Da Urban Dictionary iz yo fren, homes.

(WARNING: You could be up until New Years Eve reading all the brainiac definitions of this particular term.)

FWIW, I've seen many of the Puerto Rican's around my area use the term, probably moreso than the blacks who have such a problem with it.

Bornyo, I think "homes" is a stiff abbreviation for "homeboy", which in itself is urban jargon.