Tyrell is a young, African American teenaged boy who struggles in a very bad position. His dad is in jail, he mom doesn’t want to do anything for herself or her kids, and sadly, she has a 6 year old who needs her. That doesn’t bother her though, she’ll keep wasting her money on her drugs and not food for her kids.
Tyrell loves his mom, she’s always been there for him growing up, he knows it’s tough for her right now, he just wishes she would try to bring home a couple dollars, at least. Troy, Tyrell’s brother, is in the first grade--see, Tyrell was forced to drop out of school to get a job for him and his mom, he doesn’t want Troy to have to lose his education. They live off Welfare and the New York City housing departments placed them in a home where roaches crawl on their beds and hid in their clothes. Troy doesn’t like bugs…

He’s caught up between two girls. His girlfriend of 2 years, who may be hiding something, or the girl he met at his apartments.Novisha is Tyrell’s girlfriend of 2 years. They met eachother in 8th grade and have been almost inseperatable since. Although, she’s been ‘busy’ a lot. She still goes to school, she’s A honor-roll. Tyrell had to drop out, so he could work a full time job. She’s been seeming kind of shady lately, she never can see him, she’s always doing something else. He sees her with another guy at a rap battle. But she says he’s just a friend.Jasmine is the girl that Tyrell met at his apartments, she lives poor, too. They are both struggling in the same way. She understands what he’s going through. Her mom bailed on her and her older sister when her older sister was 11, Jasmine was only 7. They were stuck in the world on their own, til her sister turned 16, she got a job but was living with different men who’d give Jasmine a bed to sleep on that night. When her sister turned 18 they applied for welfare, luckily got it. Jasmine is 15 now and her sister is 19. Jasmine is smart, cute, funny, and really catches Tyrell’s eye. But who does he want? The girl who he’s been with for 2 years whom may be cheating on him? Or the girl with the broken smile who may have a really bad history?

Tyrell’s dad gets out of jail on good behavioral release. Tyrell doesn’t want anything to do with dad and doesn’t want Troy around him. He meets with his uncle who owns his own DJ business, so he can make money around the clock. Does this all fall through?
Tyrell’s mom takes his dad back the minute he gets out of jail. Tyrell is done with his dad, he doesn’t want him around. All he’s done is tear the family down and apart. He wants his mom to do better, to be better. She doesn’t care. He tells her, “Mom, it’s me and Troy, or that low-life, who is it going to be?” She chooses the man who caused them all this pain and leaves her children by themselves. Now, Tyrell is stuck with a 6 year old, who is broken and scared. Jasmine starts babysitting him while Tyrell works, thankfully he has a goodfriend who has his back. Tyrell coinsidientally runs into his uncle who owns his own DJ business. He offers Tyrell a Friday/Saturday night job DJ-ing for his company. Tyrell is estatic to finally do something he enjoys. See, when his dad got taken to jail the first time when Tyrell was 13, everything in their house was put into storage units, which they had to pay an arm and a leg to get the stuff out of there, all Tyrell’s DJ-ing equipment was there. Tyrell loved it, so he took the job without thinking twice. Making a little extra money on the side would benefit him anyways.
Tyrell makes up enough money to live on his own with Troy, it’s a tough journey but he made it out in one peace. He’s got his sweet, loving girlfriend by his side every step forward, Jasmine. They plan to get married and start their own family someday. Tyrell promises he will never be the father his father was.