Three 6 Mafia Take Home Oscar

Memphis rappers Three 6 Mafia -- Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard -- won the Oscar for Best Original Song for "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," performed by actor Terrence Howard in the hip-hop film Hustle and Flow, at last night's 78th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles. Rapper turned Oscar-nominated actress Queen Latifah presented them with the award.

"For anyone keeping record," host John Stewart said, "Martin Scorsese, zero Oscars. For Three 6 Mafia, one."

The rappers' song, with family-friendly lyrics substituted for the ABC awards show, beat out Dolly Parton's "Travelin' Thru," featured in Transamerica, and singer-songwriter Kathleen "Bird" York's "In the Deep," from Best Picture winner Crash.

The trio also made history as the first rap group to perform at the event. In 2002, Eminem became the first rapper nominated in the category for his Oscar-winning song "Lose Yourself" from 8 Mile, but declined to perform.

Meanwhile, Reese Witherspoon was awarded Best Actress for her role as country legend June Carter Cash in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line.

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

More Song Stories entries »

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