Interviews

Ludacris Will Never Back Down

Mar. 18, 2003

Livewire: Do you love doing interviews?

Ludacris: I'm here for you man.

Livewire: Are you disappointed that Word of Mouf did not win best Rap Album at this year's Grammys?

Ludacris: I can't say that I'm not disappointed. I tell you I'm happy to have been nominated for the Grammy because there's a lot of extra publicity and press just being nominated. So, ya know, I'm very happy just to have been nominated.

Livewire: Is your upcoming album Chicken & Beer an extension of Word of Mouf or is your rap moving in a new direction?

Ludacris: My rap is always moving in a new direction and it always will be. You have to satisfy the core audience that I have and then move on and show my progression and growth also. There is always going to be growth. I'm going to grow each and every day and learn more and, you know, grow as an individual and so will my music. Music changes each and every day.

Livewire: How would you describe your music to a 70 year old white male who has never heard of rap music?

Ludacris: Just as my name implies - Ludacris - that's how my music is as long as they understand that Ludacris means crazy and wild and ridiculous, that is exactly how I would explain it to them. It's looking for a little fun in their lives.

Livewire: Who influenced your rhymes?

Ludacris: I've been influenced by many people especially the Ghetto Boys, Uncle Scarface, which is the president of Def Jam. People like 8 Ball and Outkast to name a few. A lot of movies influence me. I like to watch comedians for a laugh. I get a lot out of television and other entertainment has influenced me and my rap style.

Livewire: What's the state of rap music today?

Ludacris: The state of rap music is in a recession right now or damn near. It's in a state of emergency, man. I mean financially because of all the bootlegging and stuff going on, but I'm glad it's starting to bring it back to the streets. There's a good side to it and a bad side. The bad side is that financially we're hurtin' a little bit. We have to control the bootlegging over the internet and on the computer and at the same time it's getting more hardcore a lot grittier and grimier. Especially after September 11th when the world went into a recession.

Livewire: How does the record industry stop the bootlegging?

Ludacris: I think more incentives when you purchase an album in a store like those DVD extras. Also, I understand that they're trying to put a block on copying and they're coming out with devices and new inventions to actually put blocks on music. Or also to buy singles off the internet for 99 cents. Things of that nature. There's a lot of different ones out there.

Livewire: Is Eminem a friend?

Ludacris: Definitely. I went on tour with him and I think he's a great person and a great artist. He motivates me. I definitely like his music.

Livewire: Tell me about your childhood.

Ludacris: Man, it was all 'bout music. I used to wakeup everyday listening to music that my parents would put on and that's what got me so interested. I loved the whole aspect of entertaining. I grew up on James Brown, RUN D.M.C., Fat Boys, ya know. I wrote my first rhyme when I was like nine years old. Then I would do demo tape after demo tape and I've been in the studio ever since.

Livewire: When's the last time you got laid?

Ludacris: The last time I got laid was last night.

Livewire: When's the next time?

Ludacris: I don't know the next time maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow - who knows. Can't guarantee ya until it happens.

Livewire: If you're stranded on a deserted isle what famous woman would you choose as your mate?

Ludacris: I would have to choose someone like Oprah. Because man, I'm not good with catchin' food and I think she would be the person to get shit and cook it. I think food is more important than sex. The answer you're looking for is the amazing looking woman, but no I want to survive. I want to eat. With Oprah we be eatin' good, so I can get off the island.

Livewire: Tell me something crazy that's recently happened to Ludacris.

Ludacris: Damn, I got this 4 wheeler and I broke it within 5 minutes. I went up the hill and one of the tires landed on a tree and I broke it right away.

Livewire: Is it all drugs and and naked women after each show?

Ludacris: It used to be when you first get started, but then eventually it kinda gets old and you tire of it. You feel like you've been there done that. Now, I want to be more careful. We narrowed it down - put it that way. If you call marijuana and alcohol drugs, which they are, than I do drugs.

Livewire: What does Ludacris do to prepare for a show?

Ludacris: I just relax, man. Because when the show starts that's a whole lotta energy. I also say a prayer with my group before we go onstage.

Livewire: Tell me about the Ludacris Foundation.

Ludacris: The Ludacris Foundation is a foundation set-up to help kids to help themselves. We've done a number of different projects, not only in the hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, but everywhere. We've done projects from feeding the homeless to rehabilitative hospitals and visiting children to raising money for good causes like the boys and girls clubs. Definitely during the holidays we help to feed families during Thanksgiving and sponsoring families for Christmas. That's what its all about - giving back to the community.

