“Get Rich or Die Trying” is Terrance Howard’s seventh movie role in 2005. Howard plays “Bama,” a loose cannon that causes some serious problems for the starring character “Marcus,” played by Calvin “50 Cent” Jackson.  The movie is described as “a tale of an inner-city drug dealer who turns away from crime to pursue his passion, rap music,” according to a Paramount Pictures representative. “It is based loosely upon the real life of 50 Cent.” 

Howard’s explosive popularity at the box office this year and Jackson’s current domination of the gangster rap make this movie a noteworthy event. Always closely connected with the hip-hop scene, Howard created a huge buzz earlier this summer with his star performance in “Hustle and Flow,” in which he starred opposite another Grammy Award rapper, Ludacris.  Howard, who actually sang some of the songs for the film’s soundtrack, also appeared a few years back in an Ashanti video, playing the sexy scoundrel who cheated on her but that she could not seem to let walk out of her life.

Howard seems to have built his successful film career in Hollywood by playing hard to get. He refused the role of D-Jay twice before finally buying into John Singleton’s “Hustle & Flow,” the film many think will launch him to the elite level of fellow black American actors like Morgan, Samuel, Denzel, and of course, the newly christened Jamie.

In 2002 he refused to read for a role director Greg Hoblit insisted would be perfect for him. In fact, he agreed only to have “talks”, in an effort to save face. During the conversation, however, he was persuaded to take the role of Lt. Lincoln A. Scott, in the heartfelt drama “Hart’s War.” Although he gave a stellar performance, Howard admitted he tried to sabotage his involvement, while later acknowledging that he was glad he took the role. Then there was the self-inflicted pay cut Howard took in 1995 when he turned down a German miniseries and accepted a small role in “Mr. Holland’s Opus.  He later said that the mentoring he received from the film’s star, Richard Dreyfuss, ended up making that decision priceless.

Whatever the technique and discernment power Howard wields in choosing his roles, his bright green eyes keep lighting up the screens year after year. His face and sexy demeanor drive his adoring female fans to the theaters; and his edgy characters are a big draw for the men, such as the potential role of Joe Louis in Spike Lee’s new biopic, which Howard is rumored to be a top candidate for. 

When recently fielding questions for reporters in Hollywood he spoke on the concerns of role choices and his nineteen plus years in the biz. “As an actor representing our (black) community, we know we don’t get the opportunity everyone else does,” states Howard. “Therefore, if you step up and take the lead in a particular film, you have to represent properly. You have to be able to do the research and make sure that it is a success, even if you have to put your own blood and sweat-equity into it. Until I am able to be sure that I can give 100 percent, I will not take anything. I take my responsibility very seriously.”

Howard explained an example of his research technique during an Internet question and answer session.  Asked how he did his research for playing a pimp in “Hustle & Flow,” Howard replied, “It took three years to get the financing for the film, so during that time I interviewed 123 pimps, 78 prostitutes and a number of strippers. I didn’t ask them, ‘What is it like being a pimp?’ or ‘What is your day like?’ I asked them ‘How did this happen to you?’ and ‘Why do you keep doing this?’ When I am speaking to your spirit, it is your spirit and not your mouth that is going to answer back to me.  Some part of your spirit is going to register. In every one of them, you could see it in their spirit that something painful had happen to them. That broke my heart.”

With about two decades of experience as an actor, it is ironic that people are calling Howard the next big up-and-coming star. More appropriate may be to say Howard is more grown-up than up-and-coming. He is now back with his wife and three children after separating for some admittedly “wild” years. At thirty-six years of age, as is typical of many adults his age, it would seem he has come through his own mid-life crisis truly enlightened. He admits that this happened when he learned that others could not get out of your way until you get out of your own way first. Meaning, if you do not take the time to understand yourself, how can others get you? It is a lesson that those looking to stretch themselves mentally may want to explore.

Howard leaves reporters and fans with these parting thoughts of advice: “Strive for something that is bigger than you are and push yourself to accomplish it, always looking for something greater than anything that you have ever accomplished before.”

As he walked off stage, no entourage gathered around him and neither publicist nor manager clamored to protect him, he simply slicked smoothly and solely to the side exit. Gone, but most assuredly not for long.

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This article was originally published in Flossin Magazine. This article is edited by Edna Waters. This article is optimized for web by Steven Christian (Artist | Author | Podcaster).