Hustle & Flow Soundtrack CD

The 2005 film HUSTLE & FLOW follows the travails of DJay (played by Terrence Howard), a Memphis rapper and former pimp staring down his 40s and still looking for that initial success. The soundtrack collects a mix of some of the leading rappers of the Dirty South movement, including veterans E-40 and Eightball & MJG, as well as newer lights Lil Scrappy and Webbie. Also included are actual raps by Howard (in character as Djay), and a track from Al Kapone, the ghostwriter of the protagonist's rhymes.

HUSTLE & FLOW plays out like a Dirty South mixtape. The energy ebbs and flows from the rowdy "Swerve," which pairs Lil Boosie and Webbie, to the personal reflection of "Tell Me Why" by Eightball & MJG. Howard holds his own as an MC, particularly on the hook-laden "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp," featuring his unaffected and appealing Southern drawl, while Al Kapone shows off his own skills with a bit of Southern style on "Get Crunk, Get Buck." The HUSTLE & FLOW soundtrack is the perfect complement to the film, effectively capturing the sweat and struggle for success in the crowded world of Dirty South rap.

P/A-Trick Daddy/Lil Jon/Boyz N Hood/Lil Scrappy/Manni Fresh

Performers include: T.I., P$C, Trick Daddy, Lil' Jon, Lil' Scrappy, Three Six Mafia, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Trina, Lil' Wayne, Boosie & Webbie, Pretty Ricky, Trey Songz, Governor, Manni Fresh, Boys N Da Hood, Nicole Wray, Juvenile, Young Kuntry, David Banner, Mac Boney, X-Taci, Terrence Howard, Nasty Nardo, 8-Ball & MJG.Uncut (p.112) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[A] rough-edged set of hip hop hollers..."