Livewire: What do you have in store for your fans for the rest of the tour?

Ludacris: A concert that's going to be worth their money because I feel like these days people pay a lot of money to do something and they're going to feel like they got their money's worth. That's what I have in store for them. They're going to have a great time!

Chicken and Beer

GLO/NBS: What up this is your girl Glo holding it down with ATL's finest, the one, the only, Ludacris. Whats goin on?

Ludacris: Nuttin, just actin a fool all day, every day.. belive that.

GLO/NBS: Now you know you are definately doing your thing by blazin all the movie soundtracks with hits like "Act a Fool," and you done crossed over and started doing your acting thing with the leading role in "The Fast & The Furious 2."

Ludacris: It wasnt the leading role, but you know it was a pretty good role and that was like my first real movie role so first movie, so Im feeling good, we just trying to take things to a higher level right now. Just make sure we have our hands in as many pots as possible.

GLO/NBS: So whats next, you runnin for president?

Ludacris: ha ha, maybe thats waaay down the line, but whats next is this "Chicken & Beer" Album which is my third album, droppin at the end of september. We shooting a video from that album right now, this is like the underground song. Its gonna be like a street hit. Is this (interview)clean or dirty? ....ok well look, Its called "P-Poppin," you know what the hell im talkin bout when I say that though, so this is gonna be for the uncut people. Then we got the real single "Stand Up," we gonna be shooting that soon, of course I gotta plug the "Fast & Furious" soundtrack is gold now, if you dont have that go get it, Disturbing The Peace, we executive produced that. The "Golden Grain" Album is gold. An you know we still movin. Chingy coming out July 15th.

GLO/NBS: Much respect to Chingy.

Ludacris: yeah, so Disturbing the Peace as a movement, label, everything we takin over.

GLO/NBS: Right. I was gonna ask you, whats next for the Disturbing the Peace family? Big Shouts to Shauna, & LiL Faye.

Ludacris: Lil Fate is on this record, he just got a deal with DefJam South. And Shauna should be coming at the end of this year.

GLO/NBS: Fa-sho, now most of yall probly dont know, or cant remember, but Ludacris used to work at (ATLANTAS) Hot97.5 as Cris-Lova-Lova.

Ludacris: Yeah they remember that, its still the alias I say it in songs, aint nobody forgot that, its a struggle though you know thats where I really got started, rappin on the radio, where I first got alot of people listening to me, where I got my name, so one love to that radio station for helping me out.

GLO/NBS: Right, now Imma just say you know, some of our audience they really wanna know what happened with that Pepsi & Bill O'Reilly thing, you know how did that pan out?

Ludacris: The whole thing with the Pepsi & The Bill O'Reilly thing you know we still trying to work something out for my foundation, but thats about the only thing that Pepsi can do for me right about now. You know up its the best thing that could have happened as far as Bill O'Reilly, a middle finger to him, but as far the Pepsi corporation, I got a non-profit organization called the Ludacris Foundation and they are going to help me out with the community, so thats all they can do. im good.

GLO/NBS: Now we saw you on MTV cribs & you were repoin the dirty south very well. Is it safe to say you are still a native of Georgia?

Ludacris: Im still a native of Georgia, but that crib you saw on cribs I no longer live there, I doone gave that house to my pops its still in college park but in a diferent house. 22 acres, 15,000 square feet, I couldnt be happier right now.

GLO/NBS: Ok well you know can we catch you on any tours?

Ludacris: Towards the end of this year after the album comes out you can definately catch us on a tour its not set in stone yet but we will definately be touring fo-sho.

Playboy interview

By Antonia Simigis

He may be hip-hop's resident goofball, but when Chris "Ludacris" Bridges brags that "I got hos in different area codes" on 2001's Word of Mouf, the man ain't jokin'. The 27-year-old Atlanta-based rapper, who just released Red Light District, inspires hundreds of female fans to chant "I wanna li-li-li-lick you from yo' head to yo' toes" when he plays live -- and they strive to make good on that lurid offer after the gig. "Man, I've been in concert before, and a woman has damn near thrown all of her clothes onstage," he tells Playboy.com. "She was just standing in the crowd, damn near butt-ass naked, just trying to get my attention. That was the craziest thing in the world."

During his stint as a Playboy.com Celebrity Guest Photographer, we got down and dirty with the Dirty South superstar about strip clubs, one-night stands and his love for older women.

