In 2011, Carrie Dahlby sent an email to my producer Ben about him providing the music for a parody idea she had. Somehow, lines got crossed and it never happened. However, I thought the idea was too good to NOT do, so I asked Carrie if she wouldn't mind if I did it. And of course, I had to have her on it to sing the hook, too.
With respect and apologies to Terrance Howard, Taraji P. Henson, and of course, Three6Mafia.
lyrics
[Hook: Carrie Dahlby - singing] + (Insane Ian)
You know it's hard out here for a temp (it ain’t steady work)
When you tryin’ to get this money for the rent (it ain’t steady work)
For the gas and electric money spent (it ain’t steady work)
Can't even save up for retirement (it ain’t steady work)
You know it's hard out here for a temp (it ain’t steady work)
Can’t get paid under the table, tax exempt (it ain’t steady work)
On the W2 don’t get skimped (it ain’t steady work)
Be sure to itemize every dependant (it ain’t steady work)
[Insane Ian]
In my days I done lots of crazy thangs as a job
But workin’ as a temp’s like runnin’ errands for the mob
‘Cause workin’ for this agency, ain’t fill me with complacency
I’m pretty sure I’m phonin’ for a fake university
Done made people pissed, ‘cause they were on my list
They told me they ain’t sign up for this place that don’t exist
But that's just how it is, the temp work in this biz
It might be news to you, but it's been like this for years
It's just like I had feared, the job was endin’ quick
I'm tryin to get rich 'fore I leave up out this sitch’
I'm tryin to get paid but it's hard fo' a temp
When after two weeks the whole job would just end, yeah
[Hook: Carrie Dahlby]
You know it's hard out here for a temp (it ain’t steady work)
Every job has got you wond’rin’ when it ends (it ain’t steady work)
Ain’t a whole lot on which you can depend (it ain’t steady work)
And it’s hard to keep a circle of work friends (it ain’t steady work)
You know it's hard out here for a temp (it ain’t steady work)
When you tryin’ to get this paycheck for the rent (it ain’t steady work)
All the time on the training that you spent (it ain’t steady work)
Just to have all the workers jumpin’ ship (it ain’t steady work)
[Insane Ian]
Man it seems like I'm doin new jobs everyday
Still workin’ as a temp ‘cause I gotta stay paid
I don’t think I’m gonna stay at this new place anymo’
It was just a two day gig now they’re showin’ me the do’
I’m never at one long enough to get insurance
I do so many things that I’ll never find my purpose
One week I’m data entry, another I’m on phones
A third week cataloging all the escrow on your homes
Wait I got sweet new gig with an ad agency
I finished all my work but they’re still payin’ me
That's the way the game goes, gotta keep it strictly tempin’
Gotta have my hustle tight, makin’ change off the system, yeah
[Hook: Carrie Dahlby]
You know it's hard out here for a temp (it ain’t steady work)
When you tryin’ to get this money for the rent (it ain’t steady work)
Gotta scrape to-gether every cent (it ain’t steady work)
Because the work only lasted a minute (it ain’t steady work)
You know it's hard out here for a temp (it ain’t steady work)
When you tryin’ to get this paycheck for the rent (it ain’t steady work)
You get settled then suddenly it ends (it ain’t steady work)
May as well work for the government (it ain’t steady work)
credits
from Illinoise,
released December 3, 2021
"It's Hard Out Here for a Temp”
Parody of “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” by Three 6 Mafia (Cedric Coleman, Jordan Houston, Paul D. Beauregard) as performed by Terrance Howard and Taraji P Henson in the film “Hustle and Flow”
New lyrics by Insane Ian
Music performed by Ben Stahl
Based on an idea by Carrie Dahlby
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