Early years
Bridges began his music career as a radio personality and DJ as Chris Lova Lova on Hot 97, an urban radio station in Atlanta, Georgia. He made his recorded debut on "Phat Rabbit," a track from Timbaland's 1998 album Tim's Bio: Life from the Basement. Although both Timbaland and Jermaine Dupri showed interest in signing Ludacris, he decided to release the album "Incognegro" independently in 1999. The album sold over 50,000 copies through the Atlanta based independent music distributor, Southern Music Distribution. The same year, he recorded the theme to the video game Madden NFL 2000. Scarface, an original member of the Geto Boys, signed Ludacris in 2000 to Def Jam Recordings, and created a new imprint, Def Jam South, around him.
Back for the First Time
Ludacris released his major label debut, Back for the First Time, in October 2000. The album reached as high as #4 on the charts, and was a major success. Ludacris made his mark on the industry with singles such as "Southern Hospitality" and "What's Your Fantasy", along with his first ever single "Phat Rabbit", from 2 years prior. Back for the First Time was the beginning of Ludacris's explosion to the top of the rap world.
Word of Mouf
Ludacris promptly completed his next album, Word Of Mouf and released it at the end of 2001. Its lead single, "Rollout (My Business)" was boycotted in many American video stations. Despite the controversy, the video was nominated for a 2003 VMA, and Luda performed it live at the awards' pre-show. Ludacris also toured with Papa Roach in 2002 after the release of their sophomore album lovehatetragedy. Ludacris reached a new level of notoriety when TV's Bill O'Reilly expressed outrage that Pepsi had hired Ludacris as a spokesman. O'Reilly repeatedly attacked Ludacris's foul language and called for a nation-wide boycott of Pepsi, who then fired Ludacris and hired Ozzy Osbourne's family instead.
Chicken-N-Beer
During the spring of 2003, Ludacris returned to the music scene after a brief hiatus with a new single, "Act A Fool" from the 2 Fast 2 Furious soundtrack. At around the same time, he released the lead single from his upcoming album, Chicken & Beer, called "P-Poppin" (short for "Pussy Poppin'"). Neither of his new singles were as well-received by either the urban or pop audiences as his previous songs had been, and both music videos received only limited airplay. Chicken & Beer opened strongly, but without a popular single, the album fell quickly.
However, in the fall of 2003, Ludacris rebounded with his next single, "Stand Up", which appeared on both Chicken & Beer as well as the soundtrack for the teen hip-hop/dance movie, Honey. Produced by Kanye West, "Stand Up" went on to become Ludacris' biggest mainstream hit to date, hitting the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and garnering heavy airplay on mainstream pop, rhythmic, and urban radio stations, as well as on MTV, MTV2, and BET.
The album's next single, "Splash Waterfalls", was released in early 2004. Though not a pop hit, it became a success at urban radio and BET. It was Ludacris' most sexual video yet and an R&B remix that featured Raphael Saadiq and sampled Tony! Toni! Tone!'s "Whatever You Want". Luda next released "Blow It Out", a gritty song that had a heavily low-budget, gritty, and urban-looking music video, which was a huge departure from the colorful, sensual, R&B leanings depicted in "Splash Waterfalls". "Blow It Out" acted both as a scathing response to the aforementioned criticism levied by Bill O'Reilly and an expression of disgust at Pepsi's cowardice in the affair:
Shout out to Bill O'Reilly, I'm'a throw you a curve
You mad cause I'm a thief and got away with words
I'm'a start my own beverage, it'll calm your nerves
Pepsi's the New Generation?—Blow it out cha ass!
* On 1 June 2006, a federal jury found that "Stand Up" did not infringe on the copyright of a song called "Straight Like That" by a New Jersey group known as I.O.F. "I hope the plaintiffs enjoyed their 15 minutes of fame," Ludacris said after the verdict. "This whole experience is proof to me of why I will always fight for what I believe in."
