The Mack

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The Mack
The movie poster for the film The Mack
Directed by	Michael Campus
Produced by	Harvey Bernhard
Written by	Robert J. Poole
Starring	Max Julien Richard Pryor Carol Speed Roger E. Mosley
Music by	Willie Hutch
Distributed by	New Line Cinema
Release date(s)	April 4, 1973
Running time	110 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
IMDb profile

The Mack is a 1973 blaxploitation film starring Max Julien and Richard Pryor. This movie was produced during the era of such blaxploitation movies as Dolemite, however it is not considered by its makers a true blaxploitation picture. It is a social commentary, according to ''Mackin' Ain't Easy'', a documentary about the making of The Mack, which can be found on the DVD edition of the film.

The movie deals with the life of John Mickens (AKA Goldie), a former drug dealer recently released from prison who becomes a big-time pimp. Standing in his way is another pimp named Pretty Tony, two corrupt white cops, a local crime lord, and even his own brother (the black nationalist), who try to force him out of the business.

The movie is set in Oakland, California and was the biggest grossing blaxploitation film of its time. Its soundtrack songs were recorded by Motown artist Willie Hutch. The song "I Choose You" was recently sampled by UGK in their song "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)" featuring OutKast and by Jaheim in his song "The Chosen One."

The most famous scene in the movie is the one featuring the "Annual Players Ball". It has become an often-referenced cultural icon. It was the name of Outkast's first single. Also the Player's Ball scene was the theme of Jay-Z 's 1997 single Who You Wit' and it was parodied most recently by Chappelle's Show, where it became the "Player-Haters' Ball."

The vernacular term Mack is a corruption of the french word macquereau which means mackerel, but is used as slang for a pimp due to the mackerel's tendency to guide other fish to their mates.