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Theater of the Mind
Studio album by Ludacris
Released	November 22, 2008; (See release dates)
Recorded	2007 – 2008
Genre	Hip hop
Length	60:15
Label	Disturbing tha Peace, Def Jam
Producer	DJ Premier, 9th Wonder, Clinton Sparks & Kamau Georges, Sean Garrett, Wyldfyer, Scott Storch, Trackmasters, Don Cannon, StreetRunner, Swizz Beatz, Darkchild, DJ Toomp, The Runners
Professional reviews
	Allmusic 2008; The A.V. Club (B) 2008; Billboard (favorable) 2008; Blender 2008; The Boston Globe (favorable) 2008; Entertainment Weekly (B) 2008; Now 2008; Pitchfork Media (5.3/10) 2009; Rolling Stone 2008; XXL ;
Ludacris chronology
Singles from Theater of the Mind
	"What Them Girls Like"; Released: August 7, 2008; "Wish You Would"; Released: September 2, 2008; "Undisputed"; Released: October 14, 2008; "One More Drink"; Released: October 28, 2008; "Nasty Girl"; Released: January 20, 2009;

Theater of the Mind is the sixth studio album by American hip hop rapper Ludacris. It was released on November 24, 2008.^[1]

[edit] Background

The album was slated for release on October 21, but was pushed back to November 24. In April 2008, a song named "Let's Stay Together" appeared on xxlmag.com;^[2] supposedly from the new album. It is now an iTunes bonus song on Theater of the Mind. Toomp has worked on this album.^[3] T.I. appeared on a track called "Wish You Would".^[4]

The album cover was released on October 24, 2008 at wemix.com. The cover is an homage to Sly and The Family Stone's Life album, which had the band appearing as all the cinemas goers in the picture.

Ludacris planned on releasing a sequel to this album in 2009.^[5]

In ’09, I’m definitely dropping another album. I’m working on a Battle of the Sexes album and a Theater of the Mind 2. With Battle of the Sexes, I’m trying to do some stuff with Shawnna."

Ludacris has been talking to T.I. and Young Jeezy about a tour together.^[6]

"I haven't confirmed anything yet. It's little talks here and there. But I'll put it out there: I would love to do a tour where it's me, T.I. and [Young] Jeezy. Me, Tip and Jeezy would be outrageous. But nothing is confirmed at the moment."

[edit] Concept

Ludacris calls the album "theatrical."^[7]

[edit] Guests

Ludacris stated before the release of the album that, rather than featuring "guests", the tracks would have "co-stars", in keeping with the concept of the album as a "movie".^[4] "Co-stars" on Theater of the Mind include Nas, Plies, Jay-Z, T.I., Common, T-Pain, Willy Northpole, Rick Ross, Playaz Circle, Ving Rhames, Chris Rock, Spike Lee, Chris Brown, Sean Garrett, Lil Wayne, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Jamie Foxx, and The Game. ^[8]

[edit] The Preview

Ludacris released a "Gangsta Grillz" mixtape with DJ Drama called The Preview. The mixtape was released as a download on July 28, 2008. This mixtape is known for the disses toward George Bush, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain (since Ludacris supports Barack Obama).

[edit] Leaks

On October 24, 2008, three songs from Theater of the Mind, "Do the Right Thing", co-starring Common and Spike Lee, "I Do It for Hip Hop", co-starring Jay-Z and Nas, and "Last of a Dying Breed", co-starring Lil Wayne were leaked to the Internet. Ludacris commented on the situation:

Although I don't know where the leaks came from, the 3 songs leaked to the Internet today were unfinished tracks and premature versions of songs. I'm glad that my fans are excited about the new project, but to get the final masterpiece, the album Theater of the Mind premieres on November 24.^[9]

The Leaked version of "Last of a Dying Breed" had a different set of verses during all of Ludacris' parts.

[edit] Chart performance

The album debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, selling 213,000 copies in its first week. It was his first album since 2001's Word of Mouf to not reach number one status, and his lowest charting album since his debut. To date, the album has sold about 700,000 copies, achieving a gold certification.^[10]

[edit] Singles

The first official single is "What Them Girls Like", "co-starring" Chris Brown & Sean Garrett. The single peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100. The first promo single is "Wish You Would", "co-starring" T.I.. The second promo single is "Undisputed (Ludacris song)", featuring Floyd Mayweather Jr.. The second official single is "One More Drink", "co-starring" T-Pain, peaking at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100. The third single is confirmed to be "Nasty Girl", "co-starring" Plies. The final single was going to be " Call Up The Homies" featuring The Game & Willy Northpole, but the day the video was scheduled, The Game’s sister was shot.