The Red Light District
The fourth studio album from Ludacris. Although entirely different from the usual antics of the previous albums, Ludacris had taken a more mature approach to his album. Ludacris openly boasted that he may be the only rapper able to keep the Def Jam label afloat. Ludacris had recently filmed and recorded the single "Get Back" in which he was featured a muscle-bounded hulk who was being annoyed by the media and warned his critics to leave him alone. He also was featured on Saturday Night Live playing his song Get Back with Sum 41. The follow-up single was the Austin Powers-inspired "The Number One Spot". It was produced by New York City's Hot 97 personality DJ Green Lantern. It used the Quincy Jones sample of "Soul Bossa Nova" and sped it up to the tempo of Ludacris' rap flow. Ludacris also filmed the video in which he pokes fun at O'Reilly's problems with Andrea Mackris (Hi Mr. O'Reilly / Hope all is well kiss the plaintiff and the wifey). Production credits come also from veteran producers Timbaland, Lil' Jon, The Medicine Men and legendary rapper Doug E. Fresh. Featured artists on the album include Nas, DJ Quik, DMX, Trick Daddy, and Disturbing Tha Peace newcomers Bobby Valentino (of Mista fame) and Dolla Boi and Small World. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. And most recently the rapper had used his opportunity to start his own foundation. The Ludacris Foundation started by Ludacris and Chaka Zulu is an organization that helps young middle and high school students motivate themselves in creative arts. Ludacris also has a daughter by the name of Karma. Ludacris had also participated at the Super Bowl and is the spokesman for the Boost Mobile Phone ad-campaign. Ludacris also received his first Grammy Award with Usher and Lil Jon for their hit single "Yeah"
Release Therapy
In a recent issue of XXL, a hip-hop based magazine, Ludacris was placed in the number nine spot for the most anticipated albums of 2006, for Release Therapy. The album Release Therapy was released on September 26, 2006. Ludacris is going to format the cd to have two sides, a Release side and a Therapy side. With the Release side having songs that allow him to get everything off his chest and the Therapy side being just feel-good music. A song titled "War With God" is one of the confirmed tracks from the upcoming album. The first single, "Money Maker", which features Pharrell, was released to U.S. radio outlets on July 17. Others songs will be : "Tell It Like It Is" (Produced by Elaborate Musik Workshop), "Runaway Love" (Feat. Mary J. Blige) and Woozy (Feat. R. Kelly)[1] "Money Maker" reached number one on the BET 106 & Park Countdown for the first time on September 15, 2006. The album recently reached number 1 on the Billboard 200 album charts with sales of more than 300,000 in its first week.
To promote the album, Ludacris will be hosting and performing on Saturday Night Live 18 November. Ludacris is the second and only rapper to host and perform on the same episode (MC Hammer hosted and performed in 1991, on different episodes ).
Theater of the Mind
Ludacris's 6th album, Theater of the Mind was released on November 24, 2008 it includes the singles "What them Girls Like" Co-Starring Chris Brown and Sean Garrett , "One More Drink" Co-Starring T-Pain, and "Nasty Girl" Co-Starring Piles. The New album peaked at 1 on U.S. Billboard Top Rap Albums and peaked at 5 on U.S. Billboard 200.
Acting career
Ludacris has been acting in film since The Wash in 2001, but his big break came in 2005, where he received critical praise for his roles in the Oscar-winning films Hustle & Flow and Crash. Crash includes an ironic sequence where Ludacris's character is dismissive of hip-hop music. Interestingly, in both films, he is physically beaten by characters played by Terrence Howard. He is occasionally credited as "Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges".
On January 29, 2006 he was awarded with a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Cast in a Motion Picture for his work in the film Crash. Ludacris also starred in 2 Fast 2 Furious.Ludacris narrated the 2006 Ward Serrill basketball documentary "Heart of the Game." Ludacris recently cut his trademark braids off to project a new image for his upcoming album, Release Therapy.
He recently appeared in the 28 March 2006 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Ludacris portrayed Darius Randall, the nephew of Detective Fin Tutuola, portrayed by Ice T.
