Hustle & Flow is a 2005 American drama film written and directed by Craig Brewer, starring Terrence Howard as DJay, a Memphis pimp and small-time hustler chasing a dream of becoming a rapper. The film received a wide theatrical release on July 22, 2005 from Paramount Classics and MTV Films, and it’s remembered as much for its soundtrack as for Howard’s Oscar-nominated performance.
Ten days before the film opened wide, Grand Hustle and Atlantic Records released the companion album Hustle & Flow: Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture on July 12, 2005 — a 20-track collection of Southern hip hop and crunk that doubles as a showcase for DJay’s fictional rap career and the real Memphis and Atlanta hip-hop scenes that inspired it. Its centerpiece, “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp,” written and performed by Memphis group Three 6 Mafia, went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 78th Academy Awards on March 5, 2006 — the second hip-hop song ever to win the category, following Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” from 8 Mile in 2003.
Quick Facts
| Title | Hustle & Flow: Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture |
| Film Release Date | July 22, 2005 (wide release) |
| Soundtrack Release Date | July 12, 2005 |
| Director / Writer | Craig Brewer |
| Score Composer | Scott Bomar |
| Label | Grand Hustle / Atlantic Records |
| Genre | Southern Hip Hop / Crunk |
| Starring | Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Taraji P. Henson |
| Where to Watch | Prime Video, Apple TV+, Paramount+ |
Who Composed the Hustle & Flow Soundtrack?
Hustle & Flow doesn’t lean on a traditional orchestral score. The film’s incidental music was composed by Memphis musician Scott Bomar, but the album most fans know is the compilation soundtrack: a set of Southern hip hop and crunk tracks from real recording artists like P$C, Three 6 Mafia, 8Ball & MJG, and Trillville, mixed with songs performed in-character by Terrence Howard as DJay. Executive producers Jason Geter, John Singleton, Kevin Liles, and T.I. pulled together the Grand Hustle/Atlantic release, with production work from Lil Jon, Al Kapone, DJ Paul, Juicy J, and others rooted in the Memphis and Atlanta scenes the film depicts. The album peaked at number 30 on the Billboard 200, number 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and reached number one on Billboard’s Top Soundtracks chart.
Every Song on the Hustle & Flow Soundtrack
| Song | Artist |
| “I’m a King (Remix)” | P$C featuring T.I. & Lil Scrappy |
| “Swerve” | Lil’ Boosie & Webbie |
| “Microphone (Skit)” | DJay & Pawn Shop Owner |
| “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” | Three 6 Mafia |
| “Tell Me Why” | 8Ball & MJG |
| “Pussy Niggaz” | E-40 featuring Bohagon & Lil Scrappy |
| “Whoop That Trick” | DJay |
| “Bum Guy (Skit)” | DJay & Arnel |
| “Man Up” | Trillville |
| “Carbon 15’s, A.K.’s & Mac 11’s” | Boyz N Da Hood |
| “Lil’ Daddy” | Young City a.k.a. Chopper |
| “Let’s Get a Room” | Nasty Nardo |
| “Booty Language” | Juvenile featuring Skip & Wacko |
| “Bad Bitch (Remix)” | Webbie featuring Trina |
| “We in Charge (Skit)” | DJay & Nola |
| “Hustle & Flow (It Ain’t Over)” | DJay |
| “Still Tippin’ (It’s a Man’s World Remix)” | Mike Jones featuring Nicole Wray |
| “Murder Game” | P$C |
| “Get Crunk, Get Buck” | Al Kapone |
| “Man Ain’t Like a Dog (Skit)” | DJay |
Where to Stream the Hustle & Flow Soundtrack
The soundtrack album is available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music. The film itself can be rented or purchased digitally on Prime Video and Apple TV+, and it is also available to subscribers on Paramount+ and Starz.
Cast of Hustle & Flow
- Terrence Howard as DJay
- Anthony Anderson as Key
- Taryn Manning as Nola
- Taraji P. Henson as Shug
- Ludacris as Skinny Black
- DJ Qualls as Shelby
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Hustle & Flow soundtrack released?
The soundtrack album, Hustle & Flow: Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture, was released on July 12, 2005 on Grand Hustle and Atlantic Records — ten days before the film’s wide theatrical release on July 22, 2005.
Did Hustle & Flow win an Oscar for its music?
Yes. “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp,” performed by Three 6 Mafia, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 78th Academy Awards on March 5, 2006, making it the second hip-hop song to win the award after Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.”
Who composed the score for Hustle & Flow?
Memphis musician Scott Bomar composed the film’s original score. The soundtrack album itself is a compilation of Southern hip hop tracks from artists including P$C, 8Ball & MJG, Trillville, and Three 6 Mafia.
How many songs are on the Hustle & Flow soundtrack album?
The album contains 20 tracks, including four in-character skits and songs performed by Terrence Howard as DJay.
Who stars in Hustle & Flow?
The film stars Terrence Howard as DJay, alongside Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Taraji P. Henson, and Ludacris.
Related reading: Browse more movie soundtracks, or see our guides to Prime Video and Apple TV+ for where to watch titles like this one.