Ludacris - Theater of the Mind Review
Posted by Joshua George on 11.24.2008
Chris "Ludacris" Bridges tries to reclaim his "Number One Spot" with his sixth album. Unfortunately, unlike his last "Money Maker", I think this one's going to leave us needing "One More Drink".
Track List:
1. Intro
2. Undisputed (Co-Starring Floyd "Money" Mayweather)
3. Wish You Would (Co-Starring T.I.)
4. One More Drink (Co-Starring T-Pain)
5. Call Up The Homies (Co-Starring The Game and Willy Northpole)
6. Southern Gangsta (Co-Starring Rick Ross, Playaz Circle and Ving Rhames)
7. Everybody Hates Chris (Co-Starring Chris Rock)
8. What Them Girls Like (Co-Starring Chris Brown and Sean Garrett)
9. Nasty Girl (Co-Starring Plies)
10. Contagious (Co-Starring Jamie Foxx)
11. Last Of A Dying Breed (Co-Starring Lil Wayne)
12. MVP
13. I Do It For Hip Hop (Co-Starring Nas and Jay-Z)
14. Do The Right Thang (Co-Starring Common and Spike Lee)
Chris "Ludacris" Bridges has brought us many albums that have hit and stayed on the charts. These albums all brought something different that helped us follow Luda on his travels through the changes in the music and the rap industry. Although I have had a really good time following him on this quest, I have to say I think he lost me a little bit on this CD. Luda tries to come at us with basically an album full of collaborations. As you can see in the track listing, there are only two tracks that don't have someone else on them. One is "Intro" which to be honest might be one of the best tracks on the album and to be COMPLETELY honest, even that one isn't one hundred percent Ludacris.
It honestly hurts me to be giving this CD such a harsh review because I've been one of the people that have made sure to buy every Ludacris CD that comes out, but for some reason this one just didn't strike my fancy in any way shape or form. Let's start with all of the good things. If you want to have some serious good beats and something that you absolutely HAVE to bob your head to, make sure you check out "Undisputed". This song Co-Stars Floyd "Money" Mayweather and has a great track behind it along with the typical lyrical genius of Luda. Another track that makes you move and even laugh a little is "One More Drink". This song spends some time taking you on a tour of the night clubs with Luda and what it might take to take you home.
I'd like to take a second to mention that I love the fact that Luda puts "Co-Starring" on his tracks instead of "feat." or "Ft." This gives us quite a bit more feel that Ludacris has a lot of respect for his collaborators and is willing to put his own reputation on the line for these artists. I guess Ludacris has always had a lot of guest artists on his albums. There are way too many to list here of course but some of the bigger ones (and my personal favorites) being Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, Pastor Troy, Timbaland, Three 6 Mafia, and Twista. The great thing about collaborations is that you really get a chance to almost get many CDs crammed into one under a name that you know you love. The downside being that sometimes you just want to hear your artist and ONLY your artist. Unfortunately Luda doesn't really provide us with much opportunity to do that.
There are more good tracks on this CD. If you'd like to turn the tracks to something a little harder, make sure you check out "Call Up The Homies" and "Southern Gangsta". I had a great time listening to these tracks because it's a little bit of what you're used to hearing with Luda. He goes hard on these tracks making you really feel what he's talking about and you can even zone in to the lyrics because they mesh so well with the beats on these songs. I found myself moving pretty naturally to these as they seem to really catch on to some kind of inner power in you and really pull it out so you feel good listening to them. The only other song that's really good to listen to in its entirety is "What Them Girls Like". I'm sure you could've guessed this one as it was getting MAJOR airplay on the radio stations and has also received a spot on five US Billboard Charts and even the Canadian Hot 100.
