Secrets Behind The Making Of "Hustle & Flow"

“Hustle & Flow” seemed like an unlikely, unconventional candidate for the Academy Awards — being a film about a pimp turned rapper on the Memphis scene. But the critically-acclaimed success went on to be nominated for two Oscars — including one win. The independent-made film on a budget of $2.8 million made $23.5 million in box office — making it a success within its standards.

But with every successful film, there is much that is not known the film behind-the-scenes process. Celebrating the film’s 9th anniversary after its July 2005 release, MadameNoire highlighted a list of 16 secrets and trivia you probably didn’t know about this “pimp”/hip-hop drama.

Distribution

Like did you know, distribution rights were sold to Paramount Pictures/MTV Films at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. The film set a festival record for $9 million.

Terrence Howard

Initially, Howard turned down the role of DJay — saying he wanted to avoid being typecast as the “pimp” archetype. But good thing he realized the complexity of the character and accepted the role.

123 Pimps and 78 Prostitutes

Terrence Howard really got into researching his character. He interviewed 123 pimps and 78 prostitutes over the course of two and a half years.He even lived with four different pimps over various periods — including a month-long stay with in a Memphis bordello. Embodying his role worked out for him. He went on to nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in 2006.

Living in Memphis

Terrence Howard didn’t just interview 123 pimps and 78 prostitutes, he also lived in Memphis for a period of time before shooting. He had to learn the dialect before production started. It surely worked out for him.

John Singleton

Legendary black director Singleton financed the film and is credited as a producer of the film.

Sexual Assault on Set

Assistant director Wayne Witherspoon and Anthony Anderson were charged with sexually assaulting a woman on set. Allegedly, Witherspoon lured her to the production trailer. Charges later were dropped against Anderson by the presiding judge.

Three Six Mafia

Everyone in the world was shocked when Three Six Mafia won the Oscar for the Best Original Song for “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.” In the film, Howard performed the song. But on the soundtrack, it’s Three Six Mafia. Also, Three Six Mafia made cameos in the film.

Sam Phillips

The film is dedicated to the man who discovered Elvis Presley — Sam Phillips. Also, he founded Sun Records. Phillips’ had a do-it-yourself aesthetic, and this inspired Craig Brewer to write the film.

Memphis Musicians

Many Memphis musicians were referenced or made cameos in the film. Check out the list of musicians below — including Isaac Hayes.
The character Shelby (DJ Qualls) was named after Memphis singer-songwriter Shelby Bryant.

• – In one scene, Shelby wears a T-shirt with Sam Phillips’ Memphis Recording Service studio logo.
• – In another scene, Shelby wears a T-shirt of a local country-rock band named Lucero.
• – The original score featured many Memphis studio musicians from Stax Records, the legendary Memphis-based record label.
• -Isaac Hayes played the character Arnel. Hayes recorded for Stax Records in real life.
• -In the film, David Porter’s 1974 album “Vicitm of the Joke?” was featured on DJay’s work table.
• -Otis Redding — who record for Stax Records — is referenced in the film.
• -“Jesus is Waiting” by Al Green was played in one scene.
• -Josey Scott of the Memphis band Saliva played a store owner in the film.
• -Paul Beauregard played DJay’s neighbor while Jordan Houston played Skinny Black’s (Ludacris) brother.
• – Local rappers Haystak and Free Sol had cameos in the film.
  
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Elvis Presley

Although many references to Memphis musicians were made throughout the film, there was a rule to avoid referencing Presley.

Gold Watch

In the film, DJay wears a gold watch that belonged to his late father. This watch actually belonged to Craig Brewer’s late father, Walter.

Al Kapone

Kapone’s involvement in the film happened by accident. Director/writer Craig Brewer wanted DJ Paul to write music for DJay’s character to perform and for the film’s soundtrack. Kapone felt his music needed to be featured in the film, so he gave Brewer a call and told him this. Brewer agreed, but he thought he was talking with DJ Paul. Too embarrassed to back out of his word, he told Kapone he could audition with one song within 24 hours. That song turned out to be “Hustle & Flow (It Ain’t Over).” Brewer  and producer John Singleton loved the song and decided to include three additional songs by Kapone on the soundtrack.

Lindsey Roberts

Roberts made a brief appearance as the character Harper. She reprised her role as Harper after starring in Craig Brewer’s “The Poor & Hungry” in 2000.

Garrett Hedlund

Hedlund auditioned for the role of Shelby. But he was deemed to pretty for the part. DJ Qualls took on the role, instead.

Craig Brewer’s Life

Often times a writer becomes inspired to write by his or her own life story. Brewer is the same. Some parts in the script and film are inspired by Brewer’s actual life. His wife was a stripper who got pregnant. He saw a black pimp with a white hooker with braids near a local hotel. And he would turn off the air conditioning to avoid blowing a fuse in order to edit. All are characters, themes or scenes that ultimately ended up being replicated in the film.