Inner-city rap drama starring Ludacris and Terrence Howard. Street hustler and low-grade pimp DJay (Howard) spends his time selling sexy Nola (Taryn Manning) to clients so that he can support pregnant girlfriend Shug (Taraji Henson), but his sleazy lifestyle leaves him feeling hollow and unfulfilled. When he hears that local rapper, and now major superstar, Skinny Black (Ludacris) is returning to the 'hood for the 4th of July, DJay seizes his only opportunity to team up with a couple of friends and put together a demo tape that he hopes will buy his way to fame and fortune.