[edit] Track listing

#	Title	Producer(s)	Samples	Length
1	"Intro"	The Runners		1:55
2	"Undisputed" (featuring Floyd "Money" Mayweather)	Don Cannon	"We'll Find a Way" by Edwin Starr	4:33
3	"Wish You Would" (featuring T.I.)	DJ Toomp, 8TRIX		4:47
4	"One More Drink" (featuring T-Pain)	Trackmasters		3:41
5	"Call Up the Homies" (featuring The Game & Willy Northpole)	Clinton Sparks, Kamau Georges		4:04
6	"Southern Gangsta" (featuring Rick Ross, Playaz Circle & Ving Rhames)	StreetRunner		4:34
7	"Everybody Hates Chris" (featuring Chris Rock)	Don Cannon	"It Takes a Whole Lotta Man for a Woman Like Me" by Gladys Knight & the Pips	4:54
8	"What Them Girls Like" (featuring Chris Brown & Sean Garrett)	Darkchild, Sean Garrett (co)		4:02
9	"Nasty Girl" (featuring Plies)	Swizz Beatz		4:14
10	"Contagious" (featuring Jamie Foxx)	Scott Storch		4:45
11	"Last of a Dying Breed" (featuring Lil Wayne)	Wyldfyer	"You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" by Dusty Springfield "Eric B. Is President" by Eric B. & Rakim	4:10
12	"MVP"	DJ Premier	"Virgo" by Nas "DTP for Life" by Disturbing tha Peace	3:50
13	"I Do It for Hip Hop" (featuring Nas & Jay-Z)	Wyldfyer	"Long Red" by Mountain "One Belief Away" by Bonnie Raitt	5:22
14	"Do the Right Thang" (featuring Common & Spike Lee)	9th Wonder	"Na Boca Do Sol" by Arthur Verocai	5:14
15*	"Let's Stay Together"	Three 6 Mafia	"Everybody's Breakin' Up" By Billy Paul	4:18
16*	"Press the Start Button"	Dre & Vidal		4:00

[edit] Personnel

Joseph Alexander – keyboards
Wayne Allison – engineer
Chris Atlas – marketing
Ken Bailey – A&R
Christian Baker – engineer
Dru Betts – vocals
Leslie Brathwaite – mixing
Don Cannon – engineer, score
Andrew Coleman – engineer
Jeff Dixon – executive producer
DJ Premier – score
Mike Donaldson – editing
8TRIX – score
Jake Waxler — score
Jose "Zeek" Fendrick – A&R
Zach Fisher – engineer
Morgan Garcia – engineer
Sean Garrett – score
Kamau Georges – background vocals, mixing, score
Jason Goldstein – mixing
Don Goodrick – assistant
Inaam Haq – engineer
Artemus Jenkins – video director
Eric Jensen – engineer
Rodney Jerkins – score
E. Jones – keyboards, keyboard arrangements
Terese Joseph – A&R
Doug Joswick – package production
Gimel "Young Guru" Katon – mixing
Erik Madrid – assistant
Brandon Pena – mixing
Mike Miller – assistant

Aiyisha Obafemi Mitchell – marketing
Nick Nastasi – assistant
Rich Nice – A&R
9th Wonder – keyboard arrangements
Erica Novich – A&R
Dave Pensado – mixing
Christian Plata – assistant
Poke & Tone – drums
Will Ragland – art direction, design
Orlando Rashid – engineer
Charles Roane – mixing
J. Peter Robinson – art direction, design
The Runners – score
Glenn Schick – mastering
Derrick Selby – engineer
Clinton Sparks – score
Chris Stanford – photography
Scott Storch – score
Crystal Streets – stylist
Swizz Beatz – score
Neo Tanusakdi – engineer
Sean Taylor – A&R
Justin Trawick – assistant
Javier Valverde – engineer
Miles Walker – engineer
Brian Warwick – engineer
Finis "KY" White – engineer
Mike "Hitman" Wilson – engineer
Wyldfyre – score
Keke and Amy — production coordination
Mayne Zane – background vocals
Chaka Zulu – executive producer

[edit] Release dates

Country	Date
Switzerland, Jamaica	December 4, 2008
United Kingdom	November 24, 2009
United States, Australia, Canada, Japan	November 24, 2008
Poland	December 9, 2008
Mexico	December 11, 2008
South Africa	January 18, 2009
Egypt	October 2, 2008
Ireland	February 15, 2009
Italy	February 9, 2009
India, Argentina, France, Germany, Greece, Brazil	November 16, 2008
New Zealand	March 5, 2009
Middle East, Costa Rica	January 16, 2009

