There were plenty of superstars to go around Wednesday night at the "Hustle & Flow" premiere in Hollywood, as Will Smith, Chris Rock, Eva Longoria and hoops star boyfriend Tony Parker came out to cheer on the film's rising stars and its famed producer, John Singleton.

"I'm out here because I'm a 'Hustle & Flow' believer," Smith told us.

"I saw it, it's great," Rock added.

But all eyes were on the movie's up-and-coming star Terrence Howard, who arrived with close buddy and mentor Will Smith. "This is like my coming out party," Howard admitted. "It's everything an actor could ever hope for right now."

"This is my man, right here," Smith said of his friend. "He called me the king, but this man is truly on the road to being Hollywood royalty."

So what makes Howard so special? "It's something in his eyes," Smith insisted. "He's got the power."

"Will sat me down and showed me what's necessary to be successful in this business," Howard recalled. "I mean, he sat me down like I was his student."

And now everyone can see what Terrence has learned from Smith, as "Hustle & Flow" gets set to open around the country.