The group experiences many setbacks throughout the creative process. DJay quickly proves to have a true talent for lyrics, and his 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.

Key and his sound-mixer friend Shelby ( DJ Qualls) help DJay put together several 'flow' songs in which he expresses the frustrations of a small-time hustler struggling to survive. After owning a keyboard and reacquainting himself with an old friend from school, Key ( Anthony Anderson), who has become a sound technician, DJay decides to try his hand at making hip hop songs. The film received numerous accolades and nominations, and was nominated twice at the 78th Academy Awards for Best Actor (Howard) and Academy Award for Best Original Song for Three 6 Mafia's song ' It's Hard out Here for a Pimp', winning the latter and becoming the second hip hop song to win an Academy Award, after Eminem's ' Lose Yourself.'ĭJay ( Terrence Howard) is a pimp and drug dealer who is dissatisfied with his life, and facing a midlife crisis. It was also a commercial success, grossing $23.5 million against a production budget of $2.8 million. It received positive reviews from critics, with praise directed at the performances (particularly those of Howard and Henson), Brewer's script and direction, and the soundtrack. Hustle & Flow was released in the United States on Jby Paramount Pictures. Henson, Paula Jai Parker, Elise Neal, DJ Qualls and Ludacris. It also stars Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Taraji P. It stars Terrence Howard as a Memphis hustler and pimp who faces his aspiration to become a rapper. Hustle & Flow is a 2005 American drama film written and directed by Craig Brewer and produced by John Singleton and Stephanie Allain.

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