Chris “Ludacris” Bridges is back on the scene now having just released a new album, Battle of the Sexes. It’s been a while since Luda returned to the music scene — he’s been focusing on acting for the past few years with notable roles in Crash and Law & Order Special Victims Unit. And today, he co-hosted Live! With Regis & Kelly.
The new album, which came out on March 9, isn’t your run-of-the-mill hip hop album. Ludacris burst onto the rap scene in 2000 with his hit “What’s Your Fantasy,” which featured songstress Shawna, and has never been one to shy away from featuring strong females on his records. With Battle of the Sexes, Luda takes it a step further, hoping to engage in “lyrical conversations about gender” with the female artists who guest on his tracks.
“Hip-hop is such a male-dominated industry,” Ludacris told USA Today, “There’s a female voice that’s sometimes kind of missing.” Different tracks deal with different areas of gender stereotypes; for example, “Hey Ho” with Lil Kim “addresses the double standards of promiscuity,” and “Can’t Live With You,” which features his cousin Monica, portrays a couple in a rocky relationship. He’s most inspired by the main female in his own life, his 8-year-old daughter Karma, who he refers to as his best friend.
Even though Ludacris has been flying under the radar for a few years, he’s always been a multi-tasker, so this album release isn’t a singular event. It coincides with the launch of the rapper’s new cognac, Conjure. He’s also been involved in many philanthropy projects through his Atlanta-based Ludacris Foundation.
Ludacris kicked off the Battle of the Sexes promotional tour with a performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and filled in for Regis on Live! With Regis & Kelly today. Ludacris will also be stopping by other talk shows to perform songs from Battle of the Sexes, and he’s already embarked on a 10-week, 32-stadium tour with the Black Eyed Peas. He’s one busy guy, and he’s always got his eye on that “Number 1 Spot.”
Photo by Toglenn via Wikimedia Commons.