Line #11 Film/HustleAndFlow


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hustle_and_flow18611.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:''♫ You know it's hard out here for a pimp... ♫'']]
3
4	->''"Well, you know what they say: Everybody gotta have a dream."''
5	-->-- '''[=DJay=]'''
6
7	''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 North Memphis ghetto.
8
9	Rounding out the cast is Creator/AnthonyAnderson as [=DJay's=] producer [[TheLancer "Key"]], Creator/TarynManning as rep [[HookerWithAHeartOfGold "Nola"]], Creator/TarajiPHenson as LoveInterest "Shug" [[note]]pronounced "shoog" like sugar[[/note]], and Creator/DJQualls as recording tech [[PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy "Shelby"]].
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11	It won an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Music/ThreeSixMafia's theme song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp."
12	----
13	!!This film provides examples of:
14
15	* AntiHero: [=DJay=] is a pimp and drug dealer who'll do just about any other low-level crime to get by.
16	* AssholeVictim: Although the punishment might not have fit the crime, [[spoiler:Skinny Black qualifies. [=DJay=] angrily confronts and beats Skinny Black when the latter shows no remorse for drunkenly tossing the former's mixtape in the toilet.]]
17	* BigDamnKiss: Shug plants a giant kiss on [=DJay=] to wish him luck before his meeting with Skinny Black. It's the first overtly romantic gesture between them.
18	* 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.]]
19	* {{Bowdlerise}}: Key suggests that [=DJay=] tone down the lyrics in one of his songs so that it can be radio-friendly. They settle on "Whoop That Trick."
20	* CallBack: [[spoiler:[=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.]]
21	* TheCameo: Musicians Music/IsaacHayes, Music/{{Ludacris}}, Juicy J and Haystak all have small roles.
22	* GetOut: [=DJay=] kicks Lexus out of his house when she openly disrespects him.
23	* 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.
24	* HiddenDepths: The meek Shug turns out to have a strong and passionate voice when she's singing.
25	* {{Jerkass}}:
26	** Lexus, who neglects her young child and is openly rude and disrespectful.
27	** Skinny Black. Fame has made him forsake his Memphis roots.
28	* MisogynySong: "Whoop That Trick" is about disciplining your prostitute.
29	* TheReveal: [[spoiler:When Key asks [=DJay=] if he really knew Skinny Black, [=DJay=] admits that he lied.]]
30	* VocalTagTeam: [=DJay=] and Shug on their single "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp."
31	* WhamShot: [[spoiler:[=DJay=] finds his mixtape in the toilet, which was tossed in by a drunk Skinny Black.]]
32	* WhatTheHellHero: Nola calls [=DJay=] out on the fact that he manipulates her to get the things he wants – specifically, asking her to service the music shop owner so that he could get a better deal on some microphones.

Context Film / HustleAndFlow