ludacris

* Ludacris released his major label debut, Back for the First Time, in November 2000. This album was actually a re-release of the album Incognegro. The album reached as high as #4 on the charts, and was a major success. Ludacris made his mark on the industry with singles such as "Southern Hospitality" and "What's Your Fantasy," along with his first ever single "Phat Rabbit", from 2 years prior. Back for the First Time was the beginning of Ludacris's explosion to the top of the rap world.

[edit] Back for the First Time

[edit] Word of Mouf

Ludacris promptly completed his next album, Word of Mouf and released it at the end of 2001. The video for the lead single, "Rollout (My Business)" was nominated for a 2002 VMA, and Ludacris performed it live at the awards' pre-show.

[edit] Chicken-N-Beer

During the spring of 2003, Ludacris returned to the music scene after a brief hiatus with a new single, "Act A Fool" from the 2 Fast 2 Furious soundtrack. At around the same time, he released the lead single from his upcoming album, Chicken-N-Beer, called "P-Poppin" (short for "Pussy Poppin'"). Neither of his new singles were as well-received by either the urban or pop audiences as his previous songs had been, and both music videos received only limited airplay. Chicken-N-Beer opened strongly, but without a popular single, the album fell quickly. However, in the fall of 2003, Ludacris rebounded with his next single, "Stand Up", which appeared on both Chicken-N-Beer as well as the soundtrack for the teen hip-hop/dance movie, Honey. Produced by Kanye West, "Stand Up" went on to become Ludacris' biggest mainstream hit to date, hitting the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and garnering heavy airplay on mainstream pop, rhythmic, and urban radio stations, as well as on MTV, MTV2, and BET. The album's next single, "Splash Waterfalls", was released in early 2004. Though not a pop hit, it became a success at urban radio and BET. It was Ludacris' most sexual video yet and an R&B remix that featured Raphael Saadiq and sampled Tony! Toni! Tone!'s "Whatever You Want". Ludacris also received his first Grammy Award with Usher and Lil Jon for their hit single "Yeah". Ludacris next released "Blow It Out", a gritty song with an urban, low-budget music video. It was a departure from the colorful, sensual, R&B leanings of "Splash Waterfalls". "Blow It Out" acted both as a response to the criticism levied by Bill O'Reilly and an attack on Pepsi's role in the affair:

Shout out to Bill O'Reilly, I'm'a throw you a curve
You mad cause I'm a thief and got away with words
I'm'a start my own beverage, it'll calm your nerves
Pepsi's the New Generation?—Blow it out cha ass!

On June 1, 2006, a federal jury found that "Stand Up" did not infringe on the copyright of a song called "Straight Like That" by a New Jersey group known as I.O.F. "I hope the plaintiffs enjoyed their 15 minutes of fame," Ludacris said after the verdict. "This whole experience is proof to me of why I will always fight for what I believe in."

[edit] The Red Light District

The fourth studio album from Ludacris. Although not entirely different from the usual antics of the previous albums, Ludacris had taken a more mature approach to his album. Ludacris openly boasted that he may be the only rapper able to keep the Def Jam label afloat on the opening track. Ludacris filmed and recorded the single "Get Back" in which he was featured as a muscle-bound hulk who was being annoyed by the media and warned critics to leave him alone. He was featured on Saturday Night Live playing the song Get Back with Sum 41. The follow-up single was the Austin Powers-inspired "The Number One Spot". It was produced by New York City's Hot 97 personality DJ Green Lantern. It used the Quincy Jones sample of "Soul Bossa Nova" and sped it up to the tempo of Ludacris' rap flow. Ludacris also filmed the video in which he pokes fun at O'Reilly's problems with Andrea Mackris (Hi Mr. O'Reilly / Hope all is well kiss the plaintiff and the wifey). Production credits come also from veteran producers Timbaland, Lil' Jon, The Medicine Men Chris Bridges (from Japan) and legendary rapper Doug E. Fresh. Featured artists on the album include Nas, DJ Quik, DMX, Trick Daddy, and Disturbing tha Peace newcomers Bobby Valentino (of Mista fame) and Dolla Boi and Small World. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. And most recently the rapper had used his opportunity to start his own foundation. The Ludacris Foundation, started by Ludacris and Chaka Zulu, is an organization that helps young middle and high school students motivate themselves in creative arts. Ludacris also has a daughter by the name of Karma. Ludacris had also participated at the Super Bowl and is the spokesman for the Boost Mobile ad-campaign.

