My revisiting of Ludacris' albums is complete! I consider 'Battle of the Sexes' as a spinoff album from Ludacris' discography, so this was his first real album from him for 7 years since 'Theater of the Mind'. All of Ludacris' albums begin with just some hard spitting and we have it here again. It doesn't match his best openers but is still decent. 'Grass Is Always Greener' sees Luda rapping about the yin and yang/pros and cons of life. "Did some movies and started missing this rap shit/Back to rap then starting missing them movies." The "fly fly butterfly" part is a kind of meh, but the content and verses are compelling enough to be worth repeated listens. 'Call Ya Bluff'' is harder with more brag rap that Ludacris has often done. Catchy dope hook on this one that you'll be rapping along with the second time you hear it. It's one of the best on the album. 'Lyrical Healing' is a short song with one minute of more brag rap that continues on 'Beast Mode' that features lots of punchlines. It's just three minutes of bars, and is also another strong song. Enjoyable production and spitting. Next, the stupid immature skits are back from Luda with the 'Viagra Skit' where a man with priapism calls for help but doesn't receive the desired response. 'Get Lit' is another pro-drinking song to add to Luda's catalogue. The production is the least likeable of the songs so far, but the rapping is entertaining. This is my least favourite on the disc. Given how talented they both are, the KRIT collaboration doesn't live up to the hype. It's okay but it's unmemorable with the content being uninteresting, the hook not particularly catchy, and it's one of the most average songs here. I may like some songs less than this, but this really just comes and goes. The next three songs feature well known R&B singers. Content wise, 'Ocean Skies' is the most interesting with it being about his deceased father's passing and alcoholism. The souly Usher assisted 'Not Long' is the best of them though. The more poppy songs here are much less extreme than on 'Theater of Mind' and are better songs. Most of 'Charge It to the Rap Game' is about the shady parts of the rap game. Lyrically it keeps me entertained with Luda being honest about rappers talking shit but the production isn't good enough to make this one of the best on the album. The standard version finishes with 'This Has Been My World' that samples Michael Jackson's 'Human Nature'. It's a strong finish here where Ludacris celebrates his life and career for some positivity after the previous song. The deluxe edition then has four songs from the 'Burning Bridges' EP. "Money' with Rick Ross is the best of them. Ludacris raps about cash being the root of all evil and the problems that have come with his wealth. "I'm gettin' sued by my own family member (what?)/All cause my dog bit her/And she was the one who walked up and put her hand out." It's okay, but Rick's verse has no energy coming off Ludacris' that hurts the song a touch. 'Burning Bridges' sounds like it's trying too hard and doesn't pull it off to be great. They are all good tracks though. In comparison to his previous projects, it continues from 'Release Therapy' to have more serious content. It's definitely more consistent than 'Theater of Mind', and to be honest, most of his albums, but the high points are nowhere near his best. And for that reason rating and ordering albums is always difficult. How much weight is given to the amazing moments? How much do we take off if a few songs stink? From checking out his discography over the last couple of weeks, I will eventually come up with my definitive top list of Luda songs, but for now, I don't think any of these make a top 30 list. As I type this in 2022, it looks like 'Ludaversal' may be Luda's last ever album. If that is true, it is a decent way to go out. His rapping was still incredibly engaging, it's a consistent body of work with plenty of songs to enjoy lyrically, and the production is nice enough. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★★ Hooks: ★★★★ Best Tracks: Call Ya Bluff, Beast Mode, This Has Been My World, Money Songs ordered (best-worst): Call Ya Bluff ★★★★ This Has Been My World ★★★★ Money ★★★★ Beast Mode ★★★★ Burning Bridges ★★★☆ Not Long ★★★☆ Grass Is Always Greener ★★★☆ Ocean Skies ★★★☆ Charge It to the Rap Game ★★★☆ Problems ★★★☆ In My Life ★★★☆ Ludaversal (Intro) ★★★ Good Lovin ★★★ Come and See Me ★★★ Lyrical Healing ★★★ Come and See Me (Interlude) ★★★ Get Lit ★★ Viagra (Skit)

