Hustle & Flow poster

2005·116 min·Released

Hustle & Flow

“Everybody gotta have a dream.”

Crime
Drama
Music

With help from his friends, a Memphis pimp in a mid-life crisis attempts to become a successful hip-hop emcee.

7.2(451 votes)

Popularity2

Videos

Hustle & Flow - Trailer

Cast & Crew

Terrence Howard

Terrence Howard

Djay

Anthony Anderson

Anthony Anderson

Key

Taryn Manning

Taryn Manning

Nola

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson

Shug

DJ Qualls

DJ Qualls

Shelby

Ludacris

Ludacris

Skinny Black

Paula Jai Parker

Paula Jai Parker

Lexus

Elise Neal

Elise Neal

Yevette

Isaac Hayes

Isaac Hayes

Arnel

Juicy J

Juicy J

Tigga

William Engram

William Engram

Slobs

Bobby Sandimanie

Bobby Sandimanie

Yellow Jacket

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CinemaSerf

Written on 11/23/2024

Terrence Howard really does put his heart and soul into this gritty story of an aspiring man who wants to leave his pimping days behind him and become an hip-hop MC. Living in Memphis, the city has an huge musical tradition but his own personal baggage threatens to drag him down at every opportunity as he tries to attach himself to visiting superstar "Skinny Black" (Ludacris). He knows that this is likely to be his last opportunity to escape the cycle of hopelessness he faces, but can he stay focused, on-course and away from crime long enough to prove his worth? The main characterisation of "Djay" is strongly portrayed here with guts and a degree of viscerally plausible credibility that really works at times. Sadly, though, the bulk of the rest of it resorts to more aggressive and would mouthed stereotyping that reinforces so many pejorative views of how African American men treat each other and the women (and children) in their lives. It's that very sad predictability that rather ruined the potency of Howard's effort here, and by mid-way through I can honestly say I couldn't have cared less whether he succeeded or not. Too many lives had already been ruined by his previous behaviour, so why should he escape the consequences of a vicious circle he had quite an hand in creating? There's plenty for fans of the musical genre to get their teeth into as that offers a boxing-like conduit for those without academic credentials to use their more creative talents to escape their torpor and find hope. It may well resonate more in the USA, but elsewhere it can come across as a story of an unlikeable man who played in the dog-eat-dog world until it no longer suited him, then tried to escape being eaten himself.

Media

Jordan 'Juicy J' Houston | "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp"-Hustle & Flow | Behind the Oscars Speech

Jordan 'Juicy J' Houston | "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp"-Hustle & Flow | Behind the Oscars Speech

Hustle & Flow (2005) Original Trailer 1 [FHD]

Hustle & Flow (2005) Original Trailer 1 [FHD]

Hustle & Flow - Trailer

Hustle & Flow - Trailer

"It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" Wins Best Original Song | 78th Oscars (2006)

"It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" Wins Best Original Song | 78th Oscars (2006)