DJay (Howard) is a tough talking pimp who spends his days tricking young Nola from the passenger seat of his car but a chance meeting with an old high school buddy Key (Anderson), a music engineer, kindles a desire in DJay to lay down some tunes. Possessing a talent for flow (rapping), he and Key set up a makeshift studio in DJay's crib, and employ a white DJ to stir up some beats while getting one of DJay's pregnant hookers to sing backing vocals. Soon, they have a promising demo on their hands and DJay heads off to meet Skinny Black (Ludacris) - a local gangster rapper made good - to acquire a recording deal but DJay's temper can get him into trouble more often than not. Howard carries the film with his Benecio Del Toro style vocal delivery and commands an impressive screen presence. Switching from the pimp with a heart to a vicious psycho in seconds, Howard always seems he is about to lose control at any moment but reigns himself in before he goes too far. Kudos too must be given to Ludacris as the local rapper made good as he and Howard chomp the scenery with gold teeth in their one scene together. Writer-director Craig Brewer allows a little humour to sneak into the script to alleviate the harsh life of the hood but brings reality crashing down before it turns to farce. Avoiding the cliches and the Eight Mile-ish rags-to-riches formula for two-thirds of the movie, Hustle and Flow embraces them in a bear-hug for the final twenty minutes.
