Ludacris Album: “Theater of the Mind [PA]”

This is the first classic Luda album since Word of Mouf. While Chicken N Beer was great, the rest of his releases were just decent at best. Luda always has and always will be one of the greatest pure rappers of our generation, but he is sometimes inconsistent as far as whole albums go. But this album is a true classic, and is giving Nas a run for his money for rap album of the year. While I do wish that he would have cut the features or in this albums case, "Co-Stars", down by about half. He only gives us three solo track and all three are phenominal tracks. Starting with "Undisputed" which technically features Floyd Maywhether, but hes really only in the song for a few seconds so i dont even consider that a feature, but the track is just a classic raw Luda track where he just goes into attack mode on what could almost be considered a freestyle over just a phenominal beat by Don Cannon who turns out to be a great producer on this album. And then on the again technically featured track "Everybody Hates Chris", "Co-Starring Chris Rock", but again Chris Rock only makes a very brief appearance at the intro to the song and the outro, so i dont really even consider that a feature. But Cris just kills this old school soul beat by Don Cannon with this super catchy hook. And then on one of the best Luda tracks ever, the brilliantly DJ Premier produced "MVP", Luda just smoothly glides over this beat, its an record you could tell Luda was really going all out on and really put alot of thought into. Then you get the signature club track singles from "What Them Girls Like", "One More Drink" and the sure to be follow up single "Nasty Girl" co starring Plies. And then you get that signature "Meaningful Song" in "Do The Right THang", but none of this album comes off corny or fake or forced like some songs on his previous efforts. This is the first rap album that i have been truly satisfied with since Nas's Untitled album. Good Job Luda, you got a classic on your hands again!

Grade:

A-

What does it take to be considered a great rapper these days? Is it platinum plaques? Is it No. 1 singles? Is it ringtone sales? The standards vary. So how come people don't consider Ludacris a great rapper? He has platinum albums. He has chart topping singles. He is one of the smartest lyricist today. He sells just as much as T.I. but dosent receive the same praise."Theater of the Mind", is Luda's newest CD in his underrated career.

Luda`s "Theater of the Mind" flows like a movie. It has a beginning, middle and an end. It even has `special guest appearances' by Jamie Foxx, Chris Rock, Ving Rhames, Common and Spike Lee. The hit single "One More Drink", ft T-Pain is funny.(Plus you can't go wrong with T-Pain singing your hook these days) "Nasty Girl" ft Plies is a solid Swiss Beats track. It seems that Luda has squashed his beef with T.I. on the collabo song "Wish You Would". And he got Jay-Z and NaS together on "I Do It For Hip Hop". Somehow Luda resurrected DJ Premier on "MVP". And got 9th Wonder on the album closer "Do the Right Thing" ft Common & Spike Lee. These are two of my favorites on the album.

However, this is not a flawless album. "Everybody Hates Chris" ft Chris Rock is a corny call-and-response track. The first single "What Them Girls Like", ft Chris Brown is a club song and not much else. And "Southern Gangsta" is an attempt at recreating BET's "American Gangsta". It even features narration from Ving Rhames but the song goes nowhere.

When rappers crossover into acting they seem to struggle with the balance of acting and rapping. The better actor they become, the harder it is for them to maintain the same motivational level for the studio. Ludacris has shown that he has not lost a step. He cut off his braids to appeal more to movie audiences but has not lost the hunger to make bangers. No other rapper right now can transition like that easily.

I was introduced to Ludacris when most people were when he dropped the single "What's Your Fantasy". His debut CD,

, was released in the year 2000. My favorite tracks were "Southern Hospitality", "Stick 'Em Up" with UGK, "Mouthing Off" w/4-Ize, and "U Got A Problem". He released his 2nd disc,

, in 2001. The single "Area Codes" had already been released on the "Rush Hour 2" soundtrack and the Timbaland produced "Rollout" was the 1st official single from this CD. My other favorites included "Coming 2 America", "Word Of Mouf" (Freestyle) and "Saturday" w/Sleepy Brown. Ludacris has also released the solo albums

in 2003,

in 2004 and

in 2006. "Theater Of The Mind" ends up being CD #6. I was impressed with "Last Of A Dying Breed" which Ludacris performed on the BET Hip Hop Awards. The first single, "What Them Girls Like" features Sean Garrett and Chris Brown. Although, I am not sure if Chris Brown knows what Rihanna likes at this current time...lol The track is decent but when you compare the track to Luda singles of the past, it just doesn't measure up to them. "One More Drink" works better for me, even with the irritating T-Pain on the single. On "Theater Of The Mind", Ludacris is at his best with the album tracks, that you probably won't hear on the radio or in a club. My personal favorite ends up being "I Do It For Hip Hop" which features Nas & Jay-Z. Luda talks about what inspires him and that he raps because he likes the art form and not the luxuries that come with being in the rap game and Nas and Jay-Z follow suit in the same fashion. "Last Of A Dying Breed" features Lil Wayne and some of the best Luda lyrics that I have heard in a long time. To anyone thinking that Luda doesn't have it like he did on his debut CD, I definitely suggest that they listen to this track. Lil Wayne provides a decent verse and Wyldfyer, who also produced "I Do It For Hip Hop" provides stellar production once again. "MVP" is produced by DJ Premier from Gang Starr and he shines with a Down South artist once again like he did with Devin The Dude on "Doobie Ashtray" from Devin's "Just Trying To Live" CD. Luda uses his metaphors on the track but he also shows DJ Premier that he can provide the lyrics when it's needed as well. 9th Wonder, formerly of the group Little Brother, produces "Do The Right Thing", which also features Common and Spike Lee. Luda and Common try their best to change the minds of some of the youth of today by providing inspiring lyrics. "Wish You Would" puts TI and Luda together as the 2 rappers based in the ATL have finally squashed their beef. It's nice to hear the 2 rappers together and this track is just as nice as "On Top Of The World", which was another track that featured TI and Luda from TI's "Paper Trail" CD. Maybe once TI is released from jail some time next year, they can work on an album together. "Undisputed" has Luda playing the boxer and Floyd Mayweather being the manager in the corner that is trying to give Luda the advice inbetween rounds to win the fight. This track is decent, but it doesn't measure up to the songs that I have already mentioned. "Call Up The Homies" features Game and Luda's DTP artist from Arizona, Willy Northpole. This track is pretty good as well as the 3 artists are trying to figure out what to do as they travel through each of their towns. Just in case something comes up while they are there, they make sure that they have reinforcements just in case. Luda uses the clever metaphors on "Everybody Hates Chris". This track contains the humor that you always expect to find on a Luda CD and Chris Rock finishes things on a good note. Ving Rhames narrates Luda, Rick Ross and Playaz Circle on their journey to be a "Southern Gangsta". The track will grow on you after awhile but it's not up there with the best tracks on the CD, in my opinion.