[edit] Charts

Chart (2008)	Peak position
Canadian Albums Chart^[11]	22
Swiss Albums Chart^[12]	46
U.S. Billboard 200^[13]	5
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums^[14]	2
U.S. Billboard Top Rap Albums^[15]	1

[edit] References

^ http://www.defjam.com/site/news.php?news_id=106604
^ Ludacris "Let's Stay Together" audio.
^ DJ Toomp: Grammy Family. Accessed July 6, 2008.
^ ^a ^b Ludacris, T.I. 'Wish You Would' Believe There's No Beef Between Them. Accessed August 8, 2008.
^ Ludacris: Audio Cinematic. HiphopDX.com.
^ Ludacris In 'Talks' To Tour With T.I. And Young Jeezy, Says Theater Of The Mind Is A 'Classic'. MTV.com.
^ (July 16, 2008). Ludacris Gets Theatrical on Sixth Album Rap-Up. Accessed August 3, 2008.
^ Ludacris Interview.
^ Ludacris Speaks on Song Leaks. HipHopDX.com. Accessed October 26, 2008.
^ Hasty, Katie (2008-12-03). "Kanye Edges GNR, Ludacris For No. 1 Debut". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/kanye-edges-gnr-ludacris-for-no-1-debut-1003918838.story. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
^ "Top Canadian Albums — Theater Of The Mind — Ludacris". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=309&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+Canadian+Albums&ci=3103161&cdi=10057720&cid=12%2F13%2F2008. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
^ "Ludacris — Theater Of The Mind — Music Charts". αCharts. http://acharts.us/album/40758. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
^ "The Billboard 200 - Theater Of The Mind — Ludacris". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=305&cfgn=Albums&cfn=The+Billboard+200&ci=3103196&cdi=10058930&cid=12%2F13%2F2008. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums — Theater Of The Mind — Ludacris". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=333&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+R%26amp%3BB%2FHip-Hop+Albums&ci=3103150&cdi=10057272&cid=12%2F13%2F2008. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
^ "Top Rap Albums — Theater Of The Mind — Ludacris". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=335&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+Rap+Albums&ci=3103189&cdi=10058381&cid=12%2F13%2F2008. Retrieved 2008-12-27.

[0] ttp://www.defjam.com/site/news.php?news_id=106604

[1] Ludacris "Let's Stay Together" audio.

[2] DJ Toomp: Grammy Family. Accessed July 6, 2008.

[wishyouwouldmtv-3] Ludacris, T.I. 'Wish You Would' Believe There's No Beef Between Them. Accessed August 8, 2008.

[4] Ludacris: Audio Cinematic. HiphopDX.com.

[5] Ludacris In 'Talks' To Tour With T.I. And Young Jeezy, Says Theater Of The Mind Is A 'Classic'. MTV.com.

[rapup-6] (July 16, 2008). Ludacris Gets Theatrical on Sixth Album Rap-Up. Accessed August 3, 2008.

[complexludainterview-7] Ludacris Interview.

[8] Ludacris Speaks on Song Leaks. HipHopDX.com. Accessed October 26, 2008.

[debut-9] Hasty, Katie (2008-12-03). "Kanye Edges GNR, Ludacris For No. 1 Debut". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/kanye-edges-gnr-ludacris-for-no-1-debut-1003918838.story. Retrieved 2008-12-04.

[10] "Top Canadian Albums — Theater Of The Mind — Ludacris". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=309&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+Canadian+Albums&ci=3103161&cdi=10057720&cid=12%2F13%2F2008. Retrieved 2008-12-27.

[acharts-11] "Ludacris — Theater Of The Mind — Music Charts". αCharts. http://acharts.us/album/40758. Retrieved 2008-12-04.

[12] "The Billboard 200 - Theater Of The Mind — Ludacris". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=305&cfgn=Albums&cfn=The+Billboard+200&ci=3103196&cdi=10058930&cid=12%2F13%2F2008. Retrieved 2008-12-27.

[13] "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums — Theater Of The Mind — Ludacris". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=333&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+R%26amp%3BB%2FHip-Hop+Albums&ci=3103150&cdi=10057272&cid=12%2F13%2F2008. Retrieved 2008-12-27.

[14] "Top Rap Albums — Theater Of The Mind — Ludacris". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=335&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+Rap+Albums&ci=3103189&cdi=10058381&cid=12%2F13%2F2008. Retrieved 2008-12-27.

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