It's sad to say, but on the "Everybody Hates Chris" track, I have to agree with Chris Rock. It's like Luda's just trying to fill an iPod at this point. The fact that I can honestly say that six out of fourteen tracks are genuinely bad on this album says a lot because again, I truly love to listen to Ludacris any time I get a chance. Listening to Back for the First Time, Word of Mouf, Chicken-n-Beer, The Red Light District, and Release Therapy gave me incredible hopes for this CD. I honestly hoped that this CD would be something that would continue to mold and shape the industry. I know there's something to be said for defying the industry and being an individual, but the rap sound is as strong as it has ever been so why would you not follow that? "Wish You Would" has a beat that honestly sounds like a sixth-grader could've made it using some drumsticks and some trash cans. The other problem I really have is this: how much can you HONESTLY do with horns on a track? I understand using brass instruments on the tracks and over the beats to add something different, but Luda, you've given us this SO much including a song that I HATED while the rest of the world LOVED, "Number One Spot".
I suppose I do have to make mention of "Last Of A Dying Breed" which really is completely MADE by Lil Wayne. His verse on this song is INCREDIBLE and honestly just makes you think about how awesome HE is, instead of paying attention to Ludacris. Let me be honest with all of you and say that I am indeed a huge fan of Lil Wayne. Let me also be completely honest and say that I was a "bandwagon" Lil Wayne fan, with his most recent album Tha Carter III though I have gone back to listen to some of the older stuff. The problem is that I've been with Ludacris from the beginning (and yes, for you die hard fans, I have listened to Incognegro) but I just can't stand up and tell people that this album is the pure gold that Ludacris typically puts out.
The 411: Ludacris comes back to give us another album, but sadly I feel like maybe he should've stayed in the studio and worked a little harder to put out something that is truly up to his standard. I know I'm a nobody that just sits at his computer reviewing CDs and works his fifty-hour-a-week job and calls it a day, but this CD is just not up to what I would've expected and I honestly don't believe that it's even up to what the rap industry expects at this juncture. Putting Lil Wayne and Chris Brown on tracks may have been one of the smarter moves for Luda in this particular CD, but in the end maybe it was all the collaboration that caused this album to just not be as good. That being said, the fact that it's Ludacris gives this CD some points automatically because he's just good in general and the addition of Lil Wayne and Chris Brown couldn't possibly have hurt the rating on this one.
wtf, u lil wayne dickrider. Luda blows lil wayne, lil wayne wasnt shit til 2006. You forgot to mention the fire tracks he did with DJ Premier and "I Do it for Hip Hop", and "Do the Right Thang" with Common and Spike.
Posted By: Luda1 (Guest) on November 23, 2008 at 03:58 PM
LOL. First of all, I'm sure Luda wouldn't blow Lil Wayne... bad image. Secondly, I KNOW you're not talking about the last two tracks on this CD like they're something worth listening to. The beat sounds like an animal in a dumpster and the last track was so bad I actually turned it off about 30 seconds before the end. Get it together man :) Besides, this is just one man's opinion.
Posted By: Joshua George (Registered) on November 23, 2008 at 05:28 PM
You're a traitor. You gave Luda a shitty rating. He needed this album to be a classic. This album is way better than Carter 3 and this site gave Paper Trail a 9.5??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????
Luda can spit way better than TI or Lil Wayne, he is the first southern rapper to work with DJ Premier (MVP) and Do The Right Thang was fire. "I Do it for Hip Hop" is hot just because of the subject matter, it kills SLU where they are talking about swagger. This whole album is hot and does not have filler (only 14 tracks). He had to do those 4 tracks like Contagious or What Them Girls Like because he has all kinds of fans.
Just like Kanye even tho he put out a trash album, Luda deserves a higer rating on name alone.
Posted By: Luda1 (Guest) on November 23, 2008 at 07:22 PM
WTF are you just rating the beats in all this. Luda is a lyricist, he said his goal with this ablum is to put him in the top 5.
Posted By: Luda1 (Guest) on November 23, 2008 at 07:31 PM
Luda's album success does not depend on me alone. Many people will buy the new album and many people will love it. It just wasn't for me. The only reason I gave it a 5.5 was because it was Luda. I loved the lyrics in the first 8 songs, but 9 - 14 were basically skip tracks for me. Sorry man. We disagree... free world.
