Enjoy the show

Previously he was the crazy guy from Atlanta who has carved us misogynistic and drug-glorifying songs without end around the ears, but since 2006, when he Cornrows has shorn, Ludacris seems matured and to be grown up. The now 31-year-old now provides us with "Theater Of The Mind" his first real concept album, his own words Tracks that are as individual scenes, includes. A nice gimmick is that it on the back cover does not mean "Featuring ..." but "Co-Starring ...", also has Luda to the many rappers even actors like Ving Rhames, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx and Spike Lee, and boxer Floyd Mayweather into the studio. That sounds interesting to see if the film actually captures so, we'll see once the credits roll.

Using the intro, the disk starts quite promising. First you will be asked by a slightly loopy voice to take their seats, then Ludacris puts down a great performance on a gloomy beat. "Undisputed" convinces with cheerful blues sounds and forceful claps. Floyd Mayweather speaks casually a bit and gives New Boxer Luda some advice. Overall ok, but the song will soon be monotonous by the lack of chorus. As was to "Paper Trail" work the former enemies Ludacris and TI together here. When her "Wish You Would" but as sounds, one wonders whether the end of the entertaining Beefs was really necessary because it involves one of the worst songs of the album.

This is mainly due to the vocals, which the oppressive and hard instrumental is actually not bad at all. Luda can only now and then flashed to his skills, TI failed totally. His flow is here incredibly bad, rather skipped quickly. "One More Drink" is the first small highlight of the plate, leaving the old Ludacris return something to light. One could at the shallow melodies and R'n'B sounds tempted that it is a love song, in fact it comes that you can run fully before the female companion. Luda's Rhymes can best follow here to sing T-Pain a very smoothen Hook. After an impressive and rousing "Call Up The Homies" along with The Game and Willy Northpole, you reach now "Southern Gangsta".

It is the first song on which you can feel Luda's Down South origin. Take massive hammering and slow beats on a dark synth thunderstorms, but what very nice sounds. Introduced the whole of Ving Rhames, who introduces each MC during the songs. After Ludacris are then also Rick Ross and Playaz Cirlce to the series, the boss leaves the best impression. Although this track again has no chorus, he still burns some down. In "Everybody Hates Chris" you meet again to much Blues. Equipped with bass and massive brass with tears the already Ludacris' vicious rape do the rest to do so.

The middle of the album as a whole is very designed R'n'B heavy. The beginning makes this club track "What Them Girls Like". The instrumental is tinged oriental and brings the powerful beats the dance floor to the quake. Luda does what he needs to do, not just as Sean Garrett, and so it is not surprising that Chris Brown is the star of the song. Unfortunately, this is liable to a song but very commercial and pop touch, just like "Nasty Girl" with Plies. A synth droning as it hardly schnulziger and poppy could have been is released here on the handset. Friends of chart Rap are to make air jumps, quickly press fans of old Ludacris the Skip button.

Then maybe right Soul, as the beautiful and very relaxed "Contagious", in which particularly Jamie Foxx makes a good figure. Towards the end of the album, the quality is now rising steadily. Let's go to the breaker "Last Of A Dying Breed" along with Lil Wayne. It combines an incredible number of elements such as scratches, drums, really weird synth sounds, a trumpet and all that on a thunderous beat. Both MCs put a great performance out where both Luda's aggressive Part, and Weezy's scratchy voice sounds nice. Probably the highlight of "Theater Of The Mind" can be found with "MVP".

It is the only song without special appearance, at the same time produced by DJ Premier legend. The do the same as always and packs a mad beat with Soul and tidy New York Flavor from. Not Down South, but still Ludacris in his element - what more could you want? The serious and causing goosebumps "I Do It For Hip Hop" with Nas and Jay-Z in the supporting roles is another highlight before you can enjoy the final scene with "Do The Right Thang". 9th Wonder forged an instrumental purpose, which has earned nothing but wonderful attribute. Flutes and trumpets a chilling and emotional march, which goes in like warm butter, fits to Common raps with better could not end this album.

Despite some small hangover "Theater Of The Mind" is really succeeded. Slightly less guests might have been beneficial, but even so, it creates Ludacris to stay at the center. An old heydays of a "Word Of Mouf" he can so long although not connect, but can recommend the disc to anyone who paired on good canola with radio-friendly beats stands, fans from Luden should strike at all costs.