[edit] Release Therapy

In a recent issue of XXL, a hip-hop based magazine, Ludacris was placed in the number nine spot for the most anticipated albums of 2006, for Release Therapy. The album Release Therapy was released on September 26, 2006. Ludacris formatted the CD to have two sides: a Release side and a Therapy side. With the Release side having songs that allow him to get everything off his chest and the Therapy side being just feel-good music. The first single, "Money Maker", which features Pharrell, was released to U.S. radio outlets on July 17. [2] "Money Maker" reached number one on the BET 106 & Park Countdown for the first time on September 15, 2006 and later in the US. The album recently reached number 1 on the Billboard 200 album charts with sales of more than 300,000 in its first week. This album was also awarded Rap Album of the year during the 2007 Grammy Awards. With the release of this album, Ludacris marked a change in style in his career with his musical style. A change of hair accompanied this as he cut off his trademark braids for a more conventional "fade" cut. This was done to project a new image for the album.

To promote the album, Ludacris hosted and performed on Saturday Night Live on November 18.

[edit] Acting career
Ludacris (bottom center) appeared in and contributed to the soundtrack for the movie 2 Fast 2 Furious
Ludacris (bottom center) appeared in and contributed to the soundtrack for the movie 2 Fast 2 Furious

Ludacris has been acting in film since The Wash in 2001, but his big break came in 2005, where he received critical praise for his roles in the Oscar-winning films Hustle & Flow and Crash. Crash includes an ironic sequence where Ludacris's character is dismissive of hip-hop music. Interestingly, in both films, he is physically beaten by characters played by Terrence Howard. He is occasionally credited as "Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges".

On January 29, 2006 he was awarded with a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Cast in a Motion Picture for his work in the film Crash. Ludacris also starred in 2 Fast 2 Furious. Ludacris narrated the 2006 Ward Serrill basketball documentary Heart of the Game.

On March 28, 2006 he appeared in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Ludacris portrayed Darius Randall, the nephew of Detective Odafin Tutuola, portrayed by Ice T.

[edit] Disputes

[edit] Bill O'Reilly

Furthering the Pepsi controversy, in response to the signing of the Osbourne family, popular hip-hop music mogul Russell Simmons organized a boycott against the company. Simmons demanded an apology from Pepsi to Ludacris and a 5 million dollar donation to one of Ludacris' charities. Eventually Simmons and Pepsi settled on an agreement to stop the boycott, right before it was to officially begin. While Pepsi did not formally apologize to Ludacris, they did agree to donate millions of dollars over several years to Russell Simmons Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.

Ludacris' song "Blow It Out" (from the Chicken & Beer album) acted as a scathing response to his critics, namely Bill O'Reilly.[3]

In another song, "Hoes in My Room", he tells a story about anonymous prostitutes being left in his room, and at the end of the last verse says:

"Then it got to my head and Somethin' remind me

I know who let 'em in, it was Bill O'Reilly."

Then, in 2004, in "Number 1 Spot"

"Respected highly, Hi Mr. O'Reilly.

Hope all is well, kiss the plaintiff and the wifey."

When Ludacris hosted Saturday Night Live in 2006, a sketch involved O'Reilly telling a Def Jam executive that he will boycott Def Jam if Ludacris isn't fired. O'Reilly, played by Darrell Hammond, says that although his boycotts have had the opposite effect of his intention, Def Jam's sales will decrease dramatically.

Upon winning the Grammy for Best Rap Album on February 11, 2007, Ludacris included in his thank-yous a "special shout-out to Bill O'Reilly."

The following day Bill O'Reilly responded on his show wih a less than enthusiastic response. He soon began criticizing Ludacris' Grammy win. O'Reilly did not appreciate his lyrics.

[edit] Oprah Winfrey

In a 2006 interview with GQ magazine, Ludacris criticized Oprah Winfrey about his appearance on her show with the cast of the film Crash. [4] During the interview, the conversation veered from the movie and Winfrey chose to speak on Ludacris' lyrical content, which he felt was unfair as he was visiting her show in the capacity of an actor and not a rapper. Also, Ludacris was upset that some of his responses were later edited from the show's airing. He was later joined by other rappers such as 50 Cent, Ice Cube and Killer Mike who argued that Winfrey had an anti-hip hop bias.

Winfrey responded by saying that she's opposed to rap lyrics that "marginalize women," but enjoys some artists, including Jay-Z and Kanye West, who appeared on her show. She said she spoke with Ludacris backstage after his appearance to explain her position and said she understood that his music was for entertainment purposes, but that some of his listeners might take it literally. Ludacris later said the media had blown his comments out of proportion and said he respects Winfrey and considers her "a great individual."[5] At the 2007 Grammy awards Ludacris gave a special shout-out to Oprah Winfrey.