I'm still not in love with all of the production gelling with Nas' style, but there is more here I like than KD1 that was an album I didn't get the fuss with at all. Hit-Boy's production is better, Nas spits some more interesting content and then you've got the Em feature that is something we've all been waiting for. As I began with though, not enough wows me to rank this as highly as many fans have. 'Death Row East' is one of the few that does have production I love with Nas' flow being more engaging, plus the content, 'EMPD 2' is a highlight for the rapping from all involved, 'Rare' has an interesting beat change and 'Count Me In' is one of my favourite rapping performances with a darkish beat, making for a few of my favourite moments. Best Tracks: Death Row East, EPMD 2, Rare, Count Me In

Revisiting Review Nov 2022: When this dropped I remember liking it more than my original review states. I think I had it at 3/5 after my early listens. A few songs in, I can see why. The production is actually pretty likeable with some catchy hooks as well. After checking the whole project out, it is quite up and down though. It begins with 4 southern hip hop/crunk influenced songs that toe the line nicely between harder hip hop and pop rap. From 'I Do It All Night' the pop rap gets more prominent and some of it is good-great. 'Sex Room' has an excellently sung hook by Trey Songz that makes it stand out. Monica and Ludacris trade lines on 'Can't Live With You' that has fine production with catchy vocals. 'Feelin' So Sexy' and 'Tell me a Secret' are a level below the previously two mentioned songs but are worth repeating. None of the more straight up hip hop feeling songs live up to anything near the best of Ludacris. 'My Chick Bad' is probably the best of them with 'Everybody Drunk' having some Hypnotize Minds like production and being enjoyable as well. 'I Know You Got a Man' sounds so late '00s. A real mixed bag without enough to go back to. Ludacris makes this better than it would be with another rapper, but it's the lowest point of his discography. Beats: ★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★ Hooks: ★★★ Best Tracks: Intro, Everybody Drunk, Sex Room, Can't Live With You, Feelin' So Sexy, Tell Me A Secret, My Chick Bad Remix Songs ordered (best-worst): I Can't Live Without You ★★★★☆ Sex Room ★★★★ Feelin' So Sexy ★★★☆ Tell Me a Secret ★★★☆ My Chick Bad (Remix) ★★★☆ My Chick Bad ★★★☆ Everybody Drunk ★★★☆ Intro ★★★☆ How Low ★★★☆ Hey Ho ★★★ How Low (Remix) ★★★ B.O.T.S. Radio ★★☆ Rollercoaster ★★☆ I Know You Got a Man ★★☆ Sexting ★★ I Do It All Night ★★ Party No Mo' ★☆ ---------------------------- Original Review: I think you have to take this album for what it is, a collection of songs about sex. It's not meant to be deep and I don't think Luda thought he was on a five mic project here - particularly when Shawnna dropped out of the project which changed what this album was originally going to be. Being all about sex, as you would expect, there is some generic product here, as it has been done a million times it's hard not to be, but there are a couple of instances of some originality. For example, the bonus track 'Sexting' is a take on Tiger Woods at a sex rehab clinic and 'Hey Ho''is a track which talks about the double standards of gender when it comes to playing around. With the production, it's a similar story. Nothing really stands out too much, but most are reasonably good radio friendly beats if you don't hate pop rap. Overall, this ain't great, but Ludacris is a skilled fun rapper, and if anyone was going to be on these kind of tracks I couldn't name many before I said Luda. And really, he has generally struggled in my opinion to make a cohesive album despite his presence on the mic. It's nothing special, but I like some of the songs enough to not give this a terrible rating. Best Tracks: Intro, Sex Room, Can't Live With You, Feelin' So Sexy, My Chick Bad Remix

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 ★★ ------------------------------------------ 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

There are lots of amped up, fuck you, bangin', crunk songs with some terrible advice on the lyrics - "If you sell drugs my nigga, then sell drugs" - and you'll probably be singing along to the hooks after one listen, but apart from 'No Problem', that is the album's highlight, nothing sets itself apart from so much similar music. Lil Jon produces all of these songs except 'Diamonds in My Pinky Ring' from a time when he was everywhere in the genre. Beats: ★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★☆ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: Head Bussa, No Problem, Be Real