Hustle And Flow Djay Arrested

Hustle & Flow is a 2005 independent film written and directed by Craig Brewer about a Memphis hustler called DJay, played by Terrence Howard, who experiences a midlife crisis and is compelled to face his aspiration to become a rapper.

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Hustle And Flow

It's been nearly a decade since Hustle & Flow was released, and a lot has changed in both Hollywood and television. But people still know a good thing when they see one, and pairing Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson in a project together was, and remains, a very good thing. Empire feels like Hustle & Flow 's sequel, a look at what could have happened to the film's characters 10 years down the line. All the elements that made the movie special — the epic music, the realistic depictions of characters trying to put their crimes behind them, Howard and Henson's fraught relationship — are the same reasons I'm already addicted to Empire after just one episode. And lucky for us, this sequel will last a whole lot longer than 90 minutes.

If you haven't seen Hustle & Flow, please go watch it. Yes, right now. Beyond this point are a whole bunch of spoilers, and I don't want to ruin this great film for you. Ok, you're back? Good. As you now know, of course, Hustle & Flow starred Terrence Howard as Djay, a Memphis pimp/aspiring rapper, and Henson as Shug, a pregnant sex worker who worked for him. Though the roles aren't identical to Lucius and Cookie, the similarities between the two projects are undeniable.

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What else makes Empire feel like Hustle & Flow: Part 2?

Howard & Henson, Reunited at Last

It's hard to feel anything but loathing for a pimp or other abuser, but, like Empire, Hustle & Flow's characters aren't so neatly divided into good and evil. By the end of the film, when Djay and Shug finally realize their love for each other (just as Djay is carted off to jail for murder), you can't help but root for their relationship. It's the same for the flashbacks to Cookie and Lucius' early years, before she was arrested. Empire could easily be a look at what happens to that type of relationship when serious obstacles, like a 17-year jail stint, come between two people.

The actors also seem to feel that their new characters are in some way related to their past work. Henson told the Associated Press, 'We’re friends. We’ve known each other, so it really works for Cookie and Lucious. When they came to me with the project, I said it has to be Terrence. When I cracked open the script, I saw no one but Terrence.'

The Original Songs

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Most of Hustle & Flow's plot revolves around Djay trying to make a single that will turn his life around. He finds it with 'Hard Out Here for a Pimp,' which was written by real-life Memphis rap group Three 6 Mafia, who won an Oscar for Best Original Song for their work. Though Djay is serving time when 'Hard Out Here for a Pimp' is released, he finds out that the song is indeed a hit.

That first single could have been the start of Lucius' career. Shug helped Djay promote his album, the same way Cookie managed Lucius. And like Hustle & Flow, Empire also features original music by a real life hip hop star: Timbaland.

That Time Howard's Characters Murdered Some People

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The biggest twist in Empire's pilot came when Lucius killed his childhood friend Bunkie without a second thought. Bunkie threatened Lucius with his knowledge of the murders the Empire CEO had committed, saying, 'You can fool this country you legit, but I know you ain't nothing but a punk ass gangster.' You know who else fits that description? Djay, of course. When Bunkie refers to Lucius' past, it sounds an awful lot like he's referring to his character in Hustle & Flow.

Of course, Lucius and Djay or Shug and Cookie aren't really the same people. But there's not denying that the 2005 film shares an ethos with the 2015 TV show. The best part: we'll be able to watch this 'sequel' for seasons to come.

Did you miss any of Empire Season 1's action? Watch Bustle's drunk recap here before the Season 2 premiere:

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Images: Chuck Hodes/FOX; ComeLickMyFreckles/Tumblr

Hustle & Flow
Directed by	Craig Brewer
Produced by
Written by	Craig Brewer
Starring
Music by	Scott Bomar
Cinematography	Amy Vincent
Edited by	Billy Fox
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date
Running time	116 minutes^[1]
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$2.8 million
Box office	$23.5 million

Hustle & Flow is a 2005 American drama film written and directed by Craig Brewer and produced by John Singleton and Stephanie Allain. It was released on July 22, 2005. Terrence Howard stars as a Memphis hustler and pimp who faces his aspiration to become a rapper.

The film won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Three 6 Mafia's song 'It's Hard out Here for a Pimp'. Howard was nominated for Best Actor.

Hustle And Flow Full Movie

Plot[edit]

DJay (Terrence Howard) is a pimp and drug dealer who is dissatisfied with his life. After acquiring 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.

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. DJay quickly proves to have a real 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.

The group experiences many setbacks throughout the creative process. DJay must hustle those around him in order to procure proper equipment and recording time, and Key's relationship with his wife becomes strained. DJay throws out one of his prostitutes, Lexus, along with her one-year-old son Roger, for ridiculing his art. DJay's pregnant prostitute, Shug (Taraji P. Henson), joins in the creative process, singing hooks, and the group eventually records several fixed-length tracks, including 'Whoop That Trick' and their primary single 'It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp'. After their first recording, DJay falls in love with Shug.

