Ludacris’ seventh studio release, Battle of the Sexes began with arguably the most underrated member of Disturbing Tha Peace leaving the camp for T-Pain’s Nappy Boy label. Despite the loss, Luda’s album debuted at number one on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart. Female emcees such as Lil Kim, Trina, Nicki Minaj and Eve lent guest verses to the concept album, and Shawnna is also listed as a credited performer. Yet, the Grammy award winning rapper and actor says there is another woman who he unsuccessfully tried to recruit this time around.
“I think Lauryn Hill is like extremely talented and I can say I did try to do that, it just didn’t work itself out,” Ludacris revealed to the Associated Press.
Ludacris didn’t give any details on why the union never happened, and Hill has not released a full-length album since 2002’s MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. Aside from a handful of live performances and a short-lived reunion with Wyclef and Pras in Dave Chappelle’s 2005 movie, Block Party, Hill has kept a relatively low profile. Meanwhile, on the heels of his Battle of the Sexes success, Luda says he is already planning concepts for album number eight, tentatively entitled Ludaversal. DTP’s marquee act recently told MTV the album should be released either later this year or in early 2011.
