Revisiting Review Nov 2022: As I've been revisiting Ludacris' discography over the last week or two, the phrase 'his best song' has been used a few times, but I think this album has it. Produced by Wyldfyer, 'Last of a Dying Breed' is amazing. I love the high-energy, epic feeling of the production. The rapping from Ludacris is dope, and even Wayne, who I think has ruined more songs than he has improved, gives us an enjoyable rapping performance without the cringe he is accustomed to providing. The following 'MVP' is great, with the next 'I Do It for Hip Hop' also being in the conversation for best Ludacris song. None of my opinions have changed on how much I like these songs and I still think Jay-Z is disappointing. Nas and Luda bring energy, and Jay does not.
'Call Up the Homies' sees Game and Luda trading bars, that we don't see enough on collaborations, and the production is another winner. The tracks I've talked about have been given many replays over the years.
Now to the rest. The 'Intro' is your usual blazing brag-rap opening that every Luda album has attempted to have. It doesn't match most of his intros. 'Undisputed' is a decent near-banger. The rapping isn't Luda's engaging best and the verses are just broken up with Floyd Mayweather's motivational talking. T.I. and Ludacris get back together after their feud for 'Wish You Would' that's another near banger and the best of the first few songs. 'Southern Gangsta' is similar, again with no real hook, but the production is hard to dislike.
There is more pop-rap and chick oriented songs than we've had before. 'Nasty Girl', 'One More Drink', 'What Them Girls Like' and 'Contagious' all fit into those categories. They are all okay. The hook to 'One More Drink' is kind of catchy but I don't miss the autotune T-Pain voice too much from the era this album is from. 'Contagious' is the most boring song on the album.
The standard edition finishes with 'Do the Right Thang' that has parallels to the movie, 'Do the Right Thing', and it's better than I remember. Enjoyable jazzy production by 9th Wonder with a catchy hook.
The expanded edition, that I don't know if I heard, has two extra songs. 'Let's Stay Together' sees Ludacris discuss the end of relationships including beefs in hip hop that broke up partners like The Dogg Pound, Game and 50, to basketball with Kobe and Shaq. And then the creative 'Press the Start Button' has Luda bragging with many video game related figurative language being used - "Holdin a Soul Calibur, or shoot you like Galaga / And my Creed Assassins ya, so clear the room / Before the shotgun helps you meet your Ultimate Doom, boyyyyy".
I like some songs more than I remembered, but my opinion of this album hasn't changed too much. After coming from his most consistent album, 'Release Therapy', this is one of his least consistent, with the main issues being the pop rap songs that don't work, but the high points are dope.
Beats: ★★★
Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆
Hooks: ★★★
Best Tracks: Last of a Dying Breed, MVP, I Do It for Hip-Hop, Call Up the Homies, Do the Right Thang, Let's Stay Together
Songs ordered (best-worst):
Last of a Dying Breed ★★★★★
I Do It for Hip Hop ★★★★★
Call Up the Homies ★★★★☆
MVP ★★★★☆
Do the Right Thang ★★★★
Let's Stay Together ★★★★
Wish You Would ★★★☆
Intro ★★★
Southern Gangsta ★★★
Undisputed ★★★
Press the Start Button ★★★
Everybody Hates Chris ★★★
One More Drink ★★☆
What Them Girls Like ★★☆
Contagious ★★
Nasty Girl ★★
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Original Review: Theater of the Mind is full of many okay tracks. 'Last of a Dying Breed' at track 11 was the first to really catch my attention, with it's epic feeling beat and enjoyable rapping from Wayne, and then the album finishes pretty well with 'MVP' and 'I Do it for Hip-Hop'. On the latter track, Luda and Nas put in some good verses, Jay-Z sounds like he phoned it in and has by far the worst verse which easily noticeable.
Overall though, the album is quite disappointing. There are too many featuring artists that I don't think Ludacris needs. Vocally he can carry tracks as he often shows when he appears on other artists tracks and he has showed on his past albums. I think he has some of the best mic presence in the genre. Like his last album this is something a tad different, but I'm not feeling the whole supposed concept of every song sounding like a scene from a movie either. I may have to pay closer attention...A rare backloaded album.
Best Tracks: Last of a Dying Breed, MVP, I Do It for Hip-Hop, Call Up the Homies
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