DJay's friend, Arnel (Isaac Hayes), informs him that Skinny Black (Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges), a successful Memphis rapper, will be returning to the neighborhood for a Fourth of July party. DJay gains admittance to the party under the pretext of providing marijuana, with the intention of giving Skinny Black his demo tape. Black is dismissive at first, but after a long night of reminiscing DJay successfully persuades him into taking the tape.

Before leaving the party, however, DJay discovers that the drunken Black has destroyed his tape, leaving it in the toilet. When DJay confronts Skinny Black, Black laughs at the idea of touring with DJay and insults him. In a fit of rage, DJay beats Black to a bloody pulp. Realizing what he has done, DJay attempts to resuscitate the unconscious Black, until a member of Black's crew enters the bathroom and quickly pulls out his gun. DJay shoots the man in his arm, then uses him as a human shield to make his escape.

DJay arrives home to find the police and Black's associates waiting for him. DJay turns himself in and tells Nola (Taryn Manning) to keep his writing pad, with his rap lyrics. He tells her she is 'in charge' of getting his songs on local radio stations, and exchanges a glance with a tearful Shug. DJay is charged for assault and possession of a firearm and is sentenced to 11 months in prison.

While serving his time, DJay gets a visit from Key. When Key asks DJay if he really knew Skinny Black, DJay reveals that he made it up in order to keep the group's dream alive. DJay learns from Key that Nola has hustled the local radio DJs into playing his songs, which have become local hits. Key says he and Nola want to discuss his future plans. The film ends as we see a friendly duo of prison guards who have their own rap group asking DJay to listen to their demo, much as DJay had approached Skinny Black. Humbled and flattered, DJay accepts their tape and responds with: 'You know what they say, everybody gotta have a dream'.

Cast[edit]

Terrence Howard as DJay
Anthony Anderson as Key
Taryn Manning as Nola
Taraji P. Henson as Shug
DJ Qualls as Shelby
Ludacris as Skinny Black
Paula Jai Parker as Lexus
Elise Neal as Yevette
Isaac Hayes as Arnel
Juicy J as Tigga
Haystak as Mickey
DJ Paul as R.L.
I-20 as Yellow Jacket
Josey Scott as Elroy
Al Kapone as Kateezy
William 'Poon' Engram as Slobs
Claude Phillips as Harold
Latasha Texas as Stripper #1
Tracy Davis as Stripper #2
Mark Goodfellow as Pawn Shop Owner

Production[edit]

Terrence Howard initially turned down the role of DJay. He reportedly was attempting to avoid being typecast as a 'pimp' archetype. However, after recognizing the complexity and depth of the character, he reversed his earlier decision and took on the role.

As concepts of both hustle and flow are unique to African American culture, it turned out to be nearly impossible to find proper translations for international release of the film. For example, the Russian translation of the title means 'The bustle and the motion'. The Italian title is appended with 'Il colore della musica' which means 'The color of music'.

The film experienced many years of near-misses and outright rejection from major studios and potential financiers before finally being backed by its longtime supporter John Singleton. In the DVD extras Singleton says that he decided at last to put up the money himself because he was exasperated at his friends' not getting what their film deserved.

Critical reception[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 82% based on 152 reviews, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The site's critical consensus reads: 'Hustle & Flow is gritty and redemptive, with a profound sense of place and exciting music.'^[2]Metacritic gives the film a weighted average score of 68 out of 100 based on 37 critics, indicating 'generally favorable reviews'.^[3]

The Boston Globe said, 'Some will find it chicly inspired, recalling blaxploitation's heyday with its grimy urban realism. Some will find it corny, absurd, and a limited view of options for disenfranchised African-Americans.'^[4]According to Entertainment Weekly, 'The home-studio recording sequences in Hustle & Flow are funky, rowdy, and indelible. Brewer gives us the pleasure of watching characters create music from the ground up.'^[5]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Academy Awards

Best Actor in a Leading Role: Terrence Howard (Nominated)
Best Original Song: Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman, and Paul Beauregard for 'It's Hard out Here for a Pimp' (Winner)

Austin Film Critics

Breakthrough Artist Award: Terrence Howard (Winner) also won for Four Brothers, Get Rich or Die Tryin', Lackawanna Blues and Their Eyes Were Watching God

Black Movie Awards

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: Terrence Howard (Winner)
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Taraji P. Henson (Winner)
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Anthony Anderson (Winner)
Outstanding Motion Picture: (Nominated)

Black Reel Awards

Best Actor: Terrence Howard (Winner)
Best Supporting Actress: Taraji P. Henson (Winner)
Best Original Soundtrack: (Winner)
Best Film: (Nominated)
Best Supporting Actor: Anthony Anderson (Nominated)
Best Ensemble: Nominated

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards

Best Actor: Terrence Howard (Nominated)
Best Song: Terrence Howard for 'Hustle & Flow' (Winner)