Disputes
Furthering the controversy, in response to the signing of the Osbourne family, popular music hip-hop mogul, Russell Simmons, organized a boycott against the company. Simmons demanded an apology from Pepsi to Ludacris and a 5 million dollar donation to one of Ludacris' charities. Eventually Simmons and Pepsi settled on an agreement to stop the boycott, right before it was to officially begin-- while Pepsi did not formally apologize to Ludacris, they did agree to donate millions of dollars over years to Russel Simmon Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.
Ludacris' song "Blow It Out" (from the Chicken & Beer album), acted as a scathing response to his critics, namely O'Reilly.
In another song, "Hoes in My Room", he tells a story about anonymous prostitutes being left in his room, and at the end of the last verse he says:
Then it got to my head and Somethin' remind me
I know who let 'em in, it was Bill O'Reilly.
Then, in 2004, in "Number 1 Spot"
Respected highly, Hi Mr. O'Reilly.
Hope all is well, kiss the plaintiff and the wifey.
In a 2006 interview with GQ magazine, Ludacris criticized Oprah Winfrey about his appearance on her show with the cast of the film Crash. During the interview, the conversation veered from the movie and Winfrey chose to speak on Ludacris' lyrical content, which he felt was unfair as he was visiting her show in the capacity of an actor and not a rapper. Also, Ludacris was upset that some of his responses were later edited from the show's airing. He was later joined by other rappers such as 50 Cent, Ice Cube and Killer Mike who argued that Winfrey had an anti-hip hop bias.
Winfrey responded by saying that she's opposed to rap lyrics that "marginalize women," but enjoys some artists, including Kanye West, who appeared on her show. She said she spoke with Ludacris backstage after his appearance to explain her position and said she understood that his music was for entertainment purposes, but that some of his listeners might take it literally. Ludacris later said the media had blown his comments out of proportion and said he respects Winfrey and considers her "a great individual."
In 2004, before the release of his debut album Straight Outta Ca$hville, Nashville, Tennessee native and G-Unit member Young Buck would enlist the services of fellow Atlanta emcee T.I., also known as T.I.P. in his native Bankhead neighborhood of westside Atlanta. They would create a track entitled "Stomp" amid growing tension between Buck's good friend Ludacris and T.I. On the track, T.I. takes subliminal shots at Ludacris including the line "me gettin' beat down, that's ludicrous." Buck, immediately sensing the tension, decided before releasing the track to notify Ludacris that T.I. had mentioned him since he didn't want to position himself as encouraging T.I.'s actions. Ludacris hears the track and asks Buck if he can add his own verse to which Buck agrees. The results end up being costly for T.I. as he is berated throughout Ludacris' verse and called out by name in his last line. Representatives from T.I. notify Buck that T.I.'s vocals will not be cleared for the album unless T.I. is allowed to change his verse, and also have Ludacris change his. Buck refuses this offer and T.I. prohibits his vocals from being used. Buck has hypeman and fellow rapper D-Tay replace T.I. on the song and D-Tay himself is eventually replaced by The Game on the official release.
Although T.I. was removed, the street cut featuring him and Ludacris had already been leaked to DJs in Atlanta and New York. T.I. was unable to stop the track's distribution throughout the streets of the nation at this point. It is widely accepted that T.I. "lost" this battle with Ludacris easily being the victor. The beef between Ludacris and T.I. was then put to an end behind closed doors as T.I. said that the problems between them have ceased.
In 2006 however, T.I. would release his highly anticipated fourth solo album entitled KING. In his Just Blaze produced track titled "I'm Talkin To You," T.I. lyrically attacks one or more unknown targets who have widely been speculated to be either Ludacris, New Orleans emcee Lil Wayne, or Houston rapper Lil' Flip (whom T.I. also had beef with but has since ended their animosity behind closed doors) or a combination of all three. It is still unknown whether or not T.I. was in fact battling Ludacris again or anyone else for that matter at all. A closer listen to the song, however proves that T.I. isnt dissing Ludacris. In one of T.I.s lines he quotes "had it out with 'Cris, but he still my nigga...sat down civilized talked about it like niggas", alluding to the sit down that he and Ludacris had to end their beef. As a matter of fact during the taping of MTV's My Block 'Atlanta', T.I. and Ludacris are shown greeting each other respectfully.
