Born on June 18, 1973, in Inglewood, California, he is an acclaimed American filmmaker known for exploring themes of identity and culture. A graduate of the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, he gained recognition with "The Wood" (1999). His work often delves into African-American experiences, as seen in "Brown Sugar" (2002) and the critically acclaimed "Dope" (2015). He has also contributed to television, directing episodes of "The Mandalorian."