hustle and flow

Anthony Anderson

Taryn Manning

Taraji P. Henson

Elise Neal

Isaac Hayes

with D.J. Qualls

and Ludacris

as 'Skinny Black' Music by Isaac Hayes Distributed by Paramount Classics Release date(s) 2005 Running time 116 minutes Language English

Hustle & Flow is a 2005 independent film written and directed by Craig Brewer about a Memphis hustler called DJay, played by Terrence Howard, who experiences a midlife crisis and is compelled to face his aspiration to become a rapper. DJay, a petty drug dealer and equally petty pimp, and his original and primary charge, prostitute Nola, troll the streets and under bridges and overpasses of Memphis, looking for clients. From the start, it is clear that Nola is more DJay's business partner and fellow hustler (DJay refers to her as his "primary investor"), rather than his subordinate, and that neither of them is satisfied with their lives or with the ins and outs of prostitution; however, each is also in a crisis about exactly what to do instead. While DJay quickly turns to music once he re-discovers the keyboard, Nola remains indecisive and crisis-ridden throughout much of the movie. Despite this, however, the two always remain close, and "in charge" of everything around them, and Nola eventually finds her purpose alongside DJay as his manager.

The film, like its own plot, has had a hard life. It experienced many years of near-misses and outright rejection from major studios and potential financiers before finally being backed by John Singleton. Once it got made, it was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Actor for Howard and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, for Three 6 Mafia's "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp". Contents [hide] 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Awards and nominations 4 Trivia 5 See also 6 External links //

Plot

DJay is dissatisfied with his life. After acquiring a keyboard and reacquainting himself with an old friend from school, Key, who has become a sound technician, DJay decides to try making hip hop songs. Key and his sound-mixer friend Shelby help DJay put together several "flow" songs. While DJay quickly proves to have a real talent for lyrics, in which he expresses the frustrations of a small-time hustler struggling to survive, it is his first fixed-length song, done at the urging of these friends, which most obviously has the chance of becoming a hit and getting local radio play.

The group experiences many setbacks throughout the creative process. DJay must hustle those around him in order to procure proper equipment and recording time, and Key's relationship with his wife becomes strained. DJay throws out one of his prostitutes for ridiculing his art. DJay's pregnant prostitute Shug joins in the creative process, singing hooks, and the group eventually records several fixed-length tracks, including "Whoop That Trick" and their primary single "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp".