here, I'm tempted to drive back into my negative spiral yet imma look at this soberly. Not down on myself for not giving myself the direction I needed and waited in vain for since my teen years.
Ok, so because you made me have a teary eye for BLK men by discussing Baby Boy on such a deep and understandable level...I had to subscribe AND show this video to my friend. Also that sound clip gag every time you say Tyrese's name had me WEAK af LMAO.
Yeah this one was a bit rough in places that I saw, but I'm hoping the little change I get from reaching partner and getting bigger will make it possible to invest more, learn more editing skills, etc. Thanks for sticking with me.
Primm's Hood Cinema is what made me rethink Baby Boy. Dude was only 20 in the movie! That's younger than I thought. It really speaks to our society's obsession with making ppl "grow up" or become adults even when they're still in a maturing phase.
I mean he has two kids. He doesn't have a choice. And isn't Yvette around the same age? I'm sure Peanut is younger. Yvette has her own place, job and car. Why is Jody given a pass?
Taraji's performance was not over the top. I've seen this type of behavior in real time... Still, great topic and quite refreshing to hear over all the noise...
Another weekend .... another video watched. I also love this movie and agree with your analysis. I think Singleton's camp & on the nose elements are to ensure that the point is not missed and the dysfunctional elements aren't inadvertently romanticized. Its a lack of trust in the audience to perceive messaging and nuance (like Tyler Perry). I think the over the top elements (especially Snoop and Ving Rhames) introduces some comic relief so that the movie isn't too tragic/too much of a downer. Part of our culture is laughing at our pain (jokes about whooping, poverty, racism, etc) On another note, I find it curious that some of your commenters insist Yvette is realistic in all of her histrionic ridiculousness. But from their silence, I assume they don't feel the same about the cartoonishness of the male characters (Snoop, Peanut and Ving Rhames). That says a lot.
This was perfect! Though I haven’t watched the movie in a while, the opening scene has stuck with me since I was a kid. I thought it was brilliant how you said that women acting “over the top” could be what was in Jodie’s mental instead of the acting just being off. Thank you as always for the insight and new perspective! 2K subs here we come
When you pointed out people at the time had issue with the shift in tone I was surprised but then I realized growing up I had no issue with it because I grew up watching Spanish soap operas where shifts in tone can happen. Like one moment you can be watching a tense standoff between civilians vs a drug lord and main characters then disrupt the tension with an elderly mother with dementia totting guns with her adopted street gang. It's crazy shift in tone but I find it true to life. even in the most darkest moments are disrupted by unwanted livity and I think that's a type of charm baby boy brings its realism.
The scene where Melvin takes the gun from Jody has been burned into my mind ever since this movie came out. Loved your take on it. New sub and tbh been loving all your videos. Thanks for making them.
For years I thought about the major significance of this movie and the deep impact it had on our culture. But I was never able to articulate it in such a way. Thank you for doing just that! Just ran across your page and every video I have watched was dope! Thanks for your insight!
I LOVED this movie growing up, it came out when I was a preteen and it was the first movie I saw that had a drama storyline that wasn't an all white cast or straight up comedy. I enjoyed it as a preteen because the movie showed me a realistic (for where I grew up and lived) happy ending that didn't revolve around needing to leave for the suburbs in order to have a happy ending. And it was also one of the few movies I had ever seen that didn't have the main black man being hyper masculine almost to a comical point. Rewatching it as an adult, I still enjoy the movie because for me it's a good slightly whimsical telling of a grown child becoming a man while all the actual adults around him keep pushing him to try to become a good man rather than another shitty guy. And I absolutely loved that it showed black men having open moments and deep thing showing on rather than so many other movies that just show them as so one dimensional
At least this film had adult themes. Try to imagine audiences disappointment when they seen the trailer for ATL, thought they were seeing a hood movie and ended up seeing a pg- 13 movie about roller skating!
Tyrese is actually a decent actor. I have a huge soft spot for this flawed yet compelling film & always have an affinity for Tyrese, as strained as it's been over the years, for his performance here. Great job !
I loved this in-depth analysis. It's great that you can revisit these fan faves with a more mature eye! I also loved every single 'TYYYYRRREEESE' moment! xx
This weirdly puts my relationship with my ex in a new light. Doesn't forgive it or makes it better but I think I kind of understand (part of) what happened now.
Found your channel in my recommended list and I haven’t turned back. Your content is incredibly informative and easily digestible. As a young Black man, I truly appreciate the work that you put into these videos. Definitely gonna be sharing your channel with my friends
Wow, your comment at the beginning was timely- I scrolled past this video at first bc ive never seen this movie. But I thought “I enjoy his POV on other things, so I’ll check this one out too”. You are a dope creator in my book, thanks for shining a light on Baby Boy ✌️
Love your perspective of this movie! Obviously this is not a movie about all black men and not a great example of black men. I find it interesting that we as a society feel comfortable talking about how black men can end up being nonproductive yet we feel uncomfortable talking about how black women have been affected by black trauma. If you discuss that it's your putting down black women or stay out a women's business
Women have often been molested as very young children which calls into question the culture of silence regarding abusive pathologies within our community.
I've been on this kick where I've been watching movies that I saw 20 years ago. Last night I watched the original Tales from the Hood from 1995. I liked the movie when it was released but watching it now, the messages are so much more clear. That movie is underrated. So I'm gonna rewatch Baby Boy. Only thing is I hate how social media has given us so much access to celebrities. We see their true personalities which kind of puts a cloud around their past work.🥴
This movie came out shortly after I turned 11. I don’t know why my parents let me watch it so much, but anytime HBO had the rights I had it on repeat. I love it to this day and appreciate the care you take with your analysis. Thank you and well done!
