Artist: Ludacris

Stand Up cos Luda’s back in town. We ask you to ask him about his hair, Chingy, Oprah and getting recognition. As told to Emmanuel Ezugwu

Logan: Before you got signed with a big record label, you sold quite a few records independently. How important was your grind in helping you establish a fan base?

It was very important because I learned all aspects of being my own music label as I had to do my own street promotions, mixing, mastering, A&R and lawyer. So it made me learn a lot about the business doing it all by myself.

Scribbler_design: Have you heard any UK grime?

Nah, I haven’t heard anything.

Schoey: What’s going on with your film career, are you working on anything?

There’s a couple of scripts that I’m reading but I haven’t signed on to do anything yet so it would be hard for me to tell you seeing as it nothing has been announced. So the best thing to say is that I’m reading movie scripts...

BW: How did it feel when the film you were in, Crash got an Oscar?

That was the greatest experience in the world man, it really was. It made me feel really good and I thank God for that.

BW: Is your single War With God aimed at T.I., Young Jeezy and Chingy?

I would say that a lot of rappers have taken subliminal shots at me but haven’t said my name. So that song is just me taking subliminal shots at a lot of different people. It’s not about one particular person or I would have said that persons’ name.

OutDA: How important is it for you to be seen as the greatest of all time rather then top of southern rap?

I really want to be known all over the world. I’ve been all over the world and I want to be known as one of the best - period. I love what I do and I want to be the best at it.

DnA: You’re very creative - what inspires you?

My inspiration is because I have a job where I have full creative control. With that being said I can do a lot of things that come to mind and make my ideas come true. It’s important for me because I have the power to do anything I want to. I’m going to make it as interesting and eye appealing when it comes to my videos.

Thing_In_Bootz: How do you rate other ATL rappers?

I think that a lot of people are hustlers. They really know how to hustle and they really know how to make money. I love Outkast. I worked on their last album and it was really good working with them. It went really well, so maybe we’d collaborate again.

DJ_Stashman1: Why did you cut your hair?

The material on the album is a lot more serious so I had to compliment it with a more serious look. People like it.

Motive: Why is your album called Release Therapy?

I called it Release Therapy because it’s my last album. It’s my fifth album and I signed a five-album deal so it’s kind of a release in my own mind. Also in the subject matter, there are a lot of songs that are release songs and a lot of songs that are therapy. Release is where I tell it like it is and get things off my chest. That side will have War with God. Then Money Maker is more of a club song that is for people to dance to.

BW: So are you going to leave Def Jam?

Well, we have a joint label deal with them so more than likely I will be signing with them again.

The_One: What’s your view on Oprah after she tried to mug you off on her show?

I think it was blown out of proportion. I went on her show as an actor and she just attacked me over my lyrics as a rapper and I defended myself. When the show came out a lot of my comments got edited out and I wasn’t happy about that. If it were live then I would go on the show again.

Pav: You seem to release an album a year – why?

Time is of the essence. I make the material quick so I feel like I can release it out quick.

Ashley Beckles: Do you sometimes feel underrated?

Yeah, I used to feel that way but nowadays I feel like I’m starting to get the respect because people are really noticing what I’m doing.

BW: We hear Girls Gone Wild is a big tune?

It’s one of those songs that is ahead of its time. In my eyes it’s a great, great song. I feel like not many people can do that. Pharrell produced the beat and it’s really uptempo.

Chaundry Jnr: How would you define yourself?

I would define myself as the best all round rapper in the game.

Release Therapy is out September 25 on Def Jam

RWD Magazine

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