Players Ball

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The Players Ball is an annual gathering of pimps held in Chicago, Illinois. The party has been a November tradition since 1974, when pimps from across the country gathered to celebrate the birthday of pimp Don Juan now known as Bishop Don Magic Juan. Every year, the award for "Pimp of the Year" is given out. Juan was the winner 13 years in a row.

The idea stemmed from a scene in the 1973 blaxploitation film, The Mack, in which the lead character, a pimp named Goldie, attends The Players Ball in Oakland, California.

The Player's Ball was also depicted in the 1999 Hughes Brothers' documentary, American Pimp. Other Players Balls take place across the country, most notably in Miami and Atlanta.

A well-known non-pimp Players Ball started some years ago in Las Vegas, as a private party for businesses attending the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo. The event is organized by DMoney. Past events have featured performers including Snoop Dogg, Digital Underground, Ice-T, LL Cool J, Fishbone and porn star Ron Jeremy as the MC.

[edit] References in pop culture

In 1993, rap duo Outkast debuted with their song "Player's Ball" but references to the actual Ball itself were fleeting.

In 1995, an episode of the sitcom Martin featured a fictional version of the Ball. In the episode, the Ball was attended by blaxploitation stars Pam Grier, Rudy Ray Moore, Ja'net DuBois, Dick Anthony Williams of The Mack and Antonio Fargas. Fargas was awarded Pimp of the Year. Outkast also appeared performing their song "Player's Ball"

In 2004, the sketch comedy show Chappelle's Show featured a sketch about an annual gathering of player haters called the "Player-Haters' Ball."

[edit] External links