<P> Hustle & Flow is a 2005 American drama film written and directed by Craig Brewer and produced by John Singleton and Stephanie Allain . It was released on July 22, 2005 . Terrence Howard stars as a Memphis hustler and pimp who faces his aspiration to become a rapper . The film is dedicated to Sun Records founder Sam Phillips . </P> <P> The film won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Three 6 Mafia's song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp". Howard was nominated for Best Actor . </P> <P> DJay (Terrence Howard) is a pimp and drug dealer who is dissatisfied with his life . After acquiring a keyboard and reacquainting himself with an old friend from school, Key (Anthony Anderson), who has become a sound technician, DJay decides to try his hand at making hip hop songs . </P> <P> Key and his sound - mixer friend Shelby (DJ Qualls) help DJay put together several "flow" songs in which he expresses the frustrations of a small - time hustler struggling to survive . DJay quickly proves to have a real talent for lyrics, and his first fixed - length song, done at the urging of his friends, appears to have a decent chance of becoming a hit and getting local radio play . </P>

What rapper is the movie hustle and flow about