Keep Hustlin

"Keep Hustlin’," sings one of DJay's prostitutes on the hook of a home-produced track for the mix-tape that is going to change his and his women's lives in Craig Brewer's Hustle and Flow. DJay is played by Terrence Howard who earlier this summer moved audiences in Crash. In Hustle and Flow, he gives a dynamic, piercing, and profoundly true performance as a Memphis pimp who is trying to break into the rap game, in what he views as his last chance to get out of his monotonous rut of a life.

"Keep Hustlin’" accurately describes Mr. Howard's career. This role may indeed garner him an Oscar nomination, but even if it does not, it has allowed one of Hollywood's most underrated actors to finally display his ability to be a compelling lead. Since his first TV movie role in The Jackson: An American Dream, Howard has appeared in nearly 40 movies. His characters have usually had an air of coolness about them, and he has always been impressive with how refreshingly honest and true his roles have come across. Yet only now, at the age of 36 is he starting to get the roles he deserves and acclaim he has earned. He has continue to hustle in the game of Hollywood, delivering dynamism even in supporting roles because he is a craftsman who takes pride in his work, and, because if success was not going to be handed to him on a silver platter, he was damn sure going to have to fight for it. He kept up his hustle and now it is paying off.

Hopefully we can now cross Howard's name off the list of black actors who have yet to reach the pantheon of Denzel, Samuel, Morgan, Will, and Jamie (recently inducted) - those who can regularly get work and good roles. Not sure, but Hotel Rwanda may have inducted Don Cheadle. Next up: Jeffrey Wright.