The Pimping Game
Those involved in prostitution activities refer to this sector of the underground economy as "The Game." Players, Pimps, and Macks are those at the top of the pimping game. To these men in power, it is a game in which they control and manipulate the actions of others subordinate to them. A "Player" or "Pimp" has a particular manner or style of playing the game. A pimp is "a man who procures clients for a prostitute" (Flowers, 1998 p.100). It should be mentioned here that by Flowers definition the majority of pimps are white. They are the owners of massage parlors, strip clubs, escorts services and brothels (Flowers, 1998). However, for the purposes of this research, I will refer to pimp in its street meaning of a man who works outside of the formal economy for the purposes of collecting monies from prostitute women belonging to his stable. In this context, although there has been one known white pimp in the U.S. called "Whitefolks" and one recent female pimp named "Big Lex ," pimps are by in large African American men (Owens & Shepard, 1998).
It's all about the game. Nothing in the game changes, but the name. It's all about getting that money. Some women have pimps that they give the money to, some are just out there on their own (Monica).
The pimping game requires strict adherence to the rules. The idea of a "game" parallels the formal economy in that one can be said to be in a game, e.g., he's in the real estate game. Players and pimps are also said to "have" game. To have game is to possess a certain amount of charisma and smooth talking, persuasive conversation toward women. The term "he got game" has been made popular in Spike Lee's movie "He got game" that opened in theaters in 1998. Spike Lee created a play on words, using the term "he got game" to mean basketball instead of its root urban meaning denoting black male charisma.
There are several rules that one must be willing to follow in order to be a successful pimp. The most paramount rule in the pimping game is, "the pimp must get paid" (Bromfield & Juan, 1994; Owens & Shepard, 1998; Slim, 1969). This means there can't be any "shame in your game" (Massi), one must require and, if necessary, demand the money. Second, any successful pimp will remember that the game is "sold and not told." This means that pimps are expected to sell it to a prospective prostitute that he wants to occupy his stable, without revealing his entire game plan. In order to do this, he has to develop "his game" or, "his rap." These consist of a series of persuasive conversations similar to poetic and rhymic scats that are philosophical in nature and ideological about life and making money. Examples include;
Keep on believing in me....and your next move will be your best move. Green for the money, gold for the honey. I'm in motion, just like the ocean. All a bitch gotta do is come on drink some of this love potion (Owens & Shepard, 1998).
Philosophically pimps believe all capitalistic pursuits are parallel to pimping. According to pimp philosophy, in life there are two types of people, pimps and ho's. It is up to the individual to choose which role to assume. A pimp says to a ho, "hmmm you look nice...you gonna make me some money"...and he puts her out there on the track the way an owner puts a horse out on a race track. When the ho has produced all she can for the pimp, she is discarded and the pimp finds himself a new ho to make him money. To pimps this is the basic recipe for all money making industries both legal and illegal (Milner & Milner, 1972; Owens & Shepard, 1998). In an example of this philosophy, Ice Tea, gangster rapper and former pimp, used the entertainment business to illustrate his point. "The producer says "hmmm you look nice...you gonna make me some money" and he dresses his ho up pretty and flashy and he puts him or her out there on the music track. When she or he is all used up and can no longer make him money, he moves on" (Owens & Shepard, 1998). With this philosophy in mind, a pimp believes one should either be the best ho they can be and get to a point where they can pimp themselves, or choose to be a pimp and pimp others.
The third and final ingredient for successful pimping is that a pimp must have a woman or women that want to see him on top. He is looking for dedication. He's looking for someone who wants to see her man in fine clothes and driving fine cars. His success or lack of success is a reflection on her. If her man is not looking his best, then she is not a very successful ho and this will make for an embarrassing impression. As a committed prostitute, she must work very hard to earn his respect, his love, and to keep him achieving the best in material possessions. He in return invites her into his social network along with the sense of security that it brings (Jarvinen, 1993 p.34).
