Hustle & Flow is a 2005 American drama film written and directed by Craig Brewer and produced by John Singleton and Stephanie Allain. It stars Terrence Howard as a Memphis hustler and pimp who faces his aspiration to become a rapper. The film is inspired and based on the lives of Memphis rappers Kingpin Skinny Pimp & Tommy Wright III. It also stars Anthony Anderson, Haystak, Taryn Manning, Taraji P. Henson, Paula Jai Parker, Elise Neal, DJ Qualls and Ludacris.