Posted By: Joshua George (Registered) on November 23, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Heck no, the last 4 songs on this album are said to be one of the best last 4 song finishes in Hip Hop history.Thats where the strength is.
-Last of a Dying Breed (Rakim Sample)
-MVP (DJ Premier- first southern rapper)
-Do if for Hip Hop
-Do The Right Thang- great subject matter, with 9th Wonder on the beat.
I know whining kanyetrash BETTER NOT get a better review. That would be real wrong. My man Luda did it for hip hop while Kanshit copies Tpain. This is why hip hop is dying.
This album deserves a 8.5+. Luda is one of the greatest hip hop artists, just because he is funny sometimes doesn't mean you can lower his ratings. He can be serious or funny and rip the song apart.
Posted By: Luda1 (Guest) on November 23, 2008 at 10:58 PM
He already isn't getting the massive radio play he was getting in his albums before for some reason. Prob because of the new codeine-addicted, trash looking, autotune biting Lil Wayne and the jail bound trash TI who got bigger after going to jail. Luda has never needed a publicity stunt or hype to do well thats why he will last long and be one of the greatest.
Posted By: Luda1 (Guest) on November 23, 2008 at 11:01 PM
I agree with you on all of that. I think Ludacris is one of the best in the rap game hands down. The problem is, I just didn't feel like this particular album was his best. I liked Release Therapy 100 times more than this one. I wore it out... as for this one I likely won't listen to it (in its entirety) again. Of course I'll pick up tracks of it, but the whole CD is just not as good as I had hoped it would be. That's all man. We agree on Luda's ability and his longevity.
Posted By: Joshua George (Registered) on November 24, 2008 at 12:43 AM
Joshua George no respect, but I think that you should've saved this album review to another person.
First and foremost, MVP stands out as THE BEST track on this album, hands down. This and the Last of a Dying Breed are both incredible tracks, especially with Luda coming hard on his 3rd verse and as inconsistent as Lil' Wayne is, he actually came correct on this track (he seriously makes 1 good track out of 4.) If you seriously think that Lil' Wayne ''Made'' that song, go check back on Luda's last verse. That guy has been sooo overrated since the end of Tha Carter II era.
Secondly: Common, the legendary 9th Wonder, and Luda laced up that last track. I have absolutely no idea why you would skip that track, it was amazing. What Dem Girls Like was pretty average, mainly due to the fact that Sean Garrett is like a carbon copy of Ma$e on that song. Chris Brown and Luda did a great job on that too. As for ''Southern Gangsta,'' that track was just bad for me, nothing stood out there at all, not even Ving Rhames couldn't even save that track, let alone have Correctional Officer Rick Ross on that track ugh. Call Up the Homies was a great track though, I'll agree with you on that, Willy Northpole has some great potential. To conclude this statement, this album should've been at least an 8.5 at the minimum. There were only 2 bad tracks on this album, Southern Gangsta and What Dem Girls Like. This album beast out the blandness of Release Therapy, only half of those tracks were meaningful. I Do It for Hip-Hop was also a great track, but not as good as Black Republican and Success when it comes to a Jay-Z and Nas collaboration.
- On a side note, Luda1 when you said that these last 4 tracks are one of the best finishes in Hip-Hop history, download Clipse's ''Hell Hath No Fury,'' Public Enemy's 1st 3 albums, etc. You've just sort of over-exaggerated on that statement. Dang, coming from a 16 year old, I know too about this genre. Wow, after all of this typing, I'm just going to listen to my compilation of DJ Premier tracks, peace.
Posted By: One Man's True Opinion... (Guest) on November 24, 2008 at 12:54 AM
ur a luda hater this album is way better than his previous, the only track i thought was bad was the one with plies
i wouldve given this album a 8
cant believe you gave it a 5.5
Posted By: cham (Guest) on November 24, 2008 at 01:04 AM
At least buy the album and not just tracks from iTunes. He needs as much people to compete with Kanye.
Posted By: Luda1 (Guest) on November 24, 2008 at 01:26 AM
Dam man, look what you did. Luda has one of the lowest ratings compared to all the other reviewed albums. I see this your first album reviewed. And you took it out on my man Luda to give a bad review.