I think that the movie Baby Boy spoke to all of us that were in those situations like I said my sister even named her son Jodie because that movie resonated with her so much I think that people who are not resonating with this movie simply were not in those situations and baby boy is not as glamorous as movies like Boyz in the Hood or Menace to Society those movies made hood life seem entertainingly thrilling there was nothing really admirable about any of the characters in baby boy in my opinion
Yeah I agree. In a way it's like Baby Boy showed more love to that world and the streets by showing how flawed they were instead of making them less realistic and less flawed.
Yo. I slept on it and came back to comment. I totally recognized Jody's stunted manhood but the part about nobody being there for Yvette really hit. Thanks, Fiq.
"I hate your bald head" 🤣🤣 I have always loved Baby Boy (w the exception of snoops terrible acting) & thought everyone did. I never grasped the gig-lo aspect though, interesting how good his mind works. Also, with the abuse of young men, I've been told off in various ig comments for acknowledging that this sort of child abuse is also prevalent in our community for all kids. It's odd how much our people push back on this reality.
Frankly, this is my first time hearing anyone outside of my family talk about this movie in-depth lol. I totally agree that "Baby Boy" deserves much deeper analysis in conversations pertaining to Black film, because its such an insightful piece. I really enjoyed hearing your take on this because it gave me a glimpse into what my big brother may have felt when he saw this movie. I vividly recall the first time I watched "Baby Boy" with him and I think that moment stands out to me because it was the first time I ever saw my brother visibly uncomfortable. I'd seen him get Sweet Pea pissed before, but never "uncomfortable." Generally, guys aren't allowed to express their emotions in the same way that females are, and when you add Blackness to the equation it gets even more complex, so maybe my brother connected to this movie just as viscerally as the women in our family did, but being a "Baby Boy" himself (he was like 19/20 years old), didn't really have the means to verbalize the impact the it had on him.
You do great at breaking down a particular individual's experience and relating it to bigger issues. In doing that you make your points more apparent and understandable.
oh my god thank you for this! i used to watch this movie with my mom and always thought it was so layered and complex and different scenes always stayed with me. until now i don't see many people discuss it in this way thank u sir!
i always liked this movie for the very things you brought up, and your correct on the ending which is why i hardly remembered that part as it didn't seem to coincide with the rest of the film. great success to you looking forward to seeing more
All of the black women in baby boy are very accurate to the black women I've had in my life. And honestly I think it's with you and how you perceived them that has you thinking they weren't complex. Just from. The 15 minutes that peanut and the 5 minutes that her mother were on the screen I picked up a whole lot. And that was a woman who made the same mistakes as her daughter, struggled through them and now, even though she knows better and how not to mess up, she is powerless to stop her daughter from making the same mistakes. You also see that Jody's mother is a lot like evette. They are good women who grew up in the hood and loved the wrong men. You get a glimpse of her mentorship of evette. Not sure how or why you missed that? Maybe because reality can be shocking and the fact that singleton was pretty accurate at his representation of a large portion of black women.
Excellent breakdown of the movie Baby Boy👌🏾. I’ve seen the movie many times and with your research I have a better understanding of the challenges within black masculinity on a physical, psychological, and spiritual level.
Damn, I love this movie but your analysis brought a whole different perspective I never thought of til now & I've seen this movie countless time's. Thank you brother
Great content. I really appreciate how you are exploring masculinity, it's touching on stuff I struggle with and have been working on myself, and seeing how masculinity is portrayed and projected around me and by me. Thanks
This came up in my recommended 2 years later - so I’m super late to the party, but gosh, your analysis / commentary was so insightful and knowledgeable! I loved this. New subscriber! 👏🏽
Man, if I had a nickel for every time Tyrese Gibson played a protagonist from the hood who needs to protect his young son from a criminal played by a celebrity guest rapper, I'd have two nickels. It's not a lot, but it's kind of weird it happened more than once.
This is a movie I've watched so many times and I was recently thinking about watching it. The unrealness of it is mesmerizing, in a way. I enjoy the validation you provided to me, a nerdy black woman that probably watched this so many times BECAUSE I was looking for that less than obvious meaning.
Your videos are bringing me to tears with every watch. I'm so mad sad and glad when I watch them I can honestly say that you are helping me... and thank you
Dope content, awesome perspectives, interesting topics = my new fav TH-cam channel! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Brother, I appreciate your hard work, continued growth and success to ya!
extra comment for the algorithm- and damn... that ending chapter... wow. i think i have to say that even without seeing this movie the moment when melvin helped jody still struck me as such a moving and impactful scene since you presented the story so well. i gotta add this movie to my to watch list. that moment was simultaneously sweet and heart-wrenching
I was so moved on your Black Men and love video essay- I left what is possibly a dissertation length response...Am I embarrassed? Not. At. All. You are bringing up some super scary, and necessary topics within our community- the sexual abuse/exploitation of black men. My God this discussion needs to happen. It’s no wonder why we have issues finding and sustaining love? Hurt people hurt people and the trauma cycle continues... I have not seen this film- I will now. I am so privileged to have found such an amazing channel. Can’t wait to see this channel blow waaay up.
Great take from baby boy. Ironically, I had the privilege of seeing this movie with my father at a young age. And he really got those elements and was able to help me digest it, particularly the relationship between Marvin and Jody. Love the videos and the insight. Thank you for your time.
I love the algorithm that brought me to your videos. I don't know what I did to deserve to be included. I'm South African (just putting it out there) and I just love how you think and articulate your thoughts.
Baby Boy came out when I was 18 and I LOVED it so much. I still love it! And you have some of the best video essays I've ever seen. Please keep it up! I'm a new subscriber.
