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| "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" | |
|---|---|
| Song byThree 6 Mafia | |
| from the albumHustle & Flow soundtrack andMost Known Unknown (reissue) | |
| Released | 2005 |
| Genre | Memphis rap |
| Length | 3:02 |
| Label | Atlantic,Grand Hustle |
| Songwriters | DJ Paul,Juicy J,Frayser Boy[1] |
| Producers | DJ Paul, Juicy J, Cassius King |
"It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" is a song written by Americanhip hop groupThree 6 Mafia, alongsideCedric Coleman, as thetheme song to the American drama filmHustle & Flow (2005).[1] It won theAcademy Award for Best Original Song and in 2006 was ranked number 80 onVH1's "100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop".[2]
The song was performed inHustle & Flow byTerrence Howard andTaraji P. Henson as their respective characters DJay and Shug.Three 6 Mafia included their own version of the song with vocalistPaula Campbell on a 2006 special edition reissue of theirplatinum albumMost Known Unknown.
In 2015, Howard and Henson competed against each other in the Season 1 finale of the Spike seriesLip Sync Battle and, by popular demand, performed the song as the first duet by competitors in the show's history.[3][4]
"It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" is a crunk-style[5] pimp rap composition.[6] Initially, directorCraig Brewer attempted to rap the soundtrack himself before collaborating with Three 6 Mafia throughJohn Singleton, who suggested the song's thematic focus on the paradoxical power dynamics of pimp culture.[7] During recording, actor Terrence Howard (who portrayed protagonist DJay) initially struggled to adapt to working with authentic rappers untilJuicy J facilitated their collaboration.Frayser Boy contributed to the lyrics, titling the track.[7]
At the78th Academy Awards in 2006, Three 6 Mafia and Henson performed the song shortly before it won theAcademy Award for Best Original Song.[1][8] Howard did not wish to perform at the ceremony, and since two of the song's writers are themselves artists in the form of the trio Three 6 Mafia, they were given the opportunity to perform it.
Three 6 Mafia became the first hip hop group to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and the first hip hop artists to perform at the ceremony.[9] It was the second hip hop song to win an Oscar, afterEminem's "Lose Yourself" from the film8 Mile (2002).[1]
This song became the third in five years to win the Oscar without aGolden Globe Award nomination. The others were "If I Didn't Have You" fromMonsters, Inc. (2001) and "Al Otro Lado del Río" fromThe Motorcycle Diaries (2004).
Critics likeChron.com says it portrayed pimping in a positive light andHarvardCrimson says it portrayed theAfrican-American community in a negative light.[10][11][12]
In 2013, English singerLily Allen referenced the song in her song "Hard Out Here", in which the word "pimp" is replaced with the word "bitch" to mock sexism in the music industry.[13]
