After the assassination of Tokyo's Governor by Yakuza members, the CIA bureau chief (William Atherton) for Tokyo puts out a call to an agent (Steven Seagal) that had been raised in Japan and trained by ex-Yakuza. Using his former ties, he quickly determines that a war is brewing between old-guard Yakuza members and a young, crazed leader (Takao Osawa) with ties to the Chinese Tong.
On returning home to settle his late father's affairs, Joshua Pope (Busta Rhymes) finds a different town from the one he left. The once quiet and peaceful neighborhood is now at the mercy of a prejudice and corrupt police force. Joshua is joined by an old friend (Xzibit) and his gang of thugs in an effort to overthrow the police and restore order to the small Alabama town.
