Atlanta MC Ludacris‘s 2004 studio album Crimson Gentle District calls on a lavish roster of producers headed up by Timbaland, Organized Noise, and Polow Da Don, for its assorted tracks. Nevertheless it all has one factor in widespread: A punchline grasp that takes apparent enjoyment of rattling off a seemingly infinite provide of boasts. It begins at first. On the gnarly Timbaland-crafted “Intro,” Luda swiftly strikes from bragging about cashing checks from 4 completely different report labels and promoting extra data than Elvis to claiming he’s carrying Def Jam on his again. Because the minute-and-a-half opening salvo involves a halt, Ludacris indicators off with the type of informal aptitude that units the tone for the album’s relentlessly entertaining lyrical one-upmanship: “I’m one of the best and I ain’t actually gotta say that s–t.”
Take heed to Ludacris’s Crimson Gentle District now.
Up subsequent, the DJ Inexperienced Lantern-crafted “Quantity One Spot” runs with a slinky pattern of Quincy Jones’s 1962 brassy massive band outing “Soul Bossa Nova” that sees Luda nod to the Austin Powers film and take photographs at conservative TV host Invoice O’Reilly; “Get Again” prompts the MC to vent at anybody operating their mouth at him over an aggressive synth-propelled combat membership backdrop (produced by The Medication Males and Tic Toc); and “Put Your Cash” is a cash-centric tirade that launches Luda on a playing spree that climaxes with the MC feasting on cheesecakes with P Diddy. (The cheesecake, after all, refers back to the notorious Making The Band 2 episode by which Diddy despatched his nascent group throughout the Brooklyn Bridge to carry him dessert.)
Crimson Gentle District‘s expansive listing of producers – together with DJ Toomp, Salaam Remi, and Needlz – is mirrored by equally high-grade company. DMX provides a contact of raspy menace to the aforementioned “Put Your Cash,” hookmaker-for-hire Nate Dogg blesses the guitar-infused “Youngster Of The Night time,” and Compton icon DJ Quik brings a funk-centric bounce to “Spur Of The Second.”
Ending Crimson Gentle District is “Virgo.” At first, the team-up of golden period beatboxing party-starter Doug E Contemporary and Queensbridge poet par excellence Nas appears a bit random. It instantly turns into clear, nonetheless, that they’re conceptually united by their star signal standing. Over a Salaam Remi backdrop that exudes old-school panache, the trio regale amorous pursuits. “Now I used to be so recent and so fly in diamonds/ After I stepped up within the membership even my eyes was shining,” recounts Luda, earlier than weaving in references to Contemporary and Slick Rick‘s 1985 anthem “La Di Da Di.” All of it comes off seamlessly, positioning Luda’s ceaseless bragging and boasting as fully in sync with hip-hop’s heritage.
Take heed to Ludacris’s Crimson Gentle District now.