[edit] T.I.

In 2004, before the release of his debut album Straight Outta Ca$hville, Nashville native and G-Unit member Young Buck would enlist the services of fellow Atlanta emcee T.I., also known as T.I.P. in his native Bankhead neighborhood of west side Atlanta. They would create a track entitled "Stomp" amid growing tension between Buck's good friend Ludacris and T.I. On the track, T.I. takes subliminal shots at Ludacris including the line "me gettin' beat down, that's ludicrous." Buck, immediately sensing the tension, decided before releasing the track to notify Ludacris that T.I. had mentioned him since he didn't want to position himself as encouraging T.I.'s actions. Ludacris heard the track and asked Buck if he could add his own verse; to which Buck agreed. The results end up being costly for T.I., as he is berated throughout Ludacris' verse and called out by name in his last line. Representatives from T.I. notified Buck that T.I.'s vocals would not be cleared for the album unless T.I. is allowed to change his verse, and also have Ludacris change his. Buck refused this offer and T.I. prohibited his vocals from being used. Buck had Hypeman and fellow rapper D-Tay replace T.I. on the song; D-Tay himself was eventually replaced by Compton rapper The Game on the official release.

Although T.I. was removed, the street cut featuring him and Ludacris had already been leaked to DJs in Atlanta and New York City. T.I. was unable to stop the track's distribution throughout the streets of the nation at this point. It is widely accepted that T.I. "lost" this battle with Ludacris easily being the victor. The beef between Ludacris and T.I. was then put to an end behind closed doors as T.I. said that the problems between them have ceased.

In 2006 however, T.I. would release his highly anticipated fourth solo album entitled KING. In his Just Blaze produced track titled "I'm Talkin To You," T.I. lyrically attacks one or more unknown targets who have widely been speculated to be either Ludacris, New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne, or Houston rapper Lil' Flip (whom T.I. also had beef with but has since ended their animosity behind closed doors) or a combination of all three. It is still unknown whether or not T.I. was in fact battling Ludacris again or anyone else for that matter at all. A closer listen to the song, however proves that T.I. isn't dissing Ludacris. In one of T.I.s lines he quotes "had it out with 'Cris, but he still my nigga...sat down civilized talked about it like niggas", alluding to the sit down that he and Ludacris had to end their dispute. As a matter of fact during the taping of MTV's My Block 'Atlanta', T.I. and Ludacris are shown greeting each other respectfully.

[edit] Others

In July of 2006, a track entitled "War with God" would see Ludacris return after some time off in movies. In the track, Ludacris goes on the offensive against an unknown rapper who has sold drugs, and makes repeated references to shooting guns in his songs, isn't as rich as he (Ludacris) and likes to give himself titles - all very well known characteristics and facts directly relating to T.I and Young Jeezy (or countless other less popular rappers) or the new coming rappers Yung Joc and Young Dro. In this instance it also unknown whether or not Ludacris is indeed aiming his disses at Young Jeezy, T.I. or if the track is even a song recorded recently. Ludacris recently stated that the song was deeper than just a diss, and the song is more about him than anyone else, it's showing that he isn't just the 'cartoon entertainer' type rapper that he has always been portrayed as, when asked about who specific rhymes were aimed at he said "The guilty will speak". The track was confirmed as a selection from Ludacris' album Release Therapy. The song is not aimed at Young Jeezy as he features on the latest album. Nor is the song aimed at Chingy as Ludacris mentions on BET's Rap City. "War with God" uses a beat written by Don Cheegro and Dirty Harry. He states his relationship with Chingy in his song "Tell It Like it Is".

"What's worse than havin' no money is havin' it and losin' it

What's worse than havin' some money is grabbin' and abusin' it

We never took no money from Chingy, thought I was cool wit him

I wish his ass well, but I don't want nothin' to do with him"

[edit] Personal life

Ludacris has a daughter named Karma with his longtime girlfriend Kiante. According to comments made at the 2007 Grammy Awards ceremony, his father has been very ill recently; this has led to a string of concert postponements. [1]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Solo albums
Album cover Album information
Back for the First Time

* Released: November 4, 2000
* Chart positions: #4 US
* RIAA certification: 3x Platinum
* U.S. Sales: 3.2 million
* Worldwide Sales:
* Singles: "What's Your Fantasy", "Southern Hospitality", "Ho"

