Actor Tyrin Turner from "Menace II Society" & Belly Tells His Life Story (Unreleased Full Interview)

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In this classic 2017 VladTV interview, Tyrin Turner — best known for his role as Caine in Menace II Society — opens up about growing up in South Central Los Angeles and how his life changed after starring in one of the most iconic street films of the 1990s .

Tyrin talks about being raised at 51st and Hoover in a Hoover Crips neighborhood, staying out of gangs despite peer pressure, and a childhood run-in with the law after stealing Vans that led to a harsh lesson from his mother. He explains how he discovered acting through a workshop, landing a major role in Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation” video — earning $7,000 at just 18 — and nearly starring in Boyz n the Hood before losing the role to Cuba Gooding Jr.

The interview dives deep into Menace II Society, including how the Hughes brothers cast him after seeing him in a music video and an America’s Most Wanted reenactment. Tyrin gives his firsthand account of Tupac Shakur originally being cast as Sharif, the reported conflict during rehearsals, and the alleged confrontation involving the Hughes brothers that followed. He reflects on the film’s $28 million box office success and how instant fame changed his life — including Leonardo DiCaprio reportedly knowing all his lines from the film.

Tyrin also discusses playing Rico in Belly, originally being considered for the role DMX played, and how he and Hype Williams developed the look for his character. He speaks candidly about feeling overlooked by the Hughes brothers after Menace, missing out on films like Dead Presidents, and how his “boyish look” may have affected casting opportunities compared to peers like Omar Epps and Morris Chestnut.

The conversation continues with Tyrin’s long-standing friendship and creative partnership with Jamie Foxx, helping write Foxx’s stand-up material and working on projects like All-Star Weekend alongside Snoop Dogg, Eva Longoria, Jeremy Piven, and Robert Downey Jr.

Finally, Tyrin discusses his own rap career under Rap-A-Lot Records as “Kane,” discovering producer Seven (who later worked with Murder Inc.), and supporting his son Lil Kane’s emerging music career — including collaborations with 808 Mafia and Chief Keef.

From South Central to Hollywood to hip-hop, Tyrin Turner shares an unfiltered look at legacy, missed opportunities, loyalty, and reinvention.