'Hustle & Flow' Earns Oscar For Original Song

Los Angeles, CA (Atlantic Records) - 'It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp,' from the motion picture Hustle & Flow, won the Oscar for Original Song at the 78th Academy Awards last night. Written by Jordan 'Juicy J' Houston, Cedric 'Frayser Boy' Coleman and Paul 'DJ Paul' Beauregard - who took home the award - the song appears on the Grand Hustle/Atlantic soundtrack album, HUSTLE & FLOW: MUSIC FROM AND INSPIRED BY THE MOTION PICTURE.

'It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp' was performed in the film and on the soundtrack by the characters DJay (actor & Oscar nominee Terrence Howard) feat. Shug (actress Taraji P. Henson). On last night's Oscar telecast, the song was performed by the Memphis-based Three 6 Mafia (including Houston and Beauregard), plus Coleman and Taraji P. Henson. This marked the first time that a rap song has been performed on the Academy Awards show.

HUSTLE & FLOW: MUSIC FROM AND INSPIRED BY THE MOTION PICTURE, was released by Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records on July 12, 2005. The Executive Soundtrack Album Producers were John Singleton, Kevin Liles, Jason Geter and T.I. for Grand Hustle. The Soundtrack Album Producers were Jason Geter and T.I. for Grand Hustle.

The HUSTLE & FLOW soundtrack features an extraordinary line-up of hip-hop and urban artists, including T.I. & P$C, Juvenile, Trina, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Boyz N Da Hood, Webbie, 8Ball & MJG, Lil Scrappy, Trillville, Al Kapone, and many others. The album also features the film's star, Terrence Howard (Crash, Ray), performing tracks in his lead role as the street hustler-turned-rapper known as DJay.

The Paramount Classics/MTV Films/New Deal Entertainment motion picture Hustle & Flow opened in theatres across North America on July 13th. Written and directed by Craig Brewer, the critically acclaimed film is the redemptive story of a streetwise Memphis hustler trying to find his voice and realize his long buried dream of becoming a respected rap artist. Winner of the prestigious Audience Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, Hustle & Flow stars Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson (The Shield, Barbershop), Taryn Manning (8 Mile, Cold Mountain), DJ Qualls (Road Trip, The New Guy), and Ludacris (Crash, 2 Fast 2 Furious). Hustle & Flow is produced by John Singleton (Boyz N The Hood, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Four Brothers) and Stephanie Allain.