The movie "Hustle & Flow" is based on a true story.
The 2005 American drama film Hustle & Flow was written and directed by Craig Brewer.It stars Howard as a Memphis pimp who wants to become a rapper.Also starring are Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Taraji P. Henson and DJ Qualls.
The movie "Hustle & Flow" was released in the United States by Paramount Pictures.It received positive reviews from critics, with praise directed at the performances of Howard and Henson, Brewer's script and direction, and the soundtrack.It made $23.5 million against a production budget of $2.8 million.
The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, including one for Best Original Song for "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" by Three 6 Mafia, which became the second hip hop song to win an Academy Award.
Terrence Howard plays DJay, a pimp and drug dealer who is dissatisfied with his life.DJay decided to try his hand at making hip hop songs after his old friend Key became a sound technician.
Key and his friend, DJ Qualls, help DJay put together several "flow" songs in which he expresses the frustration of a small-time hustler.DJay's first fixed-length song, done at the urging of his friends, appears to have a decent chance of becoming a hit and getting local radio play.
There are many setbacks in the creative process.Key's relationship with his wife becomes strained as DJay must hustle those around him in order to procure proper equipment and recording time.Lexus and her one-year-old son were thrown out by DJay 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.DJay fell in love with Shug after their first recording.
Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, a successful Memphis rapper, will be returning to the neighborhood for a Fourth of July party according to DJay's friend.DJay gained admittance to the party in order to give Skinny Black a demo tape.DJay persuaded Black to take the tape after a long night of reminiscing.
DJay discovered that the drunken Black had destroyed his tape and left it in the toilet before he left the party.Black laughed at the idea of touring with DJay and insulted him.DJay beat Black to a bloody pulp.A member of Black's crew pulls out his gun as DJay attempts to resuscitate the unconscious Black.DJay shoots the man in his arm and uses him as a human shield to escape.
Black's associates are waiting for DJay when he arrives home.DJay told Nola to keep his writing pad after he turned himself in.He told Shug that she was in charge of getting his songs on local radio stations.DJay was sentenced to 11 months in prison for assault and possession of a firearm.
Key visits DJay while he is serving his time.DJay told Key that he made it up in order to keep the group's dream alive.Key tells DJay that Nola has gotten local radio DJs to play his songs, which have become local hits.Key wants to discuss his plans with Nola.As the film ends, we see a friendly duo of prison guards who have their own rap group asking DJay to listen to their demo, much as D Jay had approached Skinny Black.DJay accepted their tape and responded with "You know what they say, everybody gotta have a dream".
Howard initially turned down the role of DJay.He was trying to avoid being typecast as a pimp.He took on the role after reversing his earlier decision.