Word of Mouf

* Released: December 15, 2001
* Chart positions: #3 US
* RIAA certification: 4x Platinum
* U.S. Sales: 3.8 million
* Worldwide Sales:
* Singles: "Rollout (My Business)", "Area Codes ", "Saturday (Oooh Oooh!)", "Move Bitch", "Welcome to Atlanta"

Chicken-N-Beer

* Released: October 25, 2003
* Chart positions: #1 US
* RIAA certification: 3x Platinum
* U.S. Sales: 2.8 million
* Worldwide Sales:
* Singles: "Stand Up", "Splash Waterfalls", "Blow It Out", "Diamond In The Back"

The Red Light District

* Released: December 7, 2004
* Chart positions: #1 US
* RIAA certification: 2x Platinum
* U.S. Sales: 2.1 million
* Worldwide Sales:
* Singles: "Get Back", "Number One Spot", "Pimpin' All Over the World"

Release Therapy

* Released: September 26, 2006
* Chart positions: #1 US
* RIAA certification: 2x Platinum
* U.S. Sales: 2 million
* Worldwide Sales:
* Singles: "Money Maker", "Grew Up a Screw Up", "Runaway Love", "Girls Gone Wild"

Theater of the Mind

* Released: 2007/2008
* Chart positions: TBA
* RIAA certification: Platinum
* Singles: TBA

[edit] Disturbing tha Peace albums
Album cover Album information
Golden Grain

* Released: September 10, 2002
* Chart positions: #89 US
* RIAA description:
* Singles: "Growing Pains (Do It Again) Remix"

Ludacris Presents: Disturbing tha Peace

* Released: December 13, 2005
* Chart positions: #11 US
* RIAA certification Gold

Singles: "Sweet Revenge", "Gettin' Some", "DTP For Life", "2 Miles An Hour Remix"

[edit] Singles
Year Song U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Rap UK singles Album
2000 "What's Your Fantasy" (featuring Shawnna) 21 10 12 19 Back for the First Time
2000 "Southern Hospitality" 23 6 5 - Back For The First Time
2001 "Area Codes" (featuring Nate Dogg) 24 10 7 25 Word of Mouf / Rush Hour 2
2001 "Rollout (My Business)" 17 7 20 20 Word of Mouf
2002 "Saturday (Oooh! Oooh!)" (featuring Sleepy Brown) 22 10 10 31 Word of Mouf
2002 "Move Bitch!" (featuring Mysikal & I-20) 10 3 3 - Word of Mouf
2002 "Welcome to Atlanta" (with Jermaine Dupri) 35 15 - - Word of Mouf
2003 "Act a Fool" 32 20 10 - 2 Fast 2 Furious soundtrack
2003 "Stand Up" (featuring Shawnna) 1 1 1 14 Chicken-N-Beer
2004 "Splash Waterfalls" (featuring Sandy Coffee) 6 2 3 - Chicken-N-Beer
2004 "Diamond in the Back" 94 51 - - Chicken-N-Beer
2004 "Blow It Out" 79 65 45 - Chicken-N-Beer
2004 "Get Back" 13 9 5 30 The Red Light District
2005 "Number One Spot" 19 8 6 30 The Red Light District
2005 "The Potion" - 65 - - The Red Light District
2005 "Pimpin' All Over the World" (featuring Bobby Valentino) 9 5 2 - The Red Light District
2006 "Money Maker" (featuring Pharrell) 1 1 1 - Release Therapy
2006 "Grew Up a Screw Up" (featuring Young Jeezy) - - - - Release Therapy
2006 "Runaway Love" (featuring Mary J. Blige) 2 3 1 52 Release Therapy
2007 "Girls Gone Wild" - - - 52 Release Therapy

Notes:

1 "Get Back" and "Number One Spot" were released as a double A-side single in the UK as were "Runaway Love" and "Girls Gone Wild".

