Omar Epps as Quincy 'Q' Powell

Tupac Shakur as Roland Bishop

Khalil Kain as Raheem Porter

Jermaine Hopkins as Steel

Cindy Herron as Yolanda

Samuel L. Jackson as Trip

Queen Latifah as Ruffhouse M.C.

Vincent Laresca as Radames

Michael Badalucco as Detective Kelly

Donald Faison as Student

Maggie Rush as Myra

Bruklin Harris as Keesha

Bokeem Woodbine as Patron

Grace Garland as Q's Mother

John Patrick McLaughlin as Cop #1

Norman Douglass as Cop #2

John Di Benedetto as Cop #3

George O. Gore II as Brian

Victor Campos as Quiles

Eric Payne as Frank

Sharon Cook as Record Store Clerk

Darien Berry as Blizzard

Flex Alexander as Contest Auditioner

Rony Clanton as Detective Markham

Jacqui Dickerson as Sweets

Pablo Guzman as TV Reporter

LaTanya Richardson Jackson as Steel's Mother

Randy Frazier as Steel's Father

Oran "Juice" Jones as Snappy Nappy Dugout

Mitch Marchand as Kid at Trip's

Corwin Moore as Sam

Lauren Jones as Raheem's Mother

Birdie M. Hale as Bishop's Grandma

L.B. Williams as Bishop's Father

Eddie Joe as Bartender

Christopher Rubin as Doctor

Ed Lover as Contest Judge

Doctor Dré as Contest Judge

Fab 5 Freddy as Self

Erick Sermon as Bar Patron

Parrish "PMD" Smith as Bar Patron

Juanita Troy-Keitt as Homeless Woman

Treach as Radame’s Homie (uncredited)

Moses Edinborough as MTV Producer (uncredited)

Ed "Special Ed" Archer as Keesha's Boyfriend (uncredited)

Stretch as Tall Man in Club (uncredited)

T-Money as T-Money (uncredited)

Millicent Terraine as Woman (uncredited)

George Letrell as Radames' Gang (uncredited)

Al Shaw Ki Moore as Dancer (uncredited)

Kool DJ Red Alert as Concert Judge (uncredited)