The Hustlers soundtrack features some classic pop and hip-hop songs from the film's late-2000s setting, and also includes several classical music pieces from Polish composer Frédéric Chopin. Directed by Lorene Scafaria, the crime drama follows a group of New York City exotic dancers who scam Wall Street patrons.
In Hustlers, Dorothy a.k.a. Destiny (Constance Wu) befriends her more experienced co-worker Ramona Vega (Jennifer Lopez) and receives crucial industry advice about maximizing profits. After the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the women devise a plan to drug and secretly rob their wealthiest clients. Lili Reinhart, Keke Palmer, and Madeline Brewer co-star in Hustlers as the main accomplices. The film is based on a true story, being a fictionalized version of Jessica Pressler’s 2015 article "The Hustlers at Scores” for New York magazine. Julia Stiles portrays a journalist named "Jessica" in the movie.
Hustler’s soundtrack builds momentum with big hits, and gently softens the mood with relaxing tracks that align with the primary night club setting. During expositional sequences, classical music playfully underlines the characters’ frenetic attempts to keep their business in order. Below are the main songs featured in Hustlers.
- “Control” - Janet Jackson
- “Make It Rain” - Fat Joe feat. Lil’ Wayne
- “Shake That Monkey” - Too $hort feat. Lil Jon
- “Criminal” - Fiona Apple
- “Op. 25, Etude No. 7 in C Sharp Minor” - Frédéric Chopin (Performed by Matt Herskowitz)
- “Op. 25, Etude No. 1 in A Flat Major, Aeolin Harp” - Frédéric Chopin (Performed by L.H. Thomas)
- “I Get Money” - 50 Cent
- “Conceited” - Remy Ma
- “Mist of a Dream” - Birdlegs & Pauline
- “Op. 25, Etude No. 9 in G-Flat Major Butterfly” - Frédéric Chopin (Performed by L.H. Thomas)
- “Op. 10, Etude No. 11 in E Flat Major “ - Frédéric Chopin (Performed by L.H. Thomas)
- “Beautiful Girls” - Sean Kingston
- “Gimme More” - Britney Spears
- “Love In This Club” - Usher
- “Op. 10, Etude No. 10 in A Flat Major “ - Frédéric Chopin (Performed by L.H. Thomas)
- “Club Can't Handle Me” - Flo Rida feat. David Guetta
- “The Best Years” - Charlie Rich
- “Motivation” - Kelly Rowland feat. Lil’ Wayne
- “Warp 1.9” - The Bloody Beetroots feat. Steve Aoki
- “E Talking” - Soulwax
- “Miss You Much” - Janet Jackson
- “Op. 10, Etude No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor” - Frédéric Chopin (Performed by L.H. Thomas)
- “It's Your Voodoo Working” - Charles Sheffield
- “Op. 10, Etude No. 1 in C Major, Waterfall” - Frédéric Chopin (Performed by L.H. Thomas)
- “Op. 25, Etude No. 9 - G Flat Major, Butterfly” - Frédéric Chopin (Performed by L.H. Thomas)
- “Next” - Scott Walker
- “Birthday Cake” - Rihanna
- “Dance A$” - Big Sean
- “Op. 10, Etude No. 3 in E Major – Tristesse” - Frédéric Chopin (Performed by L.H. Thomas)
- “Rag Doll” - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
- “Dawn (Go Away)” - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
- “Op. 10, Etude No. 6 in E Flat Minor” - Frédéric Chopin (Performed by L.H. Thomas)
- “Teach Me” - Fantasia
- “Op. 25, Etude No. 11 - A Minor, Winter Wind” - Frédéric Chopin (Performed by L.H. Thomas)
- “Night Moves” - Bob Seger
- “Royals” - Lorde
- “Op. 25, Etude No. 7 in C Sharp Minor” - Frédéric Chopin (Performed by Matt Herskowitz)
- “Op. 10, Etude No. 11 - E Flat Major” - Frédéric Chopin (Performed by L.H. Thomas)
Hustlers immediately sets the tone with Janet Jackson’s 1986 single “Control.” The song plays over a night club sequence as the dancers prepare and then perform. Soon after, Fat Joe and Lil Wayne's 2006 hit “Make It Rain” further accentuates the mood.
Later on, songs like Sean Kingston's “Beautiful Girls” and Britney Spears' “Gimme More” bring in even more 2000s nostalgia, playing over scenes that demonstrate of main characters' rise to success. This all builds to a moment in which Usher himself arrives at the night club, inspiring the dancers to collectively perform to his 2008 slow jam hit “Love in This Club.”
In Hustlers’ second half, music from composer Frédéric Chopin complements drug-themed scenes as the dancers strategize and execute their plan to rip off their unsuspecting Wall Street marks. There are also two tracks by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons: “Rag Doll” and “Dawn (Go Away)," with the former setting the tone for a home celebration scene and the latter teasing a crucial final act sub-plot.