(censored word of emotion so my comment doesn't go in the trash) Man. Had to pause the video to leave this kudos. Listen... I don't usually comment on your videos specifically because I don't think I can say anything better than you said in the video. I don't usually have anything to add to the conversation you haven't already covered. You're thorough, the content is excellent, and frankly, it's brought me back from a really ugly edge in my life. Thank you, times a million, for creating this content. I really hope you see this. When you put that image of Lil Wayne on screen, I cried, because I remember seeing that interview when it came out. I remember the look on his face when he said it: "I lost my virginity at 11. The girl was older." And the host went ghost faced, because he realized that Lil Wayne didn't realize he had been raped. And I saw the look on Wayne's face, ostensibly half high and trying to digest this new framing of his truth when the host, shocked, said something to the tune of "I don't think 11 year olds can lose their virginity." You could feel it, through the television, that Lil Wayne had this intensely private moment go public by accident of his own ignorance around consent. I know Khadija has a video coming out or may have just dropped around the topic of consent and she's great and thorough and everything too, but I haven't seen enough MEN address this topic and if you ever feel led to have that conversation I would personally support you anyway I can. There are too many men on both sides of the equation who are suffering or causing suffering from lack of knowledge. Please @ me if you read this. Bless you for all you do.
I originally found your channel through one of your Reddit posts and I just want to say I really like your video essays and you help break things down in a way even I can understand. Thanks a ton for the work you're putting into this and I hope your channel gets the growth it deserves (though hopefully without the headache that comes from that). Also seconding that other comment on Mass Effect analysis (or video games in general, really)!
I love games but they just don't move me like they used to. It's hard to get truly lost in a game and I can't think of any topics that activate for me much, especially since I like to have a sociological angle to play on. Feel free to throw some suggestions, I'm gonna eventually need a reserve of video ideas.
@@FDSignifire Ah, that's unfortunate but makes total sense. Maybe the indie space has stuff that will spark some of that old joy? I'd recommend Disco Elysium if you like RPGs and are okay with a pre-defined character. Or Outer Wilds (not to be confused with Outer Worlds) if you want an exploration game (IMO the best exploration game ever). And then for conventional bigger-budget stuff if you haven't checked out Dragon Age I'd recommend that if you liked the story stuff from ME, although that isn't quite going to be as unique as the other two.
I’m happy you brung up the sexual abuse of Black Boys up in this video. Child Sex Abuse is such an important issue that could possibly solve so many issues in the Black Community that people even get angry about if it’s even brought up.
I vaguely recall this movie being on TV when I was younger. I've never really been exposed to the Hood Movie genre like that, so just learning about it and learning how "Baby Boy" subverts many of the expectations of what a Hood Movie should be (even if it kind of plays things straight in the denouement, perhaps to its slight detriment when taking the film as a whole) made for a fascinating watch. So thank you. :)
Gosh I remember seeing this when it came out with my sister, what blast from the past. This was an excellent breakdown, looking forward to seeing more of your work around here
TYYYYREEEEESE!!!
That said, as usual, TH-cam kills your comments. Please repost if you feel like yours was deleted.
you a fool for the constant "tyreeeeeeessse" audio clip. im dead lol
Yo. I will never forget. After his Coca Cola commercial I was hype and it just so happened right after that "what you like" came out along with baby boy. He was at a free concert on the beach in syracuse what I just happen to live at the time. I automatically hated his guts soon as I heard "TyyyYYRtreeEesssEeee!!!!".
@@gypsieladie LOLOLOL fuck
U got a huge blur on the screen at 30:00
@@brianfury5516 I didn't see it. I saw one earlier that I think was due to copyright issues.
was just watching a bunch of your videos in a row learning a lot and admiring the clarity then the intro to this one decked me in the face
Fanboying out right now! Love your shit fam! So happy you saw this!
Please, I need you guys to team up!!! Watching a collaboration between you guys would be like seeing a MCU and DCU movie in real time. Plus, just because I am an English teacher... can it be based on the English language or dialects? As it reflects society, culture and identity and how that plays into storytelling or cinematography? My Dutch students learn the language and its poorly illustrated culture through movies. I would definitely use your vid to show them they need to apply context and deeper meaning to what they are seeing.
And oh my goodness, I love you guys all the way from the Netherlands...💖.
COLLAB COLLAB COLLAB!
i love both of yall. im bout to write me a video essay right meow
Lmao, you had me at "No Face is an incel."
Great analysis, I think a flaw with Baby Boy is that the movie doesn't stress enough that Jody is 20, not 28 lol. Realizing that he's the same age as a college sophmore or junior who has room to figure life out adds sympathy to his character.
Maybe so. However, isn’t Yvette around the same age? Own car, own apartment, job at the bank. Jody is young but he’s a father nonetheless. It should (although it clearly doesn’t) take you into a different realm of responsibility and accountability. The only “baby boy” should be the child now.
@@nik-at-nite Jody's fear that leaving his mom will lead to an early death is what's preventing him from being responsible though. I'm saying that it never lands as a plot device because the audience assumes he's older. It also makes details like him not owning a car, wanting to sabotage his mom's dating life, and getting jumped by teenagers look bizarre instead of what Singleton might have intended to invoke.
@@nik-at-nite Do you actually know the plot or premises the movie? He’s afraid to leave his house, his safety net -“the crib” because the last person who did so ended up murdered; his brother that’s traumatizing.
@@nik-at-nite "should". A underratedly lofty word. You aren't wrong for thinking that way. It SHOULD be that way, shouldn't it? But it wasn't. Even today with as much wokeness as we have in the world it's not.
