Ludacris is famed for his iconic music videos, but as JAY-Z once told him, his outlandish visuals came with a downside.
During an interview on Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes’ All the Smoke podcast, the Atlanta rap legend reflected on his larger-than-life music videos and revealed Hov once said to him that they’re the reason he doesn’t get the credit he deserves as an MC.
“It was big, but there was a downside to it because even JAY-Z was one of the ones that said, you know, he don’t think I get the lyrical credit that I deserve because of the visuals,” Luda said.
“People ask me, ‘Why don’t you think get the credit?’ Because I played too goddamn much, that’s what I do! And I wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s why my name is Ludacris, because it’s beyond crazy, it’s wild, it’s ridiculous.”
He added: “I like post-effects and augmenting reality, big-ass shoes with big-ass chains, and bobble heads and all that. So I get it, I can’t be mad at it. I just have to show the multi-faceted aspects of myself and I actually love that.”
When asked what his biggest music video budget was, Luda admitted that he never quite hit the seven-figure heights that contemporaries like Diddy, Ma$e and Wu-Tang Clan did, but his most expensive clip still cost an eye-watering amount.
“I want to say like half a mil, something like that,” he answered. “Maybe it inched up to that $600,000. But you hear about when Diddy and Ma$e did the $1 million videos, it was a couple of those.
“I think Wu-Tang, that ‘Triumph’ video, Steve Rifkind said he did a million. I never made it to the million category, I never wanted to do that, but I did about half of that.”
Despite never quite getting the credit he deserved on the mic, Ludacris earned several plaudits for his visuals. He was nominated for Best Rap Video at the MTV Video Music Awards four times at the height of his career — winning once in 2005 for “Number One Spot” — and won Video of the Year twice at the BET Awards thanks to collaborations with Missy Elliott (“One Minute Man”) and Usher (“Yeah!”).
He was also one of the best-selling rappers of the 2000s, topping the Billboard 200 three consecutive times with 2003’s Chicken-n-Beer, 2004’s The Red Light District and 2006’s Release Therapy while also going 4x-platinum with 2001’s Word of Mouf.
The Disturbing Tha Peace founder connected with JAY-Z numerous times during this impressive run, most notably on Missy Elliott’s “One Minute Man (Remix)” and “I Do It For Hip Hop” alongside Nas, the latter of which found Luda reminding fans of his lyrical prowess.
“This my daily devotion, the verses stay deeper than the ocean/ So Hip Hop you owe me a promotion/ Yeah I do a little boasting and bragging/ What’s all the commotion and nagging about?/ ‘Cause I’m Still the champ in the South/ ‘Cause rappers get in the booth and I keep dragging them out,” he spit.
The accolades continue to roll in for Ludacris, who earlier this month received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Fast & Furious star was actually inducted in the category of motion pictures thanks to his successful acting career.
Luda held back tears as he gave a speech at a ceremony unveiling his star, where he was joined by family and supporters including LL COOL J, Queen Latifah, Vin Diesel and Tyrese.
“No matter what people say I can’t do, I will continue to shatter those stereotypes and show people it’s possible in order to make everyone who got me here proud,” he said. “Because you all inspire my hard work and dedication to receive this star today. I’m motivated by legacy and history.
“This means that I’ve made my mark, my own personal history being documented. To be amongst these names is just amazing to me. I’m just so thankful. So, getting a star is a statement, but be clear about this statement, the even bigger statement to me is that we are all interconnected.”
He added: “And I am a culmination of the people who showed up for me today believing in me and pushing me to inspire me. So y’all be clapping for me all day I’m gonna need y’all to give yourselves a round of applause. Because I’m nothing without you.”
I respect Luda as an emcee he got mad lyrics
One of a kind. Big respect to Luda
Luda killed Made U Look Remix.
Busta has crazy visuals but still gets respected lyrically
But he had to switch his visuals up. He went from bouncing cartoon like movements in his first 2-3 albums then switched up for a more serious tone. Remember Jay referenced Bustas early antics on What More Can I Say off the Black Album:
And no I ain’t get shot up a whole bunch of times
Or make up shit in a whole bunch of lines
And I ain’t animated, like say a, Busta Rhymes
But the real shit you get when you bust down my lines
Busta was of course offended and went at Jay but cooler heads prevailed bc Busta had already begun separating himself from a cartoon like character.
You mean Jay said this after his prime? Because Busta has had like one or two hits since the Black Album. When he was hot, he had all of this same stuff that allegedly is why these lames criticize Luda. Redman too.
Always loved him after he murdered T.I on Young Bucks Stomp!
Underrated comment. Luda ripped him so bad they removed T.I. verse from the track.
Because he’s from the South. That’s pretty much it.
Luda never fell off, but he definitely didn’t have the same taste for the game after he started acting, especially after Fast Five. Now he’s known more for playing a computer nerd than he is for Move Bitch.
He’s like 99% of rappers. He didn’t have shit else to rap about like when he was young and hungry. I was just talking to somebody about this how DMX had fell off before he died because that raw energy he tried to put on records doesn’t work anymore when you’ve traveled the world and made millions. Luda used to make club anthems and is the rare guy who does that who could also spit. He still can spit, but the club anthems don’t sound fresh coming from a damn near 50 year old.
I would add Busta, Redman and Missy also. Even Em, for a long time, had guys I knew thinking his whole album was like Hi my name is or Real Slim Shady. It’s a choice you have to make but I respect all those artists for stretching the boundaries.
People don’t criticize Eminem for that though. First thing most people say is that he can rap his ass off and got lyrics. They say we can’t relate to his content, which most can’t who aren’t white. Luda gets that criticism simply because he’s from the South because Busta and Redman didn’t get that same backlash. Redman was always respected as a lyricist, and Busta got love even though he was always crazy with his visuals and style. But the first thing you hear about Luda when they mention him is that he’s a cartoon rapper even though he could tear all of your favorite rappers a new asshole if they got on a track with him.
I dont think its the videos.. Its really because he’s from the south. Most southern lyricists dont get the credit they deserve (big boi, pimp c, scarface… i could go on and on.
This is the whole reason. East Coast rappers and fans are arrogant as fuck and act like they own hip hop. No, they don’t. Lots of dudes from other regions have done it better than all of their rappers not named Nas, and it’s ironic because he’s the one dude who has never been on that elitist shit that most of them are on. You got trash can rappers like Uncle Murda and shit like they’re superior because they’re from NY.
Yeah, it’s because Luda jokes a ton and has a lot of fun. But he was very talented. He can still spit, but he just raps super fast, same flow always nowadays. Luda was the first rap I really got down with, then I went in reverse and was big on Snoop, Dre, Pac, and the dead row music. But Red Light District and Theatre Of Mind were amazing. Love his first album too, and one more… forget what its called. The one with “move b. Get put the way”. That album was solid. His last, Ludacersal was not my thing. Release therapy was average. Battle of sexes was radio. But before battle of sexes, he had fire.
I don’t think this true because he came up in the Eminem era and Eminem played a whole lot but was respected as a lyricist. Maybe it’s because Luda didn’t release many lyrical singles I don’t know, but what I do know is chicken and beer had no skips