[edit] Featured singles
Year Song U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Rap UK singles Album
2001 "One Minute Man" Missy Elliott (featuring Ludacris) 15 8 - 10 Miss E ...So Addictive
2001 "Loverboy" Mariah Carey (featuring Da Brat, Shawnna, & Ludacris) 2 1 - 12 Glitter
2001 "Fatty Girl" (with LL Cool J & Keith Murray) 87 32 6 - The Good Life & He's Keith Murray
2001 "Bia Bia" (Lil Jon featuring Ludacris, Too Short, Chyna Whyte) Put Yo Hood Up
2002 "Growing Pains (Remix)" (Ludacris & DTP featuring Scarface) - 81 45 - Golden Grain
2002 "B R Right" Trina (featuring Ludacris) 83 5 24 - Diamond Princess
2003 "Holidae In" Chingy (featuring Snoop Dogg & Ludacris) 3 2 2 35 Jackpot
2003 "Gossip Folks" Missy Elliott (featuring Ludacris) 8 5 2 9 Under Construction
2003 "Hot and Wet" 112 (featuring Ludacris) - - - - Hot and Wet
2004 "Yeah!" Usher (featuring Ludacris and Lil Jon) 1 1 1 1 Confessions
2005 "Break Bread" I-20 (featuring Ludacris & Bonecrusher) - - - - Self-Explanatory
2005 "Lovers and Friends" Lil Jon (featuring Usher & Ludacris) 3 2 - 10 Crunk Juice
2005 "Oh" Ciara (featuring Ludacris) 2 6 - 4 Goodies
2005 "Shake That Shit" Shawnna (featuring Ludacris) 63 - - - Worth Tha Weight
2005 "Virgo" Nas (featuring Ludacris & Doug E. Fresh) - 69 - - Street Disciple/The Red Light District
2006 "Unpredictable" Jamie Foxx (featuring Ludacris) 9 2 - 16 Unpredictable
2006 "Georgia" Field Mob (featuring Ludacris & Jamie Foxx) 39 31 21 - Light Poles and Pine Trees
2006 "Need a Boss" Shareefa (featuring Ludacris) 62 10 - - Point of No Return
2007 "Glamorous" Fergie (featuring Ludacris) 9 - - 56 The Dutchess

[edit] Filmography

* 2001: The Wash
* 2003: 2 Fast 2 Furious
* 2003: Lil' Pimp
* 2005: Crash
* 2005: Hustle & Flow
* 2006: The Heart of the Game (Narrator)
* 2007: Ballers
* 2007: Fred Claus
* 2008: Luda Camp
* 2009: Courtney and Me

[edit] Grammy Awards

* Career Wins: 3
* Career Nominations: 16

Category Genre Album/Song Year Result
Best Rap Album Rap Back For the First Time 2001 Nominated
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Rap "Area Codes" 2002 Nominated
Best Short Form Music Video Music Video "One Minute Man" (with Missy Elliott) 2002 Nominated
Best Male Rap Solo Performance Rap "Roll Out (My Business)" 2003 Nominated
Best Rap Album Rap Word of Mouf 2003 Nominated
Best Male Rap Solo Performance Rap "Stand Up" 2004 Nominated
Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group Rap "Gossip Folks" (with Missy Elliott) 2004 Nominated
Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television Special Motion Picture "Act A Fool" 2004 Nominated
Best Rap/Song Collaboration Rap "Yeah" (with Usher) 2005 Won
Record of the Year General "Yeah!" (with Usher) 2005 Nominated
Best R&B Song R&B "Yeah!" (with Usher) 2005 Nominated
Best Rap Solo Performance Rap "Number 1 Spot" 2006 Nominated
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Rap "Unpredictable" (with Jamie Foxx) 2007 Nominated
Best Rap Album Rap Release Therapy 2007 Won
Best Rap Song Rap "Money Maker" (with Pharrell) 2007 Won
Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group Rap "Georgia" (with Field Mob) 2007 Nominated

[edit] Film awards and nominations

* BET Award
o 2006, Best Actor: (Nominated)

* Black Movie Awards
o 2005, Best Supporting Actor: Crash (Nominated)

* Black Reel Award
o 2006, Best Supporting Actor: Crash (Nominated)

* Chicago Film Critics
o 2006, Most Promising Newcomer: Crash (Nominated)

* Image Awards
o 2006, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Crash (Nominated)

* MTV Movie Awards
o 2004, Best Male Breakthrough Performance: 2 Fast 2 Furious (Nominated)

* Screen Actors Guild
o 2006, Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture: Crash (Winner)
o 2006, Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture: Hustle & Flow (Nominated)

[edit] Trivia

* Ludacris' uncle is the stepfather of R & B singer Monica. Her son is his godson.
* Attended Oak Park River Forest High School for one year before attending Benjamin Banneker High School located in College Park. He later attended Georgia State University. [6]
* Ludacris is an intentional misspelling of the term ludicrous.
* Ludacris has a cameo appearance on Stat Quo's video "Like Dat", playing pool with Young Buck and Bun B.
* Ludacris has a 5 year old daughter named Karma.
* As a child, Ludacris use to be terrified by clowns until he was 13, which he had been made fun of by most of his friends.
* Ludacris has a total of 3 #1 hit singles, 14 top 10 singles, and 18 top 20 singles so far in his career.