I don't think the fact that he was living at his mom's house is really what made Jodi flawed I just think Jody was a fuckboy man he was sleeping with all these different girls had all these baby mamas and he was childish literally was riding a bike instead of driving his his girlfriend who was pregnant to the clinic like didn't even have a car to drive her there like that's some f****** bum s*** like there ain't nothing wrong living at your parents if you don't have like a good you know financial situation but I think that Jody was definitely taking advantage because he had like three different baby mamas and his mom was literally doing half the work which I think was so f***** up she should have whuped him upside the head for every child that he produced
The issue of sexual assault of Black boys by adult women is not talked about enough AT ALL!
It's crazy, I was just telling my wife and therapist how a 37 y/o woman was having sex with me when I was 13, that shit broke my brain for a long time when it came to how I interacted with the opposite sex, I still have trouble with women as authority figures...but I'm working on it. I'm glad he touched on that
I’m so sorry that happened to you. I hope you’re doing well and feeling ok.
Thank you for being so vulnerable and sharing that. I’m so happy you experienced that. I hope you know that it wasn’t your fault and you’re not to blame. I’m sorry you weren’t protected. 💔
My ex dealt with serious mental health issues behind an adult woman molesting him as a child. Thank you for bringing this up. We have to protect our boys from predators.
A quite of few young black boys i grew up with was so call groom by a older teen age girl are young woman. But most young boys feel like their entering manhood & enjoy it 🤔
@ericfreeman1303 They may enjoy the experience, but the younger the age the less they'll realize how they'll have problems processing.
@@ericfreeman1303saying “most” is wild. Assault is assault. Many girls enjoy older men making advances too but we don’t say that do we
Did your husband also comment on this video? 😂 I just read one that said he just told his wife and a therapist that he was molested as a child.. what are the odds?
😂 I love how every time you said “Tyrese,” you played his music. It reminds me of the “kumite” episode from the boondocks.
No lie me and my college roommates would randomly yell that note whenever we heard his name no matter where we were. It was obnoxious but it was life.
@@FDSignifire 🤣🤣🤣
Did you say “Kumite”? *WAH-TAH*
@@FDSignifire bro, we need to talk about the appeal of asian martial arts to blacks.
I'm jamaican and when i came to america, i could strike up conversations easily by bringing up kung fu movies. Hiphop goes so well with anime too. I loved all the kung fu references in boondocks.
@@rikrob5172 that's soke great deep lore there I should get to that
“I ain’t did nothing cuz. I’m tryna keep from doing something” this line is highly underrated and relatable :/
One thing I loved about Singleton's movies is the "cycle" trope. One part that was missed was that Jodie positioned himself to try and "protect" his mother from other men and then Jodie/Evette's son ended up being part of the "cycle" having to position himself to protect his mother from Rodney.
Taraji P Henson was over-acting and being over the top because that's how Baby Boy saw her. The entire movie is through the eyes of the protagonist. You commented on that regarding Ving Rhames' character in the way he is shot and framed. Taraji's character elicits a specific response from Baby Boy, and regardless of what she actually said or did, *HE* felt that her reaction was that confrontational, and therefore that was "reality".
I needed this breakdown for two reasons. 1 I too critiqued baby boy and called it horrible based on the over exaggerated acting and Jody just being down right toxic. You have Jody his humanity while not excusing his downfalls. 2. I had to examine the Jody in me, past and present, and examine how I fix my brokenness for the betterment of my wife and future children. I’ll be 30 yo 8.13.21 and I’m still trying to figure out who I am outside of a financial provider and a protector.
I love how this movie shows the different types of "boys in the hood". Its not just the gangster types ice cube, or the sports types like Morris Chestnut, or the playboys like Cuba. Its men/boys in between those categories. We need more movies that display the variety of black men in our culture!! That would be a good essay topic!
Oooh I’m here for this!! This came out when I was in middle school and I remember HATING Jodi with every fiber of my being. As a teen I saw it again and wondered why someone would create such a pathetic character, like what was the reason? As an adult I’m here to re-examine with you as I think I was too young to catch the message - this is so fun!
As a female from the hood I can say the female characters were not exaggerated. Yvette was a great representation of what you could call a 'dingy' female. I have definitely seen women act just like that. It makes since for her character to be that way considering Jodi's immaturity.
Yea definitely not exaggerated lol
You nailed it. Was thinking the same thing. I don't think he's been in the hood much. There are "Yvettes" in all hoods
Right. Jody's Peter Pan syndrome forced her to pick up the slack, making her more masculine and bitter.
This video is very well analysis. You made a lot of valid points, especially on Black men losing their "virginities" at a younger age to older teenagers or grown women. Topics like this are important to discuss and less avoiding the "uncomfortable" situation. Same thing with Black women losing their "virginities." Thank you for talking about this movie. Maybe one day I will give the movie a chance. I am not into most "gangster" related movies/shows, but it's good to watch time to time, especially since I want to become an actor😅💯
I imagine that it will probably help that "Baby Boy" subverts a lot of what is expected from a "gangster hood" genre movie.
I feel like so much of this is the way we are not allowed to be children. We have to grow up too fast, act grown, be more mature and that shit starts with slavery.
@@CaraRowen Honestly… I agree with you.
@@JulianStevedo you still want to act
Here from Real Talk with Yanie’s community tab! I just rewatched Baby Boy recently and this is an excellent analysis! This film is so well done. One of the best scenes to me is when Jody gives the gun to Melvin. Very powerful.
I grew up in neighborhoods where women like Taraji P Henson's character totally ring true.
Same. I found it interesting to think that some people read her as cartoonish or over the top. It's not a COMMON personality, but it definitely exists.
@@ebonyhinton5541 it’s wild to me to hear that take when social media literally has girls acting like that in many situations
My mom acted this way and many women In my family so when he said “over the top” I was confused lol
Love this movie...I sometimes still call my closest friends baby boy lol. Sure Taraji's character might seem over the top and cartoonish but... it's kind of spot on...look around...her character is everywhere in real life
Facts
Geez man. You always have a deep sense of insight into black masculinity. Something about the analysis always touches home and reveals something about the intuitive understanding behind these themes, and the direct correlation to my lived experience. It strikes me in the heart every time.
