Exclusive: Welcoming Ludacris to the 919

Tell us about your new album.

The new album is called Chicken & Beer. Man, you are what you eat--that's why I called it that. You can expect, of course, the same crazy individual that I am, but just taking it to another level. You always get more mature; My thing is just trying to be as versatile an MC as possible, so it's just another chapter to the versatility of Ludacris himself. Of course, the whole saga continues; You got me and Snoop Dogg on a song called "Who Let These Ho's in my Room." A lot of people aren't hearing me pop as much, but this album is starting to show them who I am.... the person I am and how long I've been in the game and how far I've come. I'm starting to tell stories and shit like that, because I've never really done that. It's the same Ludacris, and a little bit more of some unexpected Ludacris, to sum it all up.

How's the tour going?
It's going good. Shit. It's going real good, apart from my manager having ashy-ass ankles and shit. [laughs] Besides that, everything else is going real good. Tryin' to be home a little more instead of always being on the damn road.

You're in Cameron tonight. How do you feel about the Blue Devils? Do you think you can light the crowd up tonight like the basketball team does?
Oh, for sure. We haven't been here in a long-ass time. We've never been to this school, but as far as this area, we haven't been here in a long time, either. So [the fans] are ready. We stay on the road, so we're definitely ready. Oh, and thanks for the jersey. They gave me a Duke jersey, and that's a pretty good thing. Hell yeah. For sure.

You've done some acting recently (The Wash, 2 Fast 2 Furious). Is that something you plan to pursue even further?
Yeah, I'll pursue it, but music is still my number one love, so it's probably something I'll do when I'm not focusing on music so much. Right now it's all about the third album; I'm not even trying to do any movie stuff right now, but maybe after this album, I'll get back into it. I definitely enjoyed doing it, and it's something I'd like to try to get better at.

How has Atlanta influenced you?
Well, Atlanta is the strip club capital of the world so, of course, in my music you can see how that might affect some of the things I talk about. And just the South period, as far as the food is concerned, I love to eat. And the women in the South are cornbread-fed... and the greens.... They eat good, so their bodies are incredible. And I just love it. I love the women. That's what it's all about.

Have you actually done it in the Georgia Dome?
Nah, that's why that song was called "Fantasy." [laughs]

You mentioned the food. What's your favorite kind of chicken?
Just fried chicken, man. Gotta be fried.

You're a rich man. Do you still drink beer?
Yeah, man. Coronas every now and then--amongst other alcoholic beverages.

One more question. Answer very honestly. Are we two of the whitest people who have ever interviewed you?
[laughs] Nah, you're not. I've had some really, really white people interview me before, so it's all good. Don't even trip.

Well, thank you.
For sure.

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