Posted By: Luda1 (Guest) on November 24, 2008 at 01:35 AM
Ludacris isn't the first southern rapper on a Premier beat. Scarface, Bun B, Cee-Lo, Devin The Dude and even Jermaine Dupri have been on Premier beats before.
Anyway, I'll give this a listen this week. I'm not a big Luda fan so I'm not expecting much at all now to be honest
Posted By: Patrick Robinson (Registered) on November 24, 2008 at 02:24 AM
Luda1, jealous of Kanye much, you mention him a lot. ;)
Posted By: Guest#1356 (Guest) on November 24, 2008 at 07:02 AM
I dig Luda, I do. But he can't see Tech N9ne.
Posted By: cj_615 (Guest) on November 24, 2008 at 10:05 AM
worst review ever, i tell you 411 has no real hip hop heads, the hip hop herald is jsut a rehash story article of the week, these guys don't know anything other than top 40. Lil' Wayne is overhyped trash and the last 2 tracks on the cd are teh BEST on there. Luda is a lyricist, pay attention to the CD not the chris brown BS radio play jargon. you suck reviewer. Go listen to your nickelback cd.
Posted By: wtf23 (Guest) on November 24, 2008 at 10:06 AM
It would seem that you had better simply agree with what all of these people say next time Joshua. Because if you try to have your own educated opinion again, they are gonna just keep getting mad and yelling.
It is clear that their opinions are considerably more correct than yours are. You should keep that in mind next time you want to disagree with the 411 commenters with your personal reasons for not liking an album by someone you typically enjoy.
DOWN WITH INDEPENDENT THOUGHT!
Posted By: Tha Guy (Guest) on November 24, 2008 at 10:23 AM
@cj_615
I love Tech N9ne. That's some great shit, and his new CD was COMPLETELY AMAZING.
Posted By: Joshua George (Registered) on November 24, 2008 at 11:00 AM
To that mf who said I was jealous of Kanye:
WTF would Luda be jealous of that gay trash pop shit bitch. He has sold way more, more hits, and especially can spit better than his faggot ass. Who gives a shit if reviewers like this suck his dick or get PAID to give him good reviews. That bitch Kanye is done, expect him to got worse.
Posted By: Luda1 (Guest) on November 24, 2008 at 01:01 PM
Lol at these dudes comparing some underground rapper to Luda.
Posted By: Luda1 (Guest) on November 24, 2008 at 01:01 PM
Luda1, do you kiss Ludacris with that mouth?
Posted By: Guest#0492 (Guest) on November 24, 2008 at 05:01 PM
Get off my dick, Luda1. This album sucks, I'll admit it.
Posted By: Ludacris (Guest) on November 24, 2008 at 06:04 PM
To many damn guest apparences and too many of them half-assed it. Nas, Jay-Z were the most disappointing, I mean I get Jay-Z's mid-80s type rap on "I Do It for Hip-Hpo" but it came off so damn corny. The fact Plies is on the album hurts it too with his non-existing flow. Luda's verses were good and punchline heavy but everyone else except maybe Common and Game were Meh at best. 6.5 too many damn guest appearances
Posted By: Colin (Guest) on November 24, 2008 at 07:02 PM
Fuck you and Kanye West. This garbage reviewer gave a shitty review. What, you weren't paid enough???????????
Posted By: Luda1 (Guest) on November 24, 2008 at 07:30 PM
Colin! That's what I was trying to say mostly. The lyrics and Ludas verses were SPOT ON, but the guest appearances and the shitty beats hurt the CD as a whole.
Posted By: Joshua George (Registered) on November 24, 2008 at 08:01 PM
Dude, why cant you base your reviews off fairness instead what you get paid to give them. And quit criticizing the beats, this album he worked with top notch producers for all tracks, he usually only does that a few tracks off each album. Some of these producers are some of the greatest in the business.
Posted By: Luda1 (Guest) on November 25, 2008 at 12:22 AM
BTW, make sure you buy the album like you did for all of his.
