"Explicit Ills" follows four inter-connecting stories revolving around love, drugs and poverty in Philadelphia. Babo, an asthma ridden seven-year-old lives with his mother in the badlands of North Philly. His neighbor Demetri transforms himself into a well-read "smart" boy in order to get the girl. Michelle, a well-off art student is quick to fall into a drug-induced love-affair with her dealer Jacob. Kaleef and Jill's marriage is strained as they pursue their dreams of bringing "produce to the people," while their teenage son Heslin focuses on competing in the World's Strongest Man competition.