Melvin knocking Jody across the living room was one of the most satisfying punches in cinematic history 😆 I still can't stand this movie but your analysis was artfully done, per usual 🙌🏽
You had me at “Baby Boy”. Thanks for shining a light on a fantastic coming of age film that’s very relatable in a lot of ways. I remember being fresh out of high school when this dropped and it always stuck with me.
Baby boy is a black cult classic & seeing this video excites me. It brought back so much nostalgia with amazing analytical takes. The movie is still so relevant, and the complexities of the circumstances then and how they stemmed from previous issues historical that lead even into today is just wildly unbelievable. You have this man, allowed to be overtly coddled like a child , while also being hyper-sexualized and representative of the stereotype of masculinity and the standard for black male gaze and fetish. He’s coddled much like what we can see done in some cases today due to the fear and pain of from effects left from enslavement. The mom was obviously probably a product of an environment that didn’t have the same coddling and consideration for her and so she produces two male sons receiving the complete opposite of her upbringing which in turn hinders them instead of helps them and then he goes out and creates issues he doesn’t feel responsible for by seeing in these women what he sees in his mother a martyr and a support system. I definitely agreed with a variety of your points. Great videos so far !!!!!
Taraji was so incredibly extra in this movie, but that's where most of the classic pop culture moments come from. I always thought of Baby Boy as a good bad movie, but your analysis really provokes another look. I think the parallel to the reevaluation of Jennifer's Body is really apt...if you went to Baby Boy expecting that more typical hood drama you were really going to be thrown by this zany thing that at moments felt almost like parody of that genre. You made some excellent points about gender dynamics and the challenges of both Black masculinity and what Black women face in the midst of it.
i have seen the "he don't love me no more" scene in real life, from an actual woman, so most of the women seemed realistic to me.
Same here
I think this guy has some good takes at times but I don’t believe he’s from the hood and it’s hard for him to relate because baby boy is spot on like a mf plus fd panders to women and gay men
@@pball78 nal dude that last part u trippin
Homie look at the videos about buck breaking and “the agenda “ while I agree there is some absurdity to these theories but we can’t discard the fact of what imagery does to the mind especially if it’s constantly being pushed into your now imagine what that does to a young developing.
* mind , brain my bad
That issue of male abuse is true
You succeeded in getting me to watch you talk for almost an hour about a movie I've never seen. Goal achieved.
Also, this analysis is amazing and now I am going to lie on the floor and stare at the ceiling for a while to process.
Like you said about John Singleton’s direction, it’s very intentional. And I believe the overt-ness of the character performances around Jody may have been to illustrate the idea that Black folks don’t have time for subtlety all the time; only when necessary. Subtlety is for those who have the luxury to spend time and energy figuring out challenges, and reading between the lines for fun and entertainment. When folks are trying to survive in their day to day life usually the direct and overt approach is best. It saves you more time and is sometimes less work to navigate when you have other, sometimes more important things on your plate.
But that’s just a thought I had as you pointed out the bolder character portrayals in the movie. I haven’t watched the movie in a while so I could just be thinking about it in a different direction than what the movie is actually giving.
I thought that the women had some believable moments especially for a woman in their early 20’s
Really enjoyed this video and appreciated that you recognized where the execution kinda fell short.
I wanted to quickly mention, I feel like the shot of Melvin smoking the black n mild with a red hat on symbolized Papa Legba, who is a deity in Haitian Vodou who is known to open gateways and doors. From how you described his character, I can see this being applicable, as his presence played a fundamental part in opening a door (to adulthood/manhood) for Jodie.
@@g7924 😂😂😂😂😂
Wow. I never looked at it that way but it makes so much sense. Melvins character does represent an unwanted but much needed change for Jodi. Legba and his symbolism makes it into so many black films. If that was the intent, I wouldn’t be surprised at all.
Damn I never watched Baby Boy but the amount of references to this movie make me feel like I watch it already.
Fall asleep with BET playing in the background, you'll see the full thing eventually
Dam you gotta watch it fam
only seconds in and i gotta say i LOVE the CJ the X promo... the best video essayist appreciates the other best video essayists. the two of you have different energies and styles but both of you have impressive delivery/chemistry in front of a camera (not to mention a truly terrifying ability to disseminate massive amounts of information while simultaneously analyzing everything in depth.) i get a really wide perspective from this channel because you cover really current topics as well as using knowledge about earlier media/situations that influence or have some sort of bearing on now. there are several movies that i didn't know about but ended up being drawn into the video you made on it anyway because it was just that interesting. similar to CJ's cat valentine video in that i never had to watch the source material to get a lot out of the video. so despite youtube's algorthm working against you i think you have a lot of qualities in your favor to hopefully get a wider audience. Good luck! and congrats on almost 2k!!!
Yeah as soon as I found him (through khadija of course) I was like YES this is what I need.
I saw Baby Boy for the first time this past year and I appreciated the take on the black masculinity it had. I saw Baby Boy’s growth and development, and despite the downsides the film had I enjoyed the perspective Singleton chose to take. I’m glad I waited until I was able to understand the movie for what it was to watch it.
Great video once again, truly!
Your analysis of this movie really encapsulates the whole energy that this film had, and it’s uniqueness. It’s an absolute classic. I stuck and saw it when I was 7 or 8.
You had me at CJ the X. One of the best to deliver the chaotic comedy with an investigative journalism spin. Really insightful look a how much a series of unfortunate events can change our perception (in terms of studio marketing v. director's intentions). Who knew BET was trying to do us a service with playing Baby Boy so many times?
