It might still be hard out here for a pimp, but it's not nearly as hard as it used to be.
Even before the rap group Three 6 Mafia's stupefying Oscar win this year for best song for "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," from the film "Hustle & Flow," pimps have been making the climb from subterranean purveyors of human flesh to celebrated pop-culture figures.
The flashy style and smooth talk no longer are solely owned by those wearing purple gators and large fur-trimmed hats. No, today anybody with the power to persuade, the ability to achieve or the bucks to bling can be considered a P-I-M-P.
These days, anything and everything can be "pimped."
We have MTV's popular show "Pimp My Ride" to blame for the use of "pimp" as a verb.
The New York Times ran a Sunday lifestyle piece last month headlined "Pimp My Grill." The Toronto Star held a contest this year for gardeners called "Pimp My Garden." And a Web site dedicated to outrageous treats is called "Pimp My Snack."
People are also reading…
There's even a humorous book and kit by Reverend Smoothello G. Debaclous (aka Turk Regan) called "Pimp My Cubicle: Take Your Workspace From Boring to Bling!"
As innocuous as that all seems, much of today's pretend pimping still is based on the stereotype of a black man in outlandish clothing controlling a stable of prostitutes.
But how did pimps get from urban to middle America?
The answer probably lies at the feet of chart-topping hip-hop artists such as Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Nelly and 50 Cent, who not only paved the road, but also chauffeured the pimp culture across it.
Hip-hop is in its third generation of bridging the cultural and racial divide, and rappers have become its greatest ambassadors.
In the video for his jaunty steel-drum infused 2003 hit "P.I.M.P.," 50 Cent earns his rhinestone-encrusted cup and cane while two women are walked wearing leashes.
Also in 2003, St. Louis rapper Nelly released his album "Pimp Juice." He also launched an energy drink called Pimp Juice, which has become a big seller despite protests.
Here, one can access ringtones featuring Money Mike, the pimp character from the film "Friday After Next," announcing, "You have a ho on Line 1."
Snoop has appeared in commercials for Chrysler with former Chairman Lee Iacocca. He's also served as a pitchman for T-Mobile and Sirius satellite radio.
Galpin Motors Inc. of Van Nuys, Calif., the world's largest Ford dealership, will serve as the new headquarters for the third season of "Pimp My Ride," hosted by cornrowed rapper Xzibit.
But there is a danger when mainstream culture makes the mistake of believing the shady subculture of an ethnic group is all the culture there is.
"It's kind of a loaded word," said Jerome Williams, a communications professor at the University of Texas. "I'm not a big hip-hop fan. I don't have anything against it, but what I don't like is people who think that all African-Americans are about is hip-hop."
The origin of the word "pimp" is not known. It is thought by some to come from the 16th-century French word "pimper," which means "alluring or seducing in outward appearance."
Eventually, pimps were known as men who solicit clients for prostitutes, who then give the money to the pimp.
In recent times, the word has come to mean stylish, cool or successful.
It can also be used as a verb meaning to decorate, customize.
To pimp also means to heavily promote something or take advantage of someone.
Example, "They really pimped that show on ABC."
One form of the word is pimpin'. As a verb, pimpin' means living large, being successful, persuasive.
Pimpin' can also be used as a noun, "What's up, pimpin'?"
The word is also used in the medical profession to describe the practice of peppering medical interns with questions in order to wear them down.
Despite the insistence by some that pimping today has nothing to do with the negative image of yesteryear, there are numerous online games and products based on the stereotypical pimp.
Keeppimpin.com is a multi-player online game where players "slap your hoes, pimp the streets and kill the competition." Similar games are Outpimp.com; Pimpwar.com and Pimpdaddy.com online.
Web sites like pimphats.com; phatpimpclothing.com and pimpcostumes.com sell items such as royal blue suits, gold-handle canes and fur coats.
— Urban Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
