Collegiate Times

Anyone can recognize the dynamic delivery, facetious nature and the southern supremacy of Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges. Many of us have seen him grow through our generation's era, and Ludacris' rapid-fire release and adaptability have even transitioned fruitfully onto the big screen in "Hustle and Flow," "Crash," and as the collected Jim Bravura in the recent "Max Payne."

Distractions don't exist. Ludacris is the highest-selling Southern hip-hop solo artist of all time, with over 15 million units sold in the United States, all while collecting three Grammy awards.

Besides what he flaunts, Bridges isn't too different from you and me. I saw a video of Ludacris and producer 9th Wonder in the studio bantering about a YouTube video of JoJo collapsing on stage as K-Ci sang on unaware. It's not the collapsing, but the fact that they kept on rewinding it over and over again, laughing senselessly.

Luda's seventh release, "Theater of the Mind," is one of the hotter things from the South since the toned "Release Therapy" two years back. The formula hasn't changed much -- the Atlanta native has employed some of the most talented producers in the game: Scott Storch, Clinton Sparks, Don Cannon and DJ Toomp. The illustrious 9th Wonder, an artist-in-residence appointed to instruct a hip-hop history class in North Carolina Central University's music department, offers his shiny soul in "Do the Right Thang."

The classic DJ Premier offers his East Coast sound in "MVP," possibly one of the most genuine tracks on the record. But the lyrical lineup is what is so devastating, and when I mean devastating, I mean Common, Lil Wayne, Nas, Jay-Z, Chris Brown, Rick Ross, the Game, T.I., T-Pain and even the undisputed Floyd Mayweather Jr. The album appropriately lists the 17 guest artists as "co-stars" instead of featured, perhaps in an attempt to project a more theatrical feel.

Oh, you have T-Pain on your track? Hit. Although the rap community is dominated by featured guests, artists backing artists is nothing new. This auto-tuned club junkie comfortably fills the role of Lil Jon a few Ushers ago.

But how much maneuverability is there left for our lyrical fanatic to shine? With so many actors in this play, how can the lead take center stage? Is there enough elbow room?

"With million-dolla whips that I ship from overseas, got a pocket full of G's and the inconvenient truth is that the ozone is back because I been smoking all the trees, the globe is warming up when we fire up the blunt and put in the air like Evil Knievel stunts," Luda spits.

I'm glad our friend is the same.

"MVP" begins with the scratch born of DJ Premier's fingers and ends with the ferocity of Ludacris' potent flow. "It's exciting to see so many artists step it up to Premier, I'd feel lucky too."

"My deliveries invaded your vicinity, Hennesy is my remedy, takin' shots like Kennedy, and I've been a G, for a long time to these streets I'm connected like I'm online, on time for whatever and every time an album drop, I drop big like Voletta, I'm ahead of the competition, they wishing I just fade off, my career for your life, let's trade off," Ludacris raps.

Our larger-than-life companion closes another chapter of his journey and sets the standard for up-and-coming MCs. Ludacris once again offers a solid record with the familiar cinematic sensation. "Theater of the Mind" is extremely polished, but the group presentation hasn't let our graduate truly radiate.

I await another complete Ludacris album since "Word of Mouf." He has yet to create an elite and inclusive record that grabs you from beginning to end. But do not fear, he hasn't let all the animals loose.