As a black man and new fan of your channel I’m so grateful to have found you. So many of the topics you speak about are things I’ve mentally tried to avoid. Yet, when you bring them up, it gives me this great sense of relief.
I always loved this movie, I remembered watching it a few times in the theaters in my early 20`s, Im kinda ashamed to say it was a little art imitating life for me as a black man with no father, but you definitely gave it a proper review my man thanks!
Same here, I'm tempted to drive back into my negative spiral yet imma look at this soberly. Not down on myself for not giving myself the direction I needed and waited in vain for since my teen years.
Ok, so because you made me have a teary eye for BLK men by discussing Baby Boy on such a deep and understandable level...I had to subscribe AND show this video to my friend.
Also that sound clip gag every time you say Tyrese's name had me WEAK af LMAO.
This was a GREAT breakdown! Please keep doing what you’re doing, how you’re doing it.
As a priest in the Church of the Algorithm, I bless this video with a comment.
Your videos are getting better. Substantively you’ve always been great, but your style/aesthetic is improving. Thanks for the great content!
Yeah this one was a bit rough in places that I saw, but I'm hoping the little change I get from reaching partner and getting bigger will make it possible to invest more, learn more editing skills, etc. Thanks for sticking with me.
Primm's Hood Cinema is what made me rethink Baby Boy. Dude was only 20 in the movie! That's younger than I thought. It really speaks to our society's obsession with making ppl "grow up" or become adults even when they're still in a maturing phase.
I know im a year late but Man this is so true. A lot of black kids feel like they got to be adults around 14-16 and get viewed in a different light.
I mean he has two kids. He doesn't have a choice. And isn't Yvette around the same age? I'm sure Peanut is younger. Yvette has her own place, job and car. Why is Jody given a pass?
@@dahliaherrod4301peanut is older
@@crishnaholmes7730 really?! Wow. Maybe jail time arrested his development
@@dahliaherrod4301 yeah
Taraji's performance was not over the top. I've seen this type of behavior in real time...
Still, great topic and quite refreshing to hear over all the noise...
She was also younger playing an even younger character.
Agreed. I thought it was written and acted out authentically.
Another weekend .... another video watched.
I also love this movie and agree with your analysis. I think Singleton's camp & on the nose elements are to ensure that the point is not missed and the dysfunctional elements aren't inadvertently romanticized. Its a lack of trust in the audience to perceive messaging and nuance (like Tyler Perry).
I think the over the top elements (especially Snoop and Ving Rhames) introduces some comic relief so that the movie isn't too tragic/too much of a downer. Part of our culture is laughing at our pain (jokes about whooping, poverty, racism, etc)
On another note, I find it curious that some of your commenters insist Yvette is realistic in all of her histrionic ridiculousness. But from their silence, I assume they don't feel the same about the cartoonishness of the male characters (Snoop, Peanut and Ving Rhames). That says a lot.
This was perfect! Though I haven’t watched the movie in a while, the opening scene has stuck with me since I was a kid.
I thought it was brilliant how you said that women acting “over the top” could be what was in Jodie’s mental instead of the acting just being off.
Thank you as always for the insight and new perspective! 2K subs here we come
When you pointed out people at the time had issue with the shift in tone I was surprised but then I realized growing up I had no issue with it because I grew up watching Spanish soap operas where shifts in tone can happen. Like one moment you can be watching a tense standoff between civilians vs a drug lord and main characters then disrupt the tension with an elderly mother with dementia totting guns with her adopted street gang. It's crazy shift in tone but I find it true to life. even in the most darkest moments are disrupted by unwanted livity and I think that's a type of charm baby boy brings its realism.
That last scene with melvin, helping jody without a word, that was so powerful to me
The scene where Melvin takes the gun from Jody has been burned into my mind ever since this movie came out. Loved your take on it. New sub and tbh been loving all your videos. Thanks for making them.
Same
For years I thought about the major significance of this movie and the deep impact it had on our culture. But I was never able to articulate it in such a way. Thank you for doing just that! Just ran across your page and every video I have watched was dope! Thanks for your insight!
I LOVED this movie growing up, it came out when I was a preteen and it was the first movie I saw that had a drama storyline that wasn't an all white cast or straight up comedy. I enjoyed it as a preteen because the movie showed me a realistic (for where I grew up and lived) happy ending that didn't revolve around needing to leave for the suburbs in order to have a happy ending. And it was also one of the few movies I had ever seen that didn't have the main black man being hyper masculine almost to a comical point.
Rewatching it as an adult, I still enjoy the movie because for me it's a good slightly whimsical telling of a grown child becoming a man while all the actual adults around him keep pushing him to try to become a good man rather than another shitty guy. And I absolutely loved that it showed black men having open moments and deep thing showing on rather than so many other movies that just show them as so one dimensional
At least this film had adult themes. Try to imagine audiences disappointment when they seen the trailer for ATL, thought they were seeing a hood movie and ended up seeing a pg- 13 movie about roller skating!
Tyrese is actually a decent actor. I have a huge soft spot for this flawed yet compelling film & always have an affinity for Tyrese, as strained as it's been over the years, for his performance here. Great job !
I loved this in-depth analysis. It's great that you can revisit these fan faves with a more mature eye! I also loved every single 'TYYYYRRREEESE' moment! xx
I think the character of Yvette , is perfect the counter part to Jody the immaturity the struggle to grow up as well
This weirdly puts my relationship with my ex in a new light. Doesn't forgive it or makes it better but I think I kind of understand (part of) what happened now.
