Pimps Up, Ho's Down (2000)

Pimps Up, Ho's Down is quite a movie. It's about the secret life of pimps and what they do in their spare time, how they pick up women, and the hardships they go through. Basically a training video that could have been called "How to Become a Pimp", or "Pimping for Dummies".It's generally a worthless film if your not a pimp, not looking to become one, or just don't want anything to do with them. But if you're like me, and look for the strangest Documentaries you might like this.The film follows a group of African-Americans who are pimps. Ice-T, The Bishop Don Magic Juan, Mike Epps, and various other rappers make appearances as the film progresses. Director Brent Owens says research for this film took well over a decade to find and release to the public. Some of this footage is so dark, it's hard to see (and understand) what is going on.We also get a perspective of women (often called hoes in this matter) either talking with the pimps, in an argument with them, or pole dancing and stripping at a night club for them. The women are treated very cruel in this film, being yelled at, and thrown around like a rag doll as well. I was taught to respect women so being a pimp shouldn't be my occupation.The film is Rated R for Strong Sexual Content and Pervasive Language which is the mild term. I would have rated it NC-17 for Nonstop Language, Strong Sexual Content, Stripping and Disturbing Scenes Involving Women. Thats how bad it was.The constant use of "The N Word" should be warned in the rating description is well. If "The N Word" is used more than twenty times in ten minutes, it should receive an NC-17 rating.I find also kinda funny that the people interviewed encourage young people out there "To stay in school, get an education, and become a doctor or a lawyer. Not a pimp." Which I have to admit is pretty funny coming from a pimp. If you don't want to be one, drop out, and get a real career. No one twisted your arm to be a pimp, you're there because of your mistakes. You want to blame your family, or the town you grew up in for your mistakes. Think twice you should blame yourself.Why I gave it two and a half stars is because this could have been volume four to the Hood Life series. If you don't know what that is, it's a series following gang fights, car chases, and drive by's all happening late at night in the ghetto. It's informative and shocking in parts as well. But this is how some people behave and chose to live their lifestyles.Starring: The Bishop Don Magic Juan, Ice-T, and Mike Epps. Directed by: Brent Owens.

My friends and I saw this on HBO in our hotel room during a school field trip in 8th grade (summer 1998). Naturally it was the only thing we talked about for the rest of the trip. And one of our teachers saw it too, so we would make references to it and he would start laughing, which was great.I can't rate this film accurately due to having seen it so long ago, but I'll give it a 5 since Bishop Don is hilarious, and you get to see a stripper grab a dollar bill with her snatch. From a moral standpoint, the movie is pretty demeaning to women since they are treated as property and employees. So if you can get past that, I think the pimp status attitude of the pimps is fairly entertaining.

I thought "Pimps" was very colorful and fairly insightful. Some may find it easy to dismiss because of the seamy subject matter. However, this seaminess aside, the film was very good. Although the viewer isn't given a full biography of each pimp, we are given insights into their backgrounds and motivations and "professional" challenges (e.g. Mr. White Folk's race and Big Lexx's gender). Although "Pimps" may be a bit lowbrow for the Friends/Frasier/Will & Grace crowd, it is very insightful and entertaining.

Although I appreciated this unique idea to explore the pimp's perspective of the lifestyle rather than the prostitutes', the director fails to tell us anything explorative about his subjects. We see a lot of their externals but not enough about their background or psychology. Also, the subjects are incredibly hard to understand. Maybe the film need subtitles.