History Film / HustleAndFlow

''Hustle & Flow'' is a 2005 drama written and directed by Craig Brewer and starring Creator/TerrenceHoward. It tells the story of a small-time hustler, [=DJay=] (Howard), who yearns to express himself artistically and pull himself out of the Memphis ghetto.

Rounding out the cast is Creator/AnthonyAnderson as "Key", Creator/TarynManning as "Nola", Creator/TarajiPHenson as "Shug", and Creator/DJQualls as Shelby.

It won an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Music/ThreeSixMafia's theme song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp".

It won an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Three 6 Mafia's theme song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp".

''Hustle & Flow'' is a 2005 drama written and directed by Craig Brewer and starring Creator/TerrenceHoward. It tells the story of a small-time hustler, [=DJay=], who yearns to express himself artistically and pull himself out of the ghetto.

* GoldToothOfWealth: Inverted. DJay has a gold tooth. It, along with the gold chain he wears with pride, are supposed to show that he's still small-time in comparison to the platinum-bedecked stars.

* GoldTooth: [=DJay=] has a gold tooth. It, along with the gold chain he wears with pride, are supposed to show that he's still small-time in comparison to the platinum-bedecked hip stars.

''Hustle & Flow'' is a 2005 drama written and directed by Craig Brewer and starring Terrence Howard. It tells the story of a small-time hustler, [=DJay=], who yearns to express himself artistically and pull himself out of the ghetto.

* TheCameo: Musicians Isaac Hayes, Music/{{Ludacris}}, Juicy J and Haystak all have small roles.

* WhamShot: [[spoiler:[=DJay=] finds his mixtape in the toilet, which was toss in by a drunk Skinny Black.]]

* AntiHero: [=DJay=] is a pimp, a drug dealer, and do will just about any other low-level crime to get by.
* AssholeVictim: Although the punishment might not have fit the crime, [[spoiler:Skinny Black could qualify, after he drunkenly tossed [=DJay=]'s mixtape into the toilet bowl and essentially told him to get lost when asked about it.]]

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:[=DJay=] goes to prison for 11 months, but on the outside, his songs are starting to get airplay, suggesting that he may become a success after all]].

* CallBack: [=DJay=] tells the prison guards who give him their demo "Everybody's got to have a dream," the same dismissive observation that Skinny Black gave him, albeit presumably in a more sincere tone this time around.
* TheCameo: Musicians Music/IsaacHayes, Music/{{Ludacris}}, Juicy J and Haystak all have small roles.

* {{Jerkass}}: Skinny Black is the main example here. Obviously, fame has made him forsake his Memphis roots as he becomes an arrogant rap superstar years after struggling in the underground scene. He now runs with his own entourage, and is mocking at worst, patronizing at best toward [=DJay=].
** Also Lexus, who neglects her young child and is openly disrespectful toward [=DJay=] and his musical ambitions.

* WhamShot: [[spoiler: [=DJay=]'s mixtape in the toilet bowl, drunkenly tossed in by Skinny Black just moments after it was given to him.]]

It won an AcademyAward for Three 6 Mafia's theme song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp".

** Also Lexus, who neglects her young child and is openly disrespectful toward [=DJay] and his musical ambitions.

* CallBack: [=DJay=] tells the prison guards who give him their demo "Everybody's got to have a dream," the same dismissive observation that Skinny Black gave him.

* WhatTheHellHero: Nola calls [=DJay=] out on the fact that he manipulates her to get the things he wants.

* MisogynySong: "Smoke That Trick" is about disciplining your prostitute.

* {{Bowdlerise}}: Key suggests that [=DJay=] tone down the lyrics in one of his songs so that it can be radio-friendly. They settle on "Smoke That Trick."

It won an Oscar for Three 6 Mafia's theme song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp."

* WhatTheHellHero: Nola calls [=DJay=] out on the fact that he manipulates her to get the things he wants.

* AntiHero: [=DJay=] is a pimp, a drug dealer, and will just about any other low-level crime to get by.

It won an Oscar for Three6 Mafia's theme song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp."