You know, it's hard out there for a pimp.

Rating: Null/10 (25 March 2006)

I wouldn't say that a movie about pimps and Ho's is exactly my favorite kind of entertainment, but if it had been, this is a superb pimp and ho movie. Set in N. Memphis, it takes us right into that world, and why people stay in those "jobs." I even began to like 'rap' a bit after seeing it. At least I had a better appreciation for how it is created, when a good part of the middle was spent on how they put together that mesmerizing song, "You know it's hard out there for a pimp."
Terrence Howard was nominated for Best Actor, for his role as Djay. I have been a fan of Howard's since I fist saw him in "The Best Man", and wished he had played Ali, instead of Will Smith. I also wish Howard had been awarded Best Actor, because in my mind he won it with this gripping performance as a pimp who didn't really want to do that for the rest of his life. As well as his bottom ho.
At best, Djay was a small time pimp, riding around and parking with his cute and tiny ho Nola (superbly played by Taryn Manning). He would drum up business $20 at a time, and back at the apartment had a pregnant ho Shug (Taraji Henson) that couldn't work right then. As hard as Djay appeared on the outside, there was an inner tenderness inside that had him taking care of Shug. And, when Nola said she wanted to do something better, but didn't know what, Djay didn't slap her around, instead asked her what she wanted to do. Also, when Djay and Nola happened in on a recording session inside a church, we see a big tear stream down Djay's face. A gentle man seemingly trapped inside his job as a pimp and minor drug dealer.
But Djay had a bigger vision, and it was rap. With the help of his friend, who was a recording specialist, he wrote some lyrics and made a demo tape. Needing a 'hook', his pregnant girl Shug sang the background chorus. But all didn't go smoothly, the microphone was cheap and distorted his sound, so they had to find a better one. Again, Nola came in handy, to get the pawn shop owner to cut Djay a deal, but Nola hated being used that way.
Rapper Ludicrous plays a famous rapper and former N. Memphis resident Skinny Black, who now had become a record mogul and was back visiting for July 4th. Djay figured that if he could get close to Skinny, have him play the demo, he would get onto the radio and his career jump-started. But it didn't quite work out that way, but you have to admire the hustle that Djay put on.
All in all an excellent movie about a very unattractive subject. It is a story about redemption, even if it is not all the way back to respectability. And Howard's performance alone is a reason to see it.
MAJOR SPOILERS. When Djay goes to the men's room and finds Skinny passed out on the floor, he first tries to help him to the toilet, then realizes Skinny threw the demo tape into the toilet. Angry, Djay began to beat him about the face, when one of Skinny's handlers came in, drew a gun, Djay got Skinny's gun, wounded one man, managed to get out of the nightclub, but the police were waiting when he got home. While being arrested he told Nola to take the demo tapes and get them played. She was "in charge." Convicted, Djay spent a year in prison, but became known for his song. Nola had found her "other" career, she had dressed up in a smart but short business suit, and marketed his tape, and his career was waiting for him as he left prison. I suppose, as long as Skinny's guys weren't waiting for him!