Posted By: Luda1 (Guest) on November 25, 2008 at 12:22 AM
LUDA! will remain the best rapper alive until he ref tires his lyrics are beyond weezy & t.i people need to stay off their DICKS and use your imgination listen to his lyrics i bet u would change your mind (M.V.P)
Posted By: JayT (Guest) on November 25, 2008 at 03:15 AM
LUDA! will remain the best rapper alive until he ref tires his lyrics are beyond weezy & t.i people need to stay off their DICKS and use your imgination listen to his lyrics i bet u would change your mind (M.V.P)
Posted By: JayT (Guest) on November 25, 2008 at 03:17 AM
All I hear you guys saying is listen to the lyrics. Lyrics lyrics lyrics. This isn't a fucking book of poetry, it's an ALBUM. EVERYTHING has to be good for it to get a good rating, lyrics AND beats. The lyrics were great. The beats sucked. That's why this CD got such a low rating.
Posted By: Joshua George (Registered) on November 25, 2008 at 08:17 AM
Wow, 5.5? Please. Not that it's surprising coming from a huge Lil Wayne fan though.
Posted By: Chris (Guest) on November 25, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Also, guest appearances and beats should never, ever bring down an album review. Sorry.
Posted By: Chris (Guest) on November 25, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Wow! Joshua George... you seem to be way out of your element reviewing this album. And your comment about jumping on Tha Carter III bandwagon tells me exactly what you are... First of all, Tha Carter was great, Tha Carter II was amazing then Tha Carter III was garbage. Sounded like he dropped acid in the studio. Theater of the Mind is a bangin' album. Luda spits some witty wordplay and whether he's spitting on a tough beat or a weak beat, he still kills it... and Wayne. I'll admit, this isn't the best album I've ever heard but it deserves much better than the weak, ignorant review you gave.
Make sure you know what you're talking about, in this case hip hop, before you try to review an album by a respected rapper with proven longevity.
Posted By: Niki (Guest) on November 25, 2008 at 11:21 AM
JG, just the fact that one of your favorite songs on the album is What Them Girls Like should tell everyone who is reading your bogus review everything they need to know about you. We all have the right to our opinion, but you should not be in the position of reviewing hip hop albums because you like that radio friendly pop shit. 5.5 is a disservice to hip hop and this review deserves a retraction.
Posted By: MDsiv (Guest) on November 25, 2008 at 06:10 PM
If rap were "music", I would understand it being in this forum. It really needs to be in a "horseshit" forum...wait, you don't have one of those? Too bad...guess you can't review any more (c)rap "music".
Posted By: Guest#6702 (Guest) on November 25, 2008 at 11:20 PM
dammit, Luda isnt getting much promo from his label. This album may not do usual Luda numbers of 300k+. At least fuckin let him have good reviews.
Posted By: Luda1 (Guest) on November 26, 2008 at 01:27 AM
dam you, you bitch ass reviewer
Posted By: Luda1 (Guest) on November 27, 2008 at 02:38 AM
Damn, it's just one man's opinion. I can't believe people are actually catching feelings when there are sites and magazines that are bigger than 411mania (no offense) giving this fair-decent reviews. Luda is going to sell, he going to have mostly average-good reviews. Stop crying about the man's review like he's the only one who passes judgement on the album and enjoy your thanksgiving. Ratings are overrated nowadays so it's about if YOU like or dislike the album.