In July of 2006, a track entitled "War with God" would see Ludacris return after some time off in movies. In the track, Ludacris goes on the offensive against an unknown rapper who has sold drugs, and makes repeated references to shooting guns in his songs, isn't as rich as he (Ludacris) and likes to give himself titles - all very well known characteristics and facts directly relating to T.I and Young Jeezy (or countless other less popular rappers) or the newcoming rappers Yung Joc and Young Dro. In this instance it also unknown whether or not Ludacris is indeed aiming his disses at Young Jeezy, T.I. or if the track is even a song recorded recently. Ludacris recently stated that the song was deeper than just a diss, and the song is more about him than anyone else, it's showing that he isn't just the 'cartoon entertainer' type rapper that he has always been portrayed as, when asked about who specific rhymes were aimed at he said "The guilty will speak". The track has been confirmed to be a selection from Ludacris' upcoming album Release Therapy this September. The song is not aimed at Young Jeezy as he features on the latest album. "War with God" uses a beat written by Don Cheegro and Dirty Harry. Hardship took over ludacris and he was under alot of stress by the end of that album.
Ho
Ludacris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ho (Ho)
You'sa Ho (Ho)
You'sa Ho (Ho)
I said that you'sa ho (Ho)
You doing ho activities
With ho tendencies
With ho energy to do what ya do
Blew what ya blew
Screw what ya screw
Y'all professional like DJ Clue, pulling on my coat tail
An why do you think you take a ho to a hotel?
Hotel everybody, even the mayor
Reach up in the sky for the ho-zone layer
Come on player once a ho always
And hos never close they open like hallways
An here's a ho cake for you whole ho crew
An everybody wants some cause hoes gotta eat too
[Chorus: x2]
Cant turn a ho into a housewife
Hos don't act right
There's hos on a mission, an hoes on a crack-pipe
Hey ho how ya doing, where ya been?
Probably doing ho stuff cause there you ho again
Its a ho wide world, that we living in
Feline, feminine, fantastical, women
Not all, just some
You ho who you are
There's hoes in the room, there's hoes in the car
There's hoes on stage, there's hoes by the bar
Hos by near, an hos by far
Ho! (But can I get a ride?)
NO! (C'mon, nigga why?)
Cause you'sa
[Chorus]
You gotta run in your pantyhose
Even your daddy knows
That you sucking down chocolate like daddy-o's
You hos are horrible, horrendous
On taxes y'all writing off hos as dependents
I see the ho rising
It ain't surprising
Its just a ho-asis
With ugly chicks faces
But hos don't feel so sad and blue
Cause most of us niggas is hos too
[Chorus]
(Ho)
Motherfuckers I'm so tired of y'all niggas always talking
Bout hos this, hos that, you the motherfucking ho nigga
I wasn't no ho last night
(Pimp)
Ho, bring yo ass!
(Ho)
OK, hold on
The song "Ho" by Ludacris is a controversial and explicit commentary on the culture of prostitution and promiscuity in society, particularly among women. The chorus repeats the phrase "You'sa Ho" multiple times, making it clear that this song is directed at one particular woman, who engages in "ho activities" with her "ho friends." Ludacris accuses her of having "ho tendencies," meaning that her behaviors are indicative of someone who regularly participates in activities associated with prostitution.
The chorus goes on to suggest that this woman has "ho energy," which Ludacris argues allows her to achieve her goals ("do what ya do") by using her sexuality to manipulate men. The song criticizes the idea that women who engage in promiscuous behavior are somehow successful or empowered, referencing the rapper DJ Clue as an example of someone who is "professional" at being a "ho."
