Ludacris Clarifies Viral Story About Justin Timberlake Grammys Argument: ‘It Was No Cursing Out’
Written by djfrosty on April 18, 2024
Ludacris couldn’t contain his excitement in his yearslong grind to finally take home best rap album at the Grammy Awards, which he did when Release Therapy reached the rap Grammy mountaintop at the 2007 ceremony.
Luda let his emotions pour out backstage as he celebrated loudly with his team, which Justin Timberlake apparently overheard in the room next door, as the *NSYNC singer told the Atlanta rapper to pipe down.
The Chicken-n-Beer rhymer joined Sean Evans for an episode on Hot Ones on Thursday (April 18), and he clarified details of the backstage argument with Timberlake after it resurfaced and went viral earlier this year.
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“The Internet went a little crazy with it. He definitely meant it, but it was no cursing out. He was behind the curtain and I was celebrating so openly and I was so loud,” Ludacris explained. “I think it was said more in fun, but there was definitely some truth behind it. Like, ‘OK, show’s not over. Stop celebrating so openly, I haven’t won any yet.’ With a smile on his face type of thing.”
Ludacris pulled up to Drink Champs in February, where he expanded on the mix-up with JT backstage. “At this time, they had all the artists separated by curtains, so motherf—ers weren’t in specific rooms. I say that to say I get back and I’m like, ‘Yeah! F— yeah! I made it! I did it! I won! I literally set out to get a Grammy and I got it!’” he said.
“All of a sudden, I hear this voice from the other side of the curtain. They yell, ‘Shut the f— up! Some of us didn’t win any God—n Grammys today!’ I pull the curtain back and this n—a Justin Timberlake is on the other side of that motherf—er.”
Best rap album wasn’t the only hardware Ludacris took home at the ’07 Grammys: The Pharrell-assisted “Money Maker” won best rap song honors too.
Ludacris reflected on setting a goal to make Release Therapy so undeniable that the Recording Academy had to give him the Grammy trophy.
“The reason was this was for all of these years, I want to say it was a good nine or 10 years, I was in the same category of solo male rap artist as Eminem, 50 Cent, DMX, Jay-Z. So I finally got to a point [where] I was so consistent that I just built up this momentum and I finally had my time,” Ludacris said.
“That was probably one of the — if not the — best times in my career for literally setting out and making sure I had a goal and accomplishing that goal… It meant everything to me.”
Release Therapy debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 following its September 2006 release, with 309,000 albums sold in the first week.
For the record, Timberlake also won two Grammys that year — best dance recording for “SexyBack” (featuring Timbaland) and best rap/sung collaboration for “My Love” (featuring T.I.). JT lost in two other categories that year — album of the year and best pop vocal album, both for his megahit FutureSex/LoveSounds.
Elsewhere in Luda’s Hot Ones test — which he aces — the rapper reveals he’s related to legendary comedian Richard Pryor and recalls Ben Stiller inviting him over for a private screening of Tropic Thunder to get his clearance to use “Get Back” in the film.
Watch the full episode below. Talk of the Timberlake/Luda spat begins around the 8:45 mark.