Same
Found your channel in my recommended list and I haven’t turned back. Your content is incredibly informative and easily digestible. As a young Black man, I truly appreciate the work that you put into these videos. Definitely gonna be sharing your channel with my friends
Wow, your comment at the beginning was timely-
I scrolled past this video at first bc ive never seen this movie. But I thought “I enjoy his POV on other things, so I’ll check this one out too”. You are a dope creator in my book, thanks for shining a light on Baby Boy ✌️
Oh man, my boy is representing Mass Effect today! I would be interested in some kind of commentary on really anything from ME from you.
Love your perspective of this movie! Obviously this is not a movie about all black men and not a great example of black men. I find it interesting that we as a society feel comfortable talking about how black men can end up being nonproductive yet we feel uncomfortable talking about how black women have been affected by black trauma. If you discuss that it's your putting down black women or stay out a women's business
Women have often been molested as very young children which calls into question the culture of silence regarding abusive pathologies within our community.
You got jokes with the tyrese music que . Omg I am dying every time, it gets me every time.
My roommate from that time and I still say "I hate you Jody!" to each other. It is goofy but a classic.
Yo Tyrese singing Tyrese every time FD says Tyrese is wild! 🤣🤣🤣
I've been on this kick where I've been watching movies that I saw 20 years ago. Last night I watched the original Tales from the Hood from 1995. I liked the movie when it was released but watching it now, the messages are so much more clear. That movie is underrated. So I'm gonna rewatch Baby Boy. Only thing is I hate how social media has given us so much access to celebrities. We see their true personalities which kind of puts a cloud around their past work.🥴
This movie came out shortly after I turned 11. I don’t know why my parents let me watch it so much, but anytime HBO had the rights I had it on repeat. I love it to this day and appreciate the care you take with your analysis. Thank you and well done!
I think that the movie Baby Boy spoke to all of us that were in those situations like I said my sister even named her son Jodie because that movie resonated with her so much I think that people who are not resonating with this movie simply were not in those situations and baby boy is not as glamorous as movies like Boyz in the Hood or Menace to Society those movies made hood life seem entertainingly thrilling there was nothing really admirable about any of the characters in baby boy in my opinion
Yeah I agree. In a way it's like Baby Boy showed more love to that world and the streets by showing how flawed they were instead of making them less realistic and less flawed.
Yo. I slept on it and came back to comment. I totally recognized Jody's stunted manhood but the part about nobody being there for Yvette really hit. Thanks, Fiq.
This channel is a gem!! Your perspective is appreciated!!
I liked Taraji's character but her accent is so strong I questioned her being from LA.That DC accent is strong.
"I hate your bald head" 🤣🤣 I have always loved Baby Boy (w the exception of snoops terrible acting) & thought everyone did. I never grasped the gig-lo aspect though, interesting how good his mind works. Also, with the abuse of young men, I've been told off in various ig comments for acknowledging that this sort of child abuse is also prevalent in our community for all kids. It's odd how much our people push back on this reality.
Frankly, this is my first time hearing anyone outside of my family talk about this movie in-depth lol. I totally agree that "Baby Boy" deserves much deeper analysis in conversations pertaining to Black film, because its such an insightful piece. I really enjoyed hearing your take on this because it gave me a glimpse into what my big brother may have felt when he saw this movie. I vividly recall the first time I watched "Baby Boy" with him and I think that moment stands out to me because it was the first time I ever saw my brother visibly uncomfortable. I'd seen him get Sweet Pea pissed before, but never "uncomfortable." Generally, guys aren't allowed to express their emotions in the same way that females are, and when you add Blackness to the equation it gets even more complex, so maybe my brother connected to this movie just as viscerally as the women in our family did, but being a "Baby Boy" himself (he was like 19/20 years old), didn't really have the means to verbalize the impact the it had on him.
You do great at breaking down a particular individual's experience and relating it to bigger issues. In doing that you make your points more apparent and understandable.
oh my god thank you for this! i used to watch this movie with my mom and always thought it was so layered and complex and different scenes always stayed with me. until now i don't see many people discuss it in this way thank u sir!
i always liked this movie for the very things you brought up, and your correct on the ending which is why i hardly remembered that part as it didn't seem to coincide with the rest of the film. great success to you looking forward to seeing more
All of the black women in baby boy are very accurate to the black women I've had in my life. And honestly I think it's with you and how you perceived them that has you thinking they weren't complex. Just from. The 15 minutes that peanut and the 5 minutes that her mother were on the screen I picked up a whole lot. And that was a woman who made the same mistakes as her daughter, struggled through them and now, even though she knows better and how not to mess up, she is powerless to stop her daughter from making the same mistakes. You also see that Jody's mother is a lot like evette. They are good women who grew up in the hood and loved the wrong men. You get a glimpse of her mentorship of evette. Not sure how or why you missed that? Maybe because reality can be shocking and the fact that singleton was pretty accurate at his representation of a large portion of black women.
"under the watchful eyes if Tupac, a messianic figure of that time period"
Damn, you have no idea how apt those words eye. Descriptive af
Tupac was supposed to play the role of "Jody"
Truly loved the thought put into this. I never watched Baby Boy, but this essay has changed my preconceived notion about the film. I'll check it out!
Excellent breakdown of the movie Baby Boy👌🏾. I’ve seen the movie many times and with your research I have a better understanding of the challenges within black masculinity on a physical, psychological, and spiritual level.
PLEASE KEEP DOING THIS! I JUST FOUND YOUR CHANNEL AND i am a different person after sitting and watching this. Profound and excellent.
Damn, I love this movie but your analysis brought a whole different perspective I never thought of til now & I've seen this movie countless time's. Thank you brother
Great content. I really appreciate how you are exploring masculinity, it's touching on stuff I struggle with and have been working on myself, and seeing how masculinity is portrayed and projected around me and by me. Thanks
This came up in my recommended 2 years later - so I’m super late to the party, but gosh, your analysis / commentary was so insightful and knowledgeable! I loved this. New subscriber! 👏🏽
This channel is a breath of fresh air... Came here per Kahdijah. Been watching the last couple of days, now subscribed and shared with my boyfriend💜
Man, if I had a nickel for every time Tyrese Gibson played a protagonist from the hood who needs to protect his young son from a criminal played by a celebrity guest rapper, I'd have two nickels. It's not a lot, but it's kind of weird it happened more than once.
