One of the brightest Southern rap school representatives Christopher Bridges better known as Ludacris is a world celebrity not only due to his recognizable brandy style and frank verses but also to his wonderful charisma. His success of a performer and actor has made the artist the best selling southern rapper and allowed to open a restaurant network in the USA. Besides Ludacris is a performer with whom almost all famous rappers are eager to work with for his natural charm is able to make even the worst song interesting and pleasant. Luda enjoys collaborating himself which is why most of his works contain a great deal of them, especially 2006’s Release Therapy. Yet this year the artist releases his sixth record Theater Of The Mind which definitely beats all records as far as the number of guest stars is concerned and easily pretends to be called the year’s best hip-hop releases.
As the artist himself has said the album Theater Of The Mind is conceptual, all the tracks on it being like scenes of a movie. That is why all the performers here are considered not as guest stars but as actors co-starring with Ludacris. In fact the songs are not too original in the respect of their contents for the main themes still remain rich life, guns and women and they hardly become a story in the sequence offered on the album. Nevertheless the artist’s comments promise us a new surprise in every next scene so this film whose script writer and director is Ludacris although is different from everything we are used still has a right to exist. The record opens with a promising Intro on which the rapper prepares the listeners for the action to follow and right after it there are singles Undisputed (Co-Starring Floyd "Money" Mayweather) and Wish You Would (Co-Starring T.I.), contagious examples of a quality hip-hop. Composition One More Drink (Co-Starring T-Pain) is remarkable for a memorable chorus whereas Call Up The Homies featuring The Game and presenting a new young performer Willy Northpole pleases with a faultless arrangements. Ludacris’ anthem to himself Southern Gangsta on which Rick Ross, Playaz Circle and Ving Rhames join him contrasts with a self-criticizing composition Everybody Hates Chris performed with Chris Rock. And the first single What Them Girls Like featuring Chris Brown and Sean Garret is the club audience’s favorite all over the world since this summer.
Whatever happens the rap culture will always bring to life such bright artists as Ludacris once became starting as a DJ on the radio and growing into one of the most influential figures in show business. As for his image except for the constant experimentation with his hair Ludacris always sticks to the style of a very rich and very bold guy for whom practically nothing is impossible. The only time that he decided to try something different was on his previous album Release Therapy on which several serious pieces appeared but everything returns to where it was on the new work. So the music on Theater Of The Mind will be appreciated by everyone who likes Ludacris and his friends obviously really enjoying their working together. These songs will sound perfectly in all the places where people can relax and forget of their daily problems: at a party, while driving at night or at a night club. Ludacris has promised to release Theater Of The Mind, part two the next year already and it will surely be the same contagious and full of surprises.
Release Therapy
Here We Stand 2008
Unlike its predecessor Here We Stand has proved to be a collection of unexpectedly much more complicated pieces, the songs' length has been increased with only The Fratellis' funny lyrics understood to anyone remaining practically unchanged