Those involved in prostitution activities refer to this sector of the underground economy as "The Game." Players, Pimps, and Macks are those at the top of the pimping game. To these men in power, it is a game in which they control and manipulate the actions of others subordinate to them. A "Player" or "Pimp" has a particular manner or style of playing the game. A pimp is "a man who procures clients for a prostitute" (Flowers, 1998 p.100). It should be mentioned here that by Flowers definition the majority of pimps are white. They are the owners of massage parlors, strip clubs, escorts services and brothels (Flowers, 1998). However, for the purposes of this research, I will refer to pimp in its street meaning of a man who works outside of the formal economy for the purposes of collecting monies from prostitute women belonging to his stable. In this context, although there has been one known white pimp in the U.S. called "Whitefolks" and one recent female pimp named "Big Lex ," pimps are by in large African American men (Owens & Shepard, 1998).
It's all about the game. Nothing in the game changes, but the name. It's all about getting that money. Some women have pimps that they give the money to, some are just out there on their own (Monica).
The pimping game requires strict adherence to the rules. The idea of a "game" parallels the formal economy in that one can be said to be in a game, e.g., he's in the real estate game. Players and pimps are also said to "have" game. To have game is to possess a certain amount of charisma and smooth talking, persuasive conversation toward women. The term "he got game" has been made popular in Spike Lee's movie "He got game" that opened in theaters in 1998. Spike Lee created a play on words, using the term "he got game" to mean basketball instead of its root urban meaning denoting black male charisma.
There are several rules that one must be willing to follow in order to be a successful pimp. The most paramount rule in the pimping game is, "the pimp must get paid" (Bromfield & Juan, 1994; Owens & Shepard, 1998; Slim, 1969). This means there can't be any "shame in your game" (Massi), one must require and, if necessary, demand the money. Second, any successful pimp will remember that the game is "sold and not told." This means that pimps are expected to sell it to a prospective prostitute that he wants to occupy his stable, without revealing his entire game plan. In order to do this, he has to develop "his game" or, "his rap." These consist of a series of persuasive conversations similar to poetic and rhymic scats that are philosophical in nature and ideological about life and making money. Examples include;
Keep on believing in me....and your next move will be your best move. Green for the money, gold for the honey. I'm in motion, just like the ocean. All a bitch gotta do is come on drink some of this love potion (Owens & Shepard, 1998).
Philosophically pimps believe all capitalistic pursuits are parallel to pimping. According to pimp philosophy, in life there are two types of people, pimps and ho's. It is up to the individual to choose which role to assume. A pimp says to a ho, "hmmm you look nice...you gonna make me some money"...and he puts her out there on the track the way an owner puts a horse out on a race track. When the ho has produced all she can for the pimp, she is discarded and the pimp finds himself a new ho to make him money. To pimps this is the basic recipe for all money making industries both legal and illegal (Milner & Milner, 1972; Owens & Shepard, 1998). In an example of this philosophy, Ice Tea, gangster rapper and former pimp, used the entertainment business to illustrate his point. "The producer says "hmmm you look nice...you gonna make me some money" and he dresses his ho up pretty and flashy and he puts him or her out there on the music track. When she or he is all used up and can no longer make him money, he moves on" (Owens & Shepard, 1998). With this philosophy in mind, a pimp believes one should either be the best ho they can be and get to a point where they can pimp themselves, or choose to be a pimp and pimp others.
The third and final ingredient for successful pimping is that a pimp must have a woman or women that want to see him on top. He is looking for dedication. He's looking for someone who wants to see her man in fine clothes and driving fine cars. His success or lack of success is a reflection on her. If her man is not looking his best, then she is not a very successful ho and this will make for an embarrassing impression. As a committed prostitute, she must work very hard to earn his respect, his love, and to keep him achieving the best in material possessions. He in return invites her into his social network along with the sense of security that it brings (Jarvinen, 1993 p.34).