1. What celebrity would you like to have sex with?

Ludacris: I hate to be like everybody else -- really, I like to be different -- but Halle Berry's going to have to take the cake. She is one of a kind.

2. Who was your teenage fantasy?

L: Janet Jackson. Man, not only because of her music, but because she's beautiful and she always keeps herself together. I liked the Janet Jackson with a little more weight on her, though. She's a little skinny for me now.

3. You're from Atlanta. Have you ever been to the Gold Club?

L: I've definitely been to the Gold Club. When I first went there I was working for a radio station, and I wasn't making that much money. Being in there was intimidating, because the Gold Club seemed to have a lot of men who were rich and giving these women all kinds of money. So here I go in there, trying to act like I'm one of them. It wasn't easy. I had to play it as best I could.

4. Do you ever enter a strip club now with your pockets loaded?

L: I go to strip clubs a lot, but I don't spend a whole lot of money there. I do spend more money than I used to, though, just because I have it.

5. What's the first thing you notice about a woman?

L: A big butt is always a catch. I'm a sucker for a big ass.

6. What's your type?

L: I like a woman with a strong mind and a beautiful face. And nice feet. That's definitely one of my criteria. Her toes have to be pretty or else I can't mess with her.

7. Do you have a foot fetish?

L: Yeah, like boots. Especially thigh-high boots. I like things like that. And I like different kinds of shoes, like those Gucci pumps. I love those. I believe Amerie was wearing them in one of her videos. Those are the sexiest shoes!

8. What's your favorite sexual act?

L: Receiving oral sex is definitely the best.

9. Ever had a one-night stand?

L: I've had more than one one-night stand. Some were good experiences, some were bad. But I don't really have those too much anymore. When you first get on the road, just being an artist and being young, of course you're going to have a lot of one-night stands. But eventually you get tired of it, and you've got to be careful these days, so it's not really worth it to have one-night stands. It's better to have a relationship.

10. How'd you lose your virginity?

L: Man, I was probably 17 years old. I think I was in my dad's house. He was home at the time, and I was on a waterbed with somebody I had known for a while. You always hear stories about people climaxing really quick their first time, but for some reason, I just kept going for a long-ass time. Twenty minutes without stopping. She was older than me, too; she was in college.

11. Had any older women since then?

L: Oh, yeah. Women don't reach their [sexual] peak until they're in their 30s. So yeah, I think older women are the best. Usually I'm in control, but with older women, one in particular, she pretty much controlled me. And I love being taken control of. She was a beautiful woman in her mid-30s, and she was teaching me some things.

12. Are you kinky?

L: I'm kind of crazy sometimes. You know how I told you I like when women take control? One time I had two women who blindfolded me and handcuffed me. That was the greatest experience ever.

BBC interview

We asked horse-faced rap star Ludacris to bling up Christmas, but how does he do? Read on...

TOTP: How would you bling up the Queen's speech? CrisLudacris: I would have me perform at it. In front of everyone and then let her get on with the speech. All you'll have to do is replace her with a beautiful voluptuous 20-year old and let her say the Queen's speech. That'll get people to pay attention. Someone like er, Angelina Jolie, in a bikini!
Anjelina

TOTP: Cool! What could we hang on our fireplaces instead of stockings?
Ludacris: Forget the stockings. I have a shoe collection comin' out. You could hang those on the fireplace. You could hang a lot of them up and just have one present in each shoe, or I could make a reeeeally big version to put a lot of presents in.

CrisTOTP: OK, and what could we put into our Christmas stockings apart from satsumas and nuts?
Ludacris: Those little bottles of alcohol. For the kids, er, bubblegum, popcorn and candy and stuff.

TOTP: How can we bling up Santa?
Ludacris: Put him in some Fubu clothes and some Jordans. And then have a lot of ice on him. 'Cos it is Christmas y'know. You gotta have some lots of jewellry.

Mr TTOTP: What about that beard?
Ludacris: Yeah some little sideburns. He needs a nice little shape-up on the beard area there. And then ditch the hat and put a Kangol on him.

TOTP: What should we leave him instead of mince pies and sherry?
Ludacris: Some Cristal definitely! Maybe some brandy. Of course some chicken, chicken and beer!

TOTP: Of course! Finally, what about the coin in the pudding?
CrisLudacris: Probably a diamond ring or something, or some earrings, like the ones I bought my daughter.