We all know that Ludacris represents the city of Atlanta every opportunity he gets, but what you may not know is that this rapper/actor/CEO actually called Chicago, IL his home for a number of years and considers the Windy as his second hometown. Chris Bridges was in Chicago last week to host Michigan Avenue Magazine’s holiday party, and I had the chance to link up with him for a quick Q&A. We discussed his love for Chicago, his upcoming projects as well as what’s on deck for DTP in 2009.
Read the entire interview after the jump…
Thanks for your time, Luda. Much appreciated. Now I feel like every time I turn around I hear about you being in Chicago. Either for a show or an album listening party. If I’m not mistaken, you actually had two listening sessions for Theatre of the Mind here, the first of which I attended. What is it about Chi that you enjoy coming back for?
Ah man, I absolutely love Chicago, it’s basically my second home. What a lot of people don’t know is that I did live there for a little while. I used to live off 87th and Ashland for a couple years and then I moved to the West Side. I was also in Oak Park for a little while as well. My Dad lived in Atlanta so I would be down there in the summers and then I was back and forth for a while but I eventually moved down to Atlanta full time.
I also saw you had some Chi Town cameos in the “Everyone Hates Chris” video – No ID, GLC and Leon Rogers.
Yeah most definitely, I have a lot of love for those guys that were in my video and also a lot of love for Chicago. Like I said it’s my second home, so I had to get down with the people that I know and respect from the city. Just showing some “home town” love, if you will [laughs].
I know you signed the Chicago duo Block Xchange to DTP, what’s up with their project?
Yeah we’re going to have the guys from Block Xchange dropping their album in ’09. They’re working on their stuff right now and I’m definitely excited about this project.
What about this long-rumored collaboration album with Shawnna? Is it actually coming out?
Yeah, Shawnna and I are actually hard at work on that album now, it’s going to be called Battle of the Sexes and its coming together real crazy right now. That will absolutely be coming out in ’09 as well.
Congrats on the success on Theatre of the Mind, which is a very dope album in my opinion – I know you’ve already released a handful of videos, but what’s the next single you’re going to be pushing?
Well, we’re still debating that right now, but it looks like the “Nasty Girl” song that Swizz Beatz produced and features Plies. That’s the one that’s really getting a lot of good feedback and seems to be what the people want right now.
So what else is on deck with DTP for 2009?
First up, we’re going to be dropping the Willie Northpole album. Then we have the sophomore album from the Duffle Bag Boys themselves, Playaz Circle. Oh yessir.
So you’re currently in Chicago to host the Michigan Avenue Magazine’s holiday party, which you are a guest contributor this month. Can you elaborate on that situation?
I basically just wanted to have a voice in my second home town. I do so many things in Atlanta and being that I’m up here in Chicago a lot, and I have a lot of love for the city, I just wanted to get involved. I also have a way with words and it’s a different way for me to share my words and creativity other than just through music. So we hollered at Michigan Avenue Magazine and we got ourselves into it. It was an all around good fit and the piece turned out excellent.
What else does Luda have up his sleeve in ’09 – any new theatrical releases?
There’s a move called The Game that I’m going to be with Gerard Butler which comes out next year. As of now, I’m in talks for a few big things, but they’re all in the works right now, but mainly right now I’m just pushing The Game.
Any thing else for the FSD readers?
Much love to Fake Shore Drive and the people of Chicago. I’m going to keep making you proud.
Bonus: Ludacris interview @ Gold Coast Bentley courtesy of 247HH.com
i really want to work with luda check out
Youtube/ bennie d reggies