ludacris
Page: 2
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: MICHAEL TRAN / Getty
Busta Rhymes has been an electrifying force in Hip-Hop since before many of today’s rappers were born. Last month, the Brooklyn bred emcee took home the 2023 BET Awards biggest honor as this year’s Lifetime Achievement recipient.
Some of music’s greatest talents, including Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and Diddy paid homage to the 12-time Grammy Award nominated rapper in a heartwarming video. Fans took to Twitter to share their favorite Busta Rhymes moments while reiterating that a Lifetime Achievement Award was overdue for the “mayor of Hip Hop.”
Busta’s award sparked an even bigger conversation about other icons whose contributions in Hip-Hop have seemingly gone unnoticed. Check out our list of Hip-Hop legends who deserve their flowers while they can smell them.
Ludacris
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
Before rappers like Big Sean and DaBaby captivated fans with their animated delivery, wild punchlines and humorous videos, Ludacris had the game on lock. His major label debut album Back for the First Time, spawned several hit records that many fans deem to be instant classics — including the Neptunes- produced track “What’s Your Fantasy.”
While Atlanta was still finding their identity in Hip-Hop, Luda continued cranking out chart topping records and big budget music videos throughout the 2000s. But after years of hard work and a Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2007 for Release Therapy, he started to feel that his contributions to Hip-Hop weren’t being acknowledged. In May 2023, Luda appeared on the All The Smoke podcast and revealed that Jay-Z credited his outlandish videos as the reason why Luda doesn’t receive the lyrical credit he deserves. “People ask me, ‘Why don’t you think [you] get the credit?’ Because I played too goddamn much…And I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Luda said.
1 2 3 4 5Next page »
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Ludacris is one of the top-charting rappers of his era and has moved on to become a Hollywood star along the way. While the big screen is still a viable medium for the rapper born Christopher Bridges, music is still a centerpiece of his life as evidenced by Luda being spotted in the studio with popular Ghanaian rapper, Sarkodie.
Ludacris, 45, saw his name trending after being seen on video vibing with Sarkodie over some new tracks. At one point, it appeared that Luda found a moment of inspiration and grabbed his phone to jot down some bars.
In the clip, Ludacris is seen checking out Sarkodie’s track “Country Side” featuring Black Sherif, which has a million views for the video on YouTube.
[embedded content]
Sarkodie and Luda are no strangers to each other, this after the Ghanaian star rocked on Luda’s “How Low” track in 2012 during a live performance.
[embedded content]
It could be speculated that Luda was in Accra, Ghana to record a remix to “Country Side” and the track, as seen above, would be perfect for Luda and Sarkodie’s dextrous flows.
On Twitter, the excitement about a possible audio reunion between Ludacris and Sarkodie has the streets talking. We’ve got the best reactions to the clips below.
—
Photo: Ollie Millington / Getty
PETA is planning to take a stand at Ludacris‘ upcoming concert at SeaWorld, the organization announced Thursday (Feb. 23) citing the aquatic theme park’s mistreatment of dolphins and whales.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Ludacris is using the marine park as a money maker, despite being informed that dolphins and whales at SeaWorld are confined to cramped tanks with nothing to do but swim in circles and lash out at each other in frustration,” PETA executive vice president Tracy Reiman said in a statement. “PETA will be there fast and furious to let the public know that supporting marine prisons is ludicrous.”
Opposition to the rapper’s performance — which is scheduled to take place Sunday, Feb. 26, as part of SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival — will include PETA supporters and members of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, as well as a costumed crying dolphin that will carry a sign that reads “What’s My Fantasy? A Life Outside of SeaWorld!” — a reference to the Fast & Furious star’s 1999 hit “What Your Fantasy?”
SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival kicked off Feb. 4 with a performance from En Vogue, though the girl group’s concert was not protested by PETA. PETA previously protested SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival in 2018, when Hanson took the stage to perform despite opposition from the organization to cancel in the form of an online petition, a fundraiser, and even a cake asking the band to cancel the show.
Following Ludacris’ performance at the festival, *NSYNC’s Joey Fatone will take the stage with a few special friends on March 4. Admission to the festival’s concerts is free to all park attendees.
Free bets for everyone? That’s… Ludacris!
The rapper joins Kevin Hart and a host of sports legends for a new DraftKings Super Bowl commercial, which promises every customer a free bet on the sports betting site.
The commercial transitions seamlessly between its celebrity guests by using their names, starting with former Boston Red Sox superstar David Ortiz.
“Everyone gets a free bet?” Hart asks. “Man that’s big…”
“Papi!” retired Dallas Cowboys star Emmitt Smith says to greet Ortiz by his “Big Papi” nickname. “What’s Kev betting?”
“The short odds,” Papi quips, making a swipe at Hart’s height. Hart responds by knocking Ortiz’s snack plate out of his hands and yelling, “You’re both…”
“Ludacris!” says NBA legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving, standing with WNBA superstar Lisa Leslie, when he sees the Atlanta MC, who makes his own height joke. “I heard Kevin’s taking the under.”
There are also punny transitions to retired pro wrestler The Undertaker and skateboarding pioneer Tony Hawk. Watch below to see it all play out:
Luda joins a list of music stars appearing in 2023 Super Bowl commercials, including Diddy’s Uber One ad (which co-stars Kelis, Montell Jordan, Donna Lewis and Haddaway); Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s Dunkin’ Donuts ad; Jack Harlow with Missy Elliott and Elton John in a Doritos ad; John Travolta in a T-Mobile ad; Sarah McLachlan in a Busch Light ad; and Metro Boomin in a Budweiser ad.
The 2023 Super Bowl kicked off with Chris Stapleton singing the national anthem, Babyface performing “America the Beautiful,” and Sheryl Lee Ralph performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”