The lyrics also reinforce traditional gender roles, suggesting that "hos" cannot be turned into "housewives" and that men who engage in similar behavior are also "hos." Overall, the song provides a scathing commentary on the objectification and commodification of women's bodies as well as the double standards surrounding gender and sexuality in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Ho (Ho)
Ludacris is addressing a person and calling them a 'ho.'
You'sa Ho (Ho)
Ludacris continues to call the person a 'ho.'
You'sa Ho (Ho)
Ludacris repeats his insult.
I said that you'sa ho (Ho)
Ludacris confirms that the person is a ho.
You doing ho activities
Ludacris accuses the person of engaging in behavior that is associated with being a 'ho.'
With ho tendencies
Ludacris suggests that the person has a tendency to be a 'ho.'
Hos are your friends, hoes are your enemies
Ludacris asserts that the person associates with other 'hos.'
With ho energy to do what ya do
Ludacris implies that the person has a lot of energy to engage in 'ho' activities.
Blew what ya blew
Ludacris insinuates that the person has spent money on frivolous things, possibly drugs.
Screw what ya screw
Ludacris suggests that the person engages in promiscuous sexual behavior.
Y'all professional like DJ Clue, pulling on my coat tail
Ludacris accuses the person of being a follower who tries to gain attention from successful people.
An why do you think you take a ho to a hotel?
Ludacris questions why the person would bring a 'ho' to a hotel.
Hotel everybody, even the mayor
Ludacris implies that even high-status people, such as the mayor, have engaged in 'ho' behavior in hotels.
Reach up in the sky for the ho-zone layer
Ludacris creates a pun by referencing the ozone layer and the 'ho' lifestyle.
Come on player once a ho always
Ludacris argues that if someone has been a 'ho' in the past, they will always be a 'ho.'
And hos never close they open like hallways
Ludacris uses a metaphor to suggest that 'hos' are always available, like open hallways.
An here's a ho cake for you whole ho crew
Ludacris offers an insult to the person's entire group of 'ho' friends.
An everybody wants some cause hoes gotta eat too
Ludacris jokes that 'hos' are hungry and need to eat like everyone else.
Cant turn a ho into a housewife
Ludacris suggests that someone who is a 'ho' cannot change their ways and become a responsible partner.
Hos don't act right
Ludacris implies that 'hos' behave inappropriately.
There's hos on a mission, an hoes on a crack-pipe
Ludacris suggests that there are different types of 'ho,' including those who use drugs.
Hey ho how ya doing, where ya been?
Ludacris mocks a question that someone might ask a 'ho.'
Probably doing ho stuff cause there you ho again
Ludacris implies that the person is known for 'ho' behavior and is currently engaged in it.
Its a ho wide world, that we living in
Ludacris suggests that the world is full of 'hos.'
Feline, feminine, fantastical, women
Ludacris describes 'hos' with alliterative adjectives.
Not all, just some
Ludacris clarifies that not all women are 'hos.'
You ho who you are
Ludacris asserts that someone who is a 'ho' cannot change their identity.
There's hoes in the room, there's hoes in the car
Ludacris implies that 'hos' are everywhere.
There's hoes on stage, there's hoes by the bar
Ludacris suggests that 'hos' are frequently found in entertainment venues.
Hos by near, an hos by far
Ludacris implies that 'hos' are present in all locations.
Ho! (But can I get a ride?)
Ludacris uses 'ho' as an exclamation and then mocks a request for a ride from the 'ho.'
NO! (C'mon, nigga why?)
Ludacris refuses the request and then mocks the person for asking.
Cause you'sa
Ludacris leaves the sentence unfinished but implies once again that the person is a 'ho.'
You gotta run in your pantyhose
Ludacris creates a pun and suggests that the person is promiscuous by referencing pantyhose, a stereotypically sexy garment.
Even your daddy knows
Ludacris implies that the person's father is aware of their 'ho' behavior.
That you sucking down chocolate like daddy-o's
Ludacris creates another pun and implies that the person is engaging in oral sex with many partners.
You hos are horrible, horrendous
Ludacris insults 'hos,' calling them terrible and dreadful.