To those that say this album is CLASSIC, don't fool yourself. First of all, the word classic is overused big time. I like Ludacris some of the time and even his best albums (Back For The First Time, Word Of Mouf) aren't classic material. I haven't even heard the album save for I Do It For Hip Hop (I did like Ludacris and even Nas's lazy verse). Calling this album is a slap in the face of albums like Road To Riches, 3 Feet High & Rising, Illmatic, Criminal Minded, Paid In Full, Follow The Leader, Stunts Blunts & Hip Hop, De La Soul Is Dead, The Low End Theory, Word...Life, Enta Da Stage, Ready To Die, ect. Guest appearances and beats can take the album status down. Take Nas for example, great MC, but people often say if he just put as much emphasis on his beats as he does his lyrics then all his albums would be a Classic (even his last album which was awesome to me). The same goes for KRS-One (who should be working with producers like Primeir, Showbiz, Diamond D, Lord Finesse, Buckwild, istead of these no name producers just to be cheap) Ras Kass, and many other great lyricists. Guest appearacnes bring the album down too, I can't stand Lil' Wayne so that's a turn off for me. I don't follow much mainstream but everything I've heard from T-Pain is shit and Chris Brown is good in very small doses for me. So that makes me weary of the album in a way but I'm going to check it out to see if it's worth it. At best it's probably a 6-7.5 but I'm about to listen to it. On a good day Luda can drop some decent material (Incognito (original version of Back For The First Time), Back For The First Time, Word of Mouf, and even Release Thearpy) then there's times when he puts out material that's lacking (Chicken and Beer & Red Light District.
Posted By: Red1 (Guest) on November 27, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Hahahahah at this dude saying Wayne saved Last of a Dying Breed. The guy tried to do nothing but punchlines and ended up trying to force himself to come up with something.
Posted By: Dab (Guest) on December 01, 2008 at 05:13 PM
I bought this album the day it came out right after basketball practice. I listended to the WHOLE thing without even motioning to skip a song. His lyrics are so cleverly ingenius that the album went by so quickly and seemlessly. I'm always amazed with ludacris lyrics. As Far as the beats, ill admit that some of them weren't all that great but his lyrics ALWAYS make up for that. The beat on Contagious is almost non-existant but, "How could I resist it, ill be there in and instant when you call like tornados you got me twisted."
Lines like that make up for mediocre beats (for me anyway). But that was only a few songs. Undisputed, Last of Dying Breed, and MVP are songs with LYRICAL EXPLOSION and TIGHT BEATS. Do the right thang, and I do it for hip hop are just awesome subjects and the lyrics are "deeper than the ocean." Southern Gangsta is not as bad as you make it sound and the beat on Wish you Would is not bad AT ALL. I love ludacris because a lot of his music has much more meaning to it than the lil waynes of the world. How many times does he have to say "Money over Bitches" like seriously...This album, like all of ludacris's albums, is awesome. :]
Posted By: Jordan Santos (Guest) on December 02, 2008 at 12:43 AM
this is a B******T review on all levels i am a HUGE ludacris fan and am the kind of fan that would put my hand up and say if i dont like a song or its concep. in my view this is the best album so far this year and of its career. 1)theater of the mind 2)release therapy 3) chicken n beer
Posted By: theo kalopedis (Guest) on December 02, 2008 at 07:16 PM
Lil Wayne's verse was AWFUL, what the hell are you saying? Man, try not to let your dick riding overtake a review.
Posted By: Foolio (Guest) on December 04, 2008 at 11:11 AM
First off how can you not mention anything about the track MVP, shit that was produced by DJ Premier hes a f**king legend and kills it once again, todays rap needs more of that. It needs MCs that can put together more then just a hot beat but that can scratch and make it flow!!! Premos hot with that rap shit
Posted By: IronLung (Guest) on December 08, 2008 at 01:00 PM
I receieved this cd for christmas and to be honest, joshua george was telling the TRUTH about this lame cd. It sucked period.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on January 01, 2009 at 08:04 PM
.... I figured he put "Co-Starring.." to tie in with the album title of "Theater of the Mind"....
... and all ya'll who are giving him such grief for his review should really chill. He's entitled to his opinion, and he's not any more right or wrong than you are. Hell, most of you that are fussing at him are even admitting that this CD isn't as good as Ludacris' previous efforts.. not one of you has stepped up and called it better than the other Luda CDs actually.
Anyways.. I'll check the CD out because I like Ludacris (and "Chicken N Beer" is one of my favorite CDs ever, despite that not being his most popular work).. but I don't have particularly high hopes for it either. The single's awesome though..
Posted By: Blackbird 13 (Guest) on January 07, 2009 at 06:16 AM
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