Brown Sugar

When did you first fall in love with hip-hop?

Sidney and Dre can attribute their lifelong friendship and the launch of their careers to one single childhood instant... witnessing the birth of hip-hop on a New York street corner. Now some 15 years later, she is a revered music critic at a national magazine and he is a successful, though unfulfilled, hip-hop record company executive. Both come to realize that their true life passions will only be fulfilled by remembering what they learned that day on the corner.

Sanaa Lathan

(Sidney 'Sid' Shaw)

Taye Diggs

(Andre Romulus 'Dre' Ellis)

Yasiin Bey

(Chris Anton 'Cav' Vichon)

Nicole Ari Parker

(Reese Marie Wiggam Ellis)

Boris Kodjoe

(Kelby Dawson)

Queen Latifah

(Francine)

Wendell Pierce

(Simon)

Erik Weiner

(Ren)

Reggi Wyns

(Ten)

Melissa Martínez

(Meghan)

Aaliyyah Hill

(Young Sidney)

Marc John Jefferies

(Young Dre)

Angie Martinez

(Self (Radio DJ))

Rosalyn Coleman

(Trish Hofmann)

Keith Tisdell

(Richard Lawson)

Venida Evans

(Older Woman)

Breece Wilson

(Woman)

Brette Taylor

(Woman 2)

Donna DuPlantier

(Woman 3)

Robin T. Kirksey

(Bartender 1)

Sterling K. Brown

(Co-Worker)

Kofi Boakye

(Host)

Dena Atlantic

(Hot 97 Assistant)

Gerry Pinzon

(Instructor)

Sam McPherson

(Iridium Waiter)

Big Daddy Kane

(Self)

Tariq Trotter

(Self - Black Thought [The Roots])

Questlove

(Self)

Kool G Rap

(Self)

Helmar Augustus Cooper

(Reverend)

Wyking Jones

(Bartender)

Toks Olagundoye

(Sidney's LA Assistant)

Opal Alladin

(Crafts Vendor)

Dana Dane

(Self)

Doug E. Fresh

(Self)

Slick Rick

(Self)

Jermaine Dupri

(Self)

Pete Rock

(Self)

David Jolicoeur

(Self - Trugoy the Dove [De La Soul])

Kelvin Mercer

(Self - Posdnuos [De La Soul])

Vincent Mason

(Self - Maseo [De La Soul])

Kimora Lee Simmons

(Self)

Russell Simmons

(Self)

Beanie Sigel

(Self)

Talib Kweli

(Self)

Common

(Self)

Method Man

(Self)

Hadley Martin Fisher

(Backstage Bartender)

Justin 'DJ' Spaulding

(Kid in the Park)

Liza Lapira

(Hot 97 Receptionist)

Ralph E. Tresvant

(Royale (uncredited))

Kevin Watson

(Record Label Executive (uncredited))

Vinny DeGennaro

(Bouncer (uncredited))

Lamman Rucker

(Man on Couch at Radio Station (uncredited))

Erica Ise

(Bridesmaid (uncredited))

Spencer Kayden

(Bridesmaid (uncredited))

Joanie Laurer

(Woman at Party (uncredited))

Brother Eden Douglas

(Park Chess Player #1 (uncredited))