Ludacris THE RED LIGHT DI(EX)

Personnel: Ludacris (rap vocals); Katt Williams, Brolic D, Tity Boi (vocals); Dave Robbins (keyboards); Organized Noize (programming); DJ Jaycee (scratches); Marqueze Etheridge, Melinda Johnson, Keri Hilson (background vocals); Dolla Boy (vocals); Sleepy Brown (keyboards); DJ Quik, DMX, Doug E. Fresh, Nas, Nate Dogg, Small World, Trick Daddy, Kimmi, Bobby V .
Audio Mixers: John Frye; Jimmy Douglass; Kevin Crouse; Phil Tan; Leslie Brathwaite.
Recording information: Brimstone Studios, Edgewater, NJ; Chung King Studios, New York, NY; Dry Rain Studios, New York, NY; Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL; Osakaya 1 Studios, Miami, FL; Paramount Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Pimp Palace, Atlanta, GA; SoundTrap Studios, Atlanta, GA; Stankonia Recording, Atlanta, GA; The Dungeon, Atlanta, GA; The Ludaplex, Atlanta, GA; The Medicine Cabinet, Baton Rouge, LA.
Photographer: Jonathan Mannion.
It's fitting that Ludacris would unveil one of the last major albums of 2004. He is one of the wittiest personalities in hip-hop, only rivaled in the one-liner department by Eminem, and the most downright fun rapper in the business.
Ludacris opens with a wry rant on the industry, a common theme, but he uniquely combines the self-aware eye of a writer with the continually scheming nature of a hustler. It is said that when comic actors perform drama, they often excel at it, and Ludacris translates this to the music world. When he gets serious on the reflective "Child of the Night," he shines, honestly pondering both his life and the craziness of the world. However, the bulk of THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT is a party, as the Atlanta MC lets his rhymes loose with abandon over infectious tracks like "Put Your Money," where he trades shouts with DMX, and "Get Back," which revels in its catchy melody.

• Format: CD
• Genre: Pop