A 20-year-old man named Joseph "Jody" Summers lives with his 36-year-old mother Juanita in South Central Los Angeles. He spends most of his time with his unemployed best friend Sweetpea, and does not seem interested in becoming a responsible adult. However, he is forced to mature as a result of an ex-con named Melvin, who moves into their home. Another factor is his children—a son Joseph "JoJo" Summers Jr. with his girlfriend of five years, 22-year-old Yvette, and a daughter with a 19-year-old girl that he cheated on Yvette with named Peanut who also lives with her mother.