“Everybody gotta have a dream,” at least according to Hustle & Flow. DJay (Terrence), a very small-time Memphis pimp and dope dealer, finds himself at the ultimate crossroads of life; he is suffering from a midlife crisis and a decision has to be made. Should he try to pursue a career in rap and escape the mire that is his life? Or should he continue selling marijuana and working his “hos”: the grotesque, loud-mouthed Lexus (Paula); Nola (Taryn), the irrepressible blond who will even turn tricks to get DJay a microphone; and his “bottom bitch”, the kind-hearted Shug (Taraji) who loves DJay enough to go back to the streets after she has her baby, by an unidentified father?

DJay, the girls, and local producer hopefuls Key (Anthony) and Shelby (DJ) turn the former’s house into a recording studio and try to lay down a track that will turn things around for all of them. Everything and everyone’s dreams are hinging on DJay getting his demo to Memphis-born, turned rap star Skinny Black (Ludacris) who is coming into town for a hometown Fourth of July celebration. For it is through DJay’s trek that each character’s hope for a better tomorrow is revealed. Nola, while unsure what she wants to do, knows that it is not turning tricks and is looking for her own purpose in life. Shelby, while gifted as a sound man/producer, has been unable to rise above his day job of servicing local vending machines. Key loves his wife Yevette (Elise), but fears that all of his dreams of being a successful producer and making it big may be lost. Then there’s Shug, who just wants to be loved and appreciated.

The strong performances (except Paula Jai Parker who is ridiculously over-the-top) and the grainy independent feel of Hustle & Flow, along with the occasional humor nearly make up for the moments of discomfort, most notably DJay's exchanges with Lexus and Skinny Black. One wants to pull for DJay, as his struggle is difficult and his desire to do better, so genuine. Yet you cannot ignore the facts that he is a pimp, sells drugs, and verbally and emotionally abuses all the females in his life. The story does not quite do enough to make me like DJay, to sympathize. He is human, but sort of despicable.