Disclaimer: I can’t by any stretch be said to be a fan of rap music. I don’t own any rap, and I rarely listen to it. I do enjoy some of it in some circumstances (nice background music at some social gatherings, some nice dance rhythms), but I can’t see that a rap song would make my “top 100 songs of all time” list.
So, was “It’s Hard Out There for a Pimp” really the best song in the movies last year? Is it even a really good rap song? Was it just rap’s “turn” to win an Oscar? I can look past the controversial lyrics, but I’m curious to know what the rest of this board thinks.
Were there really on 3 songs nominated? Why only 3?
It worked really well within the context of the movie (and sounded better too), The scene where they’re recording that song is one of the best in the movie. I’m no connoisseur of rap either but I enjoyed it. It really sounds better with Terrence Howard doing the rapping.
I thought it was a pretty weak song, though I’m not fan of rap so my opinion may be weighted. What I heard of the competition seemed really weak, too – Parton’s number was a real yawner, too – maybe that was the problem. I’d take several of the jazzy incidental music bits for the Saiyuki anime series over any of the ones I heard, easily.
I’m still not sure what the “rimp” is that the pimp is trying to get the money for. Or is it a “pent” that’s trying to get the money for the rent? I’m sure I’m misunderstanding it one way or the other. I don’t know much about rap, but I know it’s suppose to rhyme. I’m sure artists as talented as 3 Six (or whatever) know that “rent” and “pimp” aren’t even close to rhyming. So I’m sure I’m just misunderstanding one word.
Well, the second line ends with “rent” and the third line ends with “spent,” while the first line ends with “pimp” and the fourth line ends with “shit,” leaving an A-B-B-A pattern known as an enclosed rhyme.
Or it might just be that the rhymes aren’t exact. Rappers aren’t exactly rigid in this regard.
At least they aren’t randomly tossing in lunch meat to rhyme with!
(A song that made me laugh my ass off several years ago was by IAM - “Yo, IAM, SUNZ OF MAN from the ROYAL FAM Never ate ham, never gave a damn”. Seriously, that’s the best you could do?)
Yes, I Googled that. All I remembered for sure was the “never ate ham” part.
Snoops, the last line ends with “ship,” not “shit.”
You know it’s hard out here for a pimp
Tryin’ to get the money for the rent
With the cadillac’s gas money spent,
Ya got a whole lotta bitches jumpin’ ship.
I really think it helps to see this song in the context of the movie. How the song is crafted and comes together in the movie is really terrific. I loved it. I also think that maybe what sets this song apart from the other two that were nominated (I could definitely be wrong here. I have no idea how they judge these things.) is that the song actually meant something to the movie. It was an important part of the movie, and encapsulated a lot of what was going on. I think it’s great that it won, and that we’ve finally moved beyond having some lame song from an animated film win every year.
The scene in the movie is excellent. They’ve put together a make shift studio. They trying to find a hook to go along with the rap lyrics. They just bring in one of his hoes, and the pimp really gets her to “go there” with the vocals. Very memorable, and very authentic feeling, well executed for a movie that ALMOST crossed over into “cheesy” territory more than once.
As far as a rap song goes, the rapping itself isn’t top notch, but the chorus is a great hook. It’s a pretty good song. . .reminds me a little of “G’z and Hustlas” from “Doggystyle” in the way that he flows right up to the hook which has a different style & tempo altogether.
In all, I think the song deservedly won. Most oscar-winner songs are COMPLETE pieces of shit, and they always seem to be something that just run through the credits, having nothing to do with the film. This song was good AND it was an integral part of the movie.
Just in the interests of fighting ignorance (and also to ensure that some artists I think are great are getting their credit :)), the group’s full name is Three 6 Mafia - they used to be Triple 6 Mafia, but changed their name to avoid the negative attention attracted by the connection to satanism. That’s right, folks, Beelzebub-love is not just for metal!
Three 6 Mafia are producers as well as rappers, and their website promoting their production business has already been updated to mention that they’re now “Academy Award winners Three 6 Mafia.” I love it - they seem genuinely thrilled to have won the award. It’s good to see some actual enthusiasm amidst all the glitz.
As I was drufting off to sleep last night, I seem to remember hearing something about how the song is already embroiled in controversy… something about how it winning the award is an insult to some group or another (rap musicians I suppose?) since it insinuates this is the best they can do.
Did I dream that or is that accusation really being made? I Googled the name and Chris Matthews as I believe he was the moderator but came up with nothing. Apologies if this was merely due to sleephaziness.
I wasn’t impressed by any of the songs, but just saying “Oscar Winners Three Six Mafia” is really, really fun. And they had by far the most amusing acceptance speech of the evening.
Seriously, before you go off on this song, you’ve got to see the movie. The first screening I saw of Hustle and Flow the audience actually applauded in the middle of the movie when Our Intrepid Rappers were recording. It’s absolutely great filmmaking. The song is vital to the story. Was it the best musical moment in the movies last year? Yes.
I am a huge fan of rap music, but I was thoroughly unimpressed by the song. I actually thought the chorus was annoying.
However, as others have mentioned, I imagine I’d get a much different feel for it if I’d seen it in the context of the film. I’m still looking forward to catching the movie at some point.