Type casting.
This is a movie I've watched so many times and I was recently thinking about watching it.
The unrealness of it is mesmerizing, in a way. I enjoy the validation you provided to me, a nerdy black woman that probably watched this so many times BECAUSE I was looking for that less than obvious meaning.
Your videos are bringing me to tears with every watch. I'm so mad sad and glad when I watch them I can honestly say that you are helping me... and thank you
Dope content, awesome perspectives, interesting topics = my new fav TH-cam channel! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Brother, I appreciate your hard work, continued growth and success to ya!
extra comment for the algorithm- and damn... that ending chapter... wow. i think i have to say that even without seeing this movie the moment when melvin helped jody still struck me as such a moving and impactful scene since you presented the story so well. i gotta add this movie to my to watch list. that moment was simultaneously sweet and heart-wrenching
I was so moved on your Black Men and love video essay- I left what is possibly a dissertation length response...Am I embarrassed? Not. At. All.
You are bringing up some super scary, and necessary topics within our community- the sexual abuse/exploitation of black men. My God this discussion needs to happen. It’s no wonder why we have issues finding and sustaining love? Hurt people hurt people and the trauma cycle continues...
I have not seen this film- I will now.
I am so privileged to have found such an amazing channel.
Can’t wait to see this channel blow waaay up.
Baby Boy was ALWAYS my favorite movie…didn’t realize that it wasn’t a beloved hood classic…I always thought it was. 🤷🏽♀️
Wow! Watching this as a woman who was 14 at the time, I never understood the movie or the main characters. Thank you for the break down
I've never seen this movie but watched the whole thing. You're a very compelling video essayist!
Great take from baby boy. Ironically, I had the privilege of seeing this movie with my father at a young age. And he really got those elements and was able to help me digest it, particularly the relationship between Marvin and Jody. Love the videos and the insight. Thank you for your time.
John Singleton was a legend. Not sure whether this or Higher Learning was his best film. Great video!!
Poetic Justice
I love the algorithm that brought me to your videos. I don't know what I did to deserve to be included. I'm South African (just putting it out there) and I just love how you think and articulate your thoughts.
I also love CJ the X, and this channel! Glad to have found both of y'all.
Baby Boy came out when I was 18 and I LOVED it so much. I still love it! And you have some of the best video essays I've ever seen. Please keep it up! I'm a new subscriber.
(censored word of emotion so my comment doesn't go in the trash)
Man. Had to pause the video to leave this kudos.
Listen... I don't usually comment on your videos specifically because I don't think I can say anything better than you said in the video. I don't usually have anything to add to the conversation you haven't already covered. You're thorough, the content is excellent, and frankly, it's brought me back from a really ugly edge in my life. Thank you, times a million, for creating this content. I really hope you see this.
When you put that image of Lil Wayne on screen, I cried, because I remember seeing that interview when it came out. I remember the look on his face when he said it: "I lost my virginity at 11. The girl was older." And the host went ghost faced, because he realized that Lil Wayne didn't realize he had been raped. And I saw the look on Wayne's face, ostensibly half high and trying to digest this new framing of his truth when the host, shocked, said something to the tune of "I don't think 11 year olds can lose their virginity." You could feel it, through the television, that Lil Wayne had this intensely private moment go public by accident of his own ignorance around consent.
I know Khadija has a video coming out or may have just dropped around the topic of consent and she's great and thorough and everything too, but I haven't seen enough MEN address this topic and if you ever feel led to have that conversation I would personally support you anyway I can. There are too many men on both sides of the equation who are suffering or causing suffering from lack of knowledge.
Please @ me if you read this. Bless you for all you do.
… the way i have NEVER pieced together Jody being a sw. everything you said made extreme sense
I originally found your channel through one of your Reddit posts and I just want to say I really like your video essays and you help break things down in a way even I can understand. Thanks a ton for the work you're putting into this and I hope your channel gets the growth it deserves (though hopefully without the headache that comes from that). Also seconding that other comment on Mass Effect analysis (or video games in general, really)!
I love games but they just don't move me like they used to. It's hard to get truly lost in a game and I can't think of any topics that activate for me much, especially since I like to have a sociological angle to play on. Feel free to throw some suggestions, I'm gonna eventually need a reserve of video ideas.
@@FDSignifire Ah, that's unfortunate but makes total sense. Maybe the indie space has stuff that will spark some of that old joy? I'd recommend Disco Elysium if you like RPGs and are okay with a pre-defined character. Or Outer Wilds (not to be confused with Outer Worlds) if you want an exploration game (IMO the best exploration game ever). And then for conventional bigger-budget stuff if you haven't checked out Dragon Age I'd recommend that if you liked the story stuff from ME, although that isn't quite going to be as unique as the other two.
I’m happy you brung up the sexual abuse of Black Boys up in this video. Child Sex Abuse is such an important issue that could possibly solve so many issues in the Black Community that people even get angry about if it’s even brought up.
I vaguely recall this movie being on TV when I was younger.
I've never really been exposed to the Hood Movie genre like that, so just learning about it and learning how "Baby Boy" subverts many of the expectations of what a Hood Movie should be (even if it kind of plays things straight in the denouement, perhaps to its slight detriment when taking the film as a whole) made for a fascinating watch.
So thank you. :)
Gosh I remember seeing this when it came out with my sister, what blast from the past. This was an excellent breakdown, looking forward to seeing more of your work around here