American Pimp is a 1999 documentary that examines the pimp subculture in the United States. It was directed by the Hughes Brothers, the filmmakers behind Menace II Society and Dead Presidents. The documentary consists of first person interviews of people involved in the pimping lifestyle ("the game"). The interviews are separated by short clips from 1970s blaxploitation films such as Willie Dynamite, The Mack, and Dolemite. The first portion of the documentary focuses on pimps working illegally. The illegal pimps that are interviewed are from all over the United States, e.g., Charm from Hawaii, Fillmore Slim from San Francisco, and Payroll from Las Vegas. These pimps, and many others discuss their theories on the history of prostitution. The pimps go on to talk about their philosophy on pimping, and how they live their daily life. The film also discusses the legal sector of prostitution. Dennis Hof, the owner of the Bunny Ranch in Nevada, is interviewed. He feels that Nevada is much smarter than the other states because they have imposed the proper health and background checks on prostitution, instead of trying to suppress prostitution by making it illegal. The majority of the documentary glorifies the pimping lifestyle. The pimps and prostitutes interviewed mainly discuss the perks of the lifestyle. They talk about the money they have made, and the expensive suits and cars they were able to buy. However, near the end of the film, the interviews involve prostitutes that have died from the lifestyle as well as pimps who have retired and hold straight jobs or those who are now in jail. Interviews Rosebudd (real name: John S. Dickson) Fillmore Slim (real name: Clarence Sims) Gorgeous Dre (real name: Andre Taylor) Mel Taylor Danny Brown Ken Red (real name: Louis Kenneth Wright) Payroll Schauntté Parker Charm Latrice Jade Sir Captain Bradley Payroll (Lorence Hammond) Too Short Mr. Ivy (also known as Pimpin' Ken) Bishop Don Magic Juan R.P. Dennis Hof C-Note Caleb Devine (real name: Caleb Benn) TV adaptation The Hughes brothers planned to re-explore the themes of American Pimp in a 2009 HBO drama series called Gentlemen of Leisure. Gentlemen of Leisure was to examine the world of prostitution in Oakland, California, focusing on a 35-year-old legendary pimp and his attempts to get out of the business. However, before filming began, the show came under fire from the then Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and other city officials