The only negatives that I can find on this CD are other than "One More Drink", the commercial tracks just don't measure up to past Luda singles.

"Contagious" w/Jamie Foxx is decent but "Nasty Girl" w/Plies is just awful. However, "Theater Of The Mind" is the best Luda CD that I have heard since "Chicken & Beer".

Overall, if you have been a fan of the majority of Luda's past work, whether it's solo, with DTP or on any guest appearances, then you should pick up Luda's latest CD. It may not be up there with his first 2 CDs, but there are definitely some good tracks on his latest offering.

James' Top 5

1) I Do It For Hip Hop w/Nas & Jay-Z

2) Last Of A Dying Breed w/Lil Wayne

3) Do The Right Thing w/Common & Spike Lee

4) MVP

5) Wish You Would w/TI

Honorable Mention:

Call Up The Homies w/Game & Willy Northpole

Everybody Hates Chris w/Chris Rock

One More Drink w/T Pain

Undisputed w/Floyd Mayweather

Luda continues to improve with Theater of the Mind. "MVP" is a DJ Premier joint that has the classic Preemo beat with awesome wordplay by Luda. The "Last of a Dying Breed" includes a return to form for Lil Wayne with a verse that actually makes sense as well as Luda speaking his mind about media criticisms. "I Do It For Hip Hop" is an instant classic with Jay-z and Nas bringing heat. Another favorite of mine is "Call up the homies" featuring Game. Every song is more than decent with quite a few being songs you can listen to over and over. A must buy for Hip Hop fans!

Ludacris is one of my fav from ATL, he has unique hard hitting flow. He is very versitile in rapping and you can tellby the album, he can rap about serious things and also can rap about funny things, he could switch up his flow which makes him a soon to be legend in the game. This is his 6th album, his last album "Release Therapy" won a grammy and this follow up proceeds to being another grammy contender. This is an almost perfect album if you exclude the R&B type tracks such as "Contagious" feat. Jamie Foxx and "Nasty Girl" feat. Plies, those songs are just track fillers but even so, those songs are still above average to me. The concept of the album is suppose to be "theatrical" but the concept falls short, some songs fit the concept with songs like "Call up the Homies" feat. The Game & Willy Northpole and "Southern Gangsta" feat. Rick Ross, Playaz Circle and the famous narrator of American Gangster on BET Ving Rhames, these tracks most def feel like a scene in a movie. The production of the album is top-notch from living legends DJ Premier & 9th Wonder to Swizz Beatz, Don Cannon & Trackmasters, the album is diverse every song has a certain feel to it which helps make the album able to appeal to a wide variety of people. The album features a lot of guest appearances by an A list group of people such as Nas, Jay-Z, Common and even non-rappers like pro-boxer "Floyd Mayweather", comedian "Chris Rock" and legendary director "Spike Lee". This album is great and deserves to sell a lot and be nominated for a lot of awards in the near future.

Favorite Tracks

1) Do The Right Thang feat. Common & Spike Lee - a strong track feat. production by 9th Wonder, with help from Common. The song talks about living for yourself and not for anybody else and learn how to be smart in life. In other words "Use your brain homie, do the right thang". 10/10

2) I Do It For Hip Hop feat. NaS & Jay-Z - a track solely dedicated to Hip Hop. This song features an all star list of rappers with legends Jay-Z and Nasir Jones reigning from New York. The lyrics are top notch but i beleive they could've picked a better beat, its not bad but i believe they could've done better. 10/10

3) Everybody Hates Chris feat. Chris Rock - I LOVE THIS TRACK. The humor behind the track is hilarious, saying "F*** YOU LUDA!"is basically Ludacris playing himself. The beat was done by Don Cannon and it is FREAKIN SWEET!!!! it is so damn infectious you will bang your head tremendously when you listen to it i guarantee it. Plus Chris Rock's intro & outro is hilarious, "you light skin biatch". 10/10

4) MVP - the only song on the album where Luda is truly by himself rapping. The production is done by the legendary DJ Premier. I found myself surprised finding Ludacris and DJ Premier collaborating for a song cuz DJ Premier doesn't usually collaborate with southern artists, but two unlikely people working together makes high quality so you can't hate. DJ Premier killd the beat. 10/10

Honorable Mentions

Undisputed feat. Floyd Mayweather

One More Drink feat. T-Pain

Call Up the Homies feat. The Game & Willy Northpole

Last of a Dying Breed feat. Lil Wayne

What Them Girls Like feat. Chris Brown & Sean Garret

Wish You Would feat. T.I.

BUY THIS ALBUM!!!!! Ludacris's best album to date...