On taxes y'all writing off hos as dependents
Ludacris makes a joke about 'hos' claiming each other as dependents for tax purposes, implying that they have no morals and are trying to cheat the system.
I see the ho rising
Ludacris creates a pun and suggests that the number of 'hos' is increasing.
It ain't surprising
Ludacris suggests that it is not unexpected for 'hos' to be multiplying.
Its just a ho-asis
Ludacris creates a word by combining 'oasis' and 'ho.'
With ugly chicks faces
Ludacris insults the appearance of some 'hos.'
But hos don't feel so sad and blue
Ludacris acknowledges that insulting 'hos' might make them feel sad, but then contradicts himself by saying that 'hos' don't have feelings.
Cause most of us niggas is hos too
Ludacris implies that men also engage in 'ho' behavior, and he is not exempt from that.
(Ho)
Motherfuckers I'm so tired of y'all niggas always talking
Bout hos this, hos that, you the motherfucking ho nigga
I wasn't no ho last night
Ludacris uses a different tone in this part of the song to complain about people talking about 'hos,' but then contradicts himself by denying that he was a 'ho' recently.
(Pimp)
Ho, bring yo ass!
A pimp character speaks and orders the 'ho' to come over.
(Ho)
OK, hold on
The 'ho' responds and agrees to the pimp's request.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER BRIDGES, CHRISTOPHER BRIAN BRIDGES, SHONDRAE CRAWFORD, SHONDRAE L CRAWFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gemini4lyfe3001
"Ho bring yo ass!"
"Ok ho on"😂🤣😭🤦🏾♂️ classic!!!!!
@4partmedia
Ludacris is the first scientist to identify the Hozone Layer.
@kimbamariawiggins481
Lmfaooo😂😂😂😂😂
@tkyo8546
Yah no wonder the scientists complaining so much about climate change!
@mjbset93
@Unsesquipedalian so what scientist do you know personally and consult? 🤷🏽♂️ Are you are a scientist? Where are getting your information? And why inject this in response to a JOKE about a Light hearted song? 🙄 If anyone factors in a joke about climate change in their assessment of whether it is legitimate or not they are fools. And you are foolish in trying to reach them. 🤣🤣
@mjbset93
@Unsesquipedalian Are you a scientist? Again? All this stuff you spouting has no references. You are just another person on the net repeating stuff you heard. And at the end of the day does it really matter? Long ago it was scientifically and proven in practice that world was round and stupidly people are debating it. It doesn’t matter whether you or I believe it, if it is actually happening. 🤷🏽♂️. I don’t know what the actual impact of us dumping millions of ton of CO2 in the atmosphere is but it is ridiculous to assert there is no impact at all. I hope you are right for the sake of future generations because if you and people like are wrong the people that will suffer won’t be able to kick your ass. But even if they could that is no consultation to the other species that will die off and suffer. And stupidity spouting the talk point that it is “just Democrats” make you look like an idiot. An alleged conspiracy this big long, and world wide requires far more than just USA Democrats. 🤦🏾♂️. Do you believe we have an inexhaustible supply of fossil fuels also? What happen if that supply is finite and we don’t develop technologies to replace their use? Go Work on your music dude it would be far more productive.
@mjbset93
@Unsesquipedalian I was aware of natural average global temperature rise you cited. That has nothing to do with speed at which is rising now. So all the scientist who agree with Climate Change are USA Democrats? Man I didn’t know they ran most of the scientific community. If they are that powerful how do they loose elections? Scientist get things wrong sometimes but your assertion that it is a Democratic Party is insulting to 1000s of scientist. You are so confident of 0.5 F over 10,000 of data without thermometers or a contemporary Fahrenheit scale. You believe that data but no data since. Okay make perfect sense 🙄. And I don’t care cause I don’t like USA Democrats or USA Republicans.
@jerryreeves9790
I just want to send a shot out to my ex wife! After 14 years you proved this is really your song!
@joedec
You can't make a ho a housewife
@disgustedangel9608
😂😂😂