Ludacris

The Red Light District [2004]

Although not entirely different from the usual antics of the previous albums, Ludacris had taken a more mature approach to this, his fourth album. Sohail Khalid helped produce this album with various artists such as T.I., lil Flip and Bun B. 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 first appeared on the long-running sketch show Saturday Night Live as a special guest performing with musical guest Sum 41 on a season 30 episode hosted by Paul Giamatti. He then recorded Get Back with Sum 41 to make a rock crossover single. 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. He 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. Featured artists on the album include Nas, DJ Quik, DMX, Trick Daddy, Sleepy Brown, 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.

Release Therapy [2006]

In an 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 on a single CD. With the Release side having songs that allow him to get everything off his chest and the Therapy side being just feel-good music, on the flip side it's extremely dark in mood. Guest appearances include Pharrell Williams, R. Kelly, Young Jeezy, Mary J. Blige, Field Mob, Bobby Valentino, Pimp C, C-Murder, & Beanie Sigel. The first single, "Money Maker", which features Pharrell Williams, was released to U.S. radio outlets on July 17, 2006. "Money Maker" reached number one on the BET 106 & Park. It then went to become the rapper's second number one single after 6 years. His second single, "Runaway Love", soon peaked at number one on the U.S. Rap Billboard and won Best Collaboration in the 2007 BET Awards. His album then reached number one on the Billboard 200 album charts with sales of more than 300,000 in its first week. With the release of this album, Ludacris marked a change in style in his career with his musical style. The new album itself features a departure of the light-hearted mood of his previous albums, and introduces a darker side. 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 returned to Saturday Night Live (as both host and musical guest) on November 18, 2006.

Theater of the Mind [2008]

Ludacris recently revealed to BET Weekly that he has collaborated with rock group Good Charlotte for his upcoming sixth solo album titled Theater of the Mind. Ludacris also divulged that he also wants to work with Eminem on the album. The Preview, a mixtape to preview the album has been released on the 28th of July 2008. Theater of the Mind, is slated for release in October 2008, and in April 2008, a single named "Stay Together" appeared on xxlmag.com; supposedly from the new album. Also a song with Small World called "Pinky Shinin'" might be on the album. Also in an interview with complex magazine he informs them that Lil Wayne and The Game will be on the album. [6] Swizz Beatz has also produced some songs for the album. T.I. will be on the album on a track called "Wish You Would".

Other Work

In 2003, Ludacris recorded a rap section for Kylie Minogue on her song Chocolate (Kylie Minogue song), to be included on her ninth studio album Body Language (Kylie Minogue album). However, his contribution was edited out from the final mix, although the rap version was leaked onto the internet during 2006.

On July 7, 2007, Ludacris performed at the American leg of Live Earth. Ludacris made a verse for 50 Cent's "I Get Money" remix. He also appeared on the four hundredth episode of The Simpsons, "You Kent Always Say What You Want". The rapper has also recorded a verse for DJ Khaled's "I'm So Hood Remix". Ludacris also made a track entitled "Down In The Dirty", which features Rick Ross & Bun B. In the booklet of Release Therapy ,it says, in the "coming soon" section, his next album will be called "Theater of the Mind". More recently Ludacris has made a verse for Alicia Keys' "Like You'll Never See Me Again" Remix, as well as a verse on the remix to "Dey Know" by Shawty Lo. A verse for Lloyd's How We Do has also been made. He is also featured on Ciara's new single "High Price", which will be on her new album "Fantasy Ride", slated for release in November 2008. The-Dream stated on 106 & Park that in this collaboration, Luda spit the best 32 bars he has ever heard someone spit on a feature.

Ludacris has released two official mixtapes. The first one called Pre-Release Therapy with DJ Green Lantern was released in 2006. He has recently release The Preview with DJ Drama.

Business Ventures

Ludacris was featured on the cover of Beyond Race magazine for the publication's summer 2008 issue.

After the success of The Red Light District, Ludacris then 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.

In April 2008, Ludacris was to have launched his latest business venture, Straits Atlanta, bringing Singaporean cuisine to the artist’s hometown. The restaurant is the fourth of its kind: Ludacris’ partner in the venture, Chef Chris Yeo, owns three other restaurants in the Straits brand in San Francisco, San Jose and Burlingame, California. Straits Atlanta will further incorporate Georgian ingredients into the menu. The upscale $2.7 million dollar restaurant will open in Midtown Atlanta, in a building purchased by Ludacris nearly one year ago. Ludacris has also invested almost $1,000,000 into renovating the building. Two more restaurants are in the works.

Ludacris is also the co-host of a show with rocker Tommy Lee for Planet Green entitled "Battleground Earth". The show premiered on August 3rd, 2008 and will air through September 2008. The show airs Sundays at 10 PM ET on Planet Green and Thursdays at 8 PM ET on TLC (TV channel).