Hustle and Flow, 2005
“It’s hard out here for a pimp.” That was the chorus for the song from this movie that earned Three 6 Mafia an Academy Award. But it was the story behind Hustle and Flow that made it one of those films that (mainstream acknowledgment or not) that resonated in the hood. One of the last roles that Isaac Hayes starred in, it was also a cinematic collection of artists turned actor that gave meat to the story life behind the very descriptive title: Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson, Taraji P. Henson, Ludacris, Juicy J, DJ Paul, Haystak, DJ Qualls, Paula Jai Parker, and Elise Neal.
This story is about the hustle to get on — set against the struggle of Memphis — it is inspiring and also a blueprint for getting to the dream.