Co-Dragons: Lotto and Lyckety-Splyt to Papa Doc.Before, after, and between these scenes, Paul is basically completely absent. After realizing he does want to battle, Jimmy gets Paul to cover for him at the factory so he can go. Much later in the film, Jimmy is given extra shifts to work the night of the rap battle. Chekhov's Gunman: Moderately early in the film, Jimmy defends his gay co-worker Paul from a homophobic asshole.The bingo games Stephanie goes to end up working out when she finally wins just in time to save the family from eviction.Chekhov's Gun: "Papa Doc? You mean Clarence? He went to Cranbrook.".Secondly, that class is just as much an issue as race note Jimmy might be white, but he's white trash, and as poor as the black folk he lives with, which contrasts Pappa Doc being a wealthy black man who just pretends to be a cool tough gangster. Central Theme: Firstly, that you can succeed as long as you're smart about it and you're willing to give it your all even in the face of overwhelming odds.Can't Get Away with Nuthin': Jimmy's supervisor at the auto plant won't tolerate him taking any time off from his work - even if it's because someone else has come by and started talking to him without his wanting it.Bruiser with a Soft Center: All of Jimmy's anger and aggression melts away whenever he's with his little sister.He even helps burn down an abandoned house where a girl was raped after one of his friends asks him to imagine if the same thing happened to her.
Big Brother Instinct: Jimmy loves his sister Lilly, and his only thought when about to be confronted with the Free World is getting her out of harm's way.Berserk Button: Never ever make fun of Jimmy when he freezes up at the chance to rap.
Battle Rapping: The major driving force in the movie are the rap battles that take place.
As well as support him when he says he plans to do his rap career on his own. This is proven twice, when Jimmy fights Greg for hitting his mom and when near the end when his mom won bingo, the first thing she does is offer to make him pancakes.