And the Oscar Goes to....the Pimp Song.

Huh?

I have to throw my hat into the ring of disappointment about this one. I thought it was a mockery. I'm a movie buff, so I watch the Oscars every year (hey, Hollywood isn't what it used to be - no more Cary Grants - but it's all we seem to have left) and I enjoyed Sunday's show....except for the part when the award went to the pimp song over a beautiful song like "In the Deep" from CRASH.

Maybe it's just me, but I'm having a hard time believing that the majority of the Academy members voted for "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp". Don't get me wrong, I love hip-hop just as much as the next person, thought it was a cool song - but Oscar worthy? Uh....no.

Sofia Quintero cracked me up with a much needed question: If it's so hard out there for the pimp.....What's it like for the ho?

Columnist Rochelle Riley penned a well-rounded take on it. Here's a bit of what she had to say:

Here's the debate: Is the award a recognition of what rap and hip-hop have become in America, pervasive and powerful with an audience of all colors, or was the academy having a laugh?

I'm happy that three young brothers have an Academy Award and were honored as artists regardless of the package they presented with their sneaks, jerseys and gleaming grillz.

I'm happy as long as the academy doesn't get so comfortable honoring films and music about pimps, bad cops and caricatures that it forgets to honor honest but conflicted cops like the one played by the unparalleled Don Cheadle in "Crash" or a no-nonsense life mentor like the one played by Samuel L. Jackson in "Coach Carter." Neither of them was nominated.

There's nothing wrong with the pimp song -- although, quite frankly, I'm glad it's hard out here for a pimp.

There's nothing wrong with it unless it becomes the blueprint instead of the anomaly, the expectation instead of the surprise, and it makes it harder for audiences to see films where black people solve crimes, teach English and can't sing or dance.

ROCHELLE RILEY'S columns are published on the Sunday Voices page and the Wednesday and Friday Other Voices page. Contact her at rriley99@freepress.com or 313-223-4473. You can read Rochelle's columns at www.freep.com/columnists.

It's unfortunate, but why does it seem black talents (Jamie Foxx in RAY being a rare exception) are receiving Oscars mainly for the most unflattering and stereotypical of roles? Or in this case---songs. Rich, well-rounded work goes largely unrecognized.

How come they didn't give Nicole Kidman or Tom Cruise Oscars for EYES WIDE SHUT? I know they said it was a flop, but so was MONSTER'S BALL.