Ludacris plans to make his return to music in 2024, but he’s not entirely sure in what fashion just yet.
On Monday (November 20), the actor/rapper/all-around creative opened up about ending his eight-year music hiatus in a conversation with BET.
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“Yeah, some music projects will be coming out next year. I don’t wanna fake, I don’t wanna stutter-step,” he explained. “I don’t wanna be like [André] 3000 and say, ‘I got an album coming out.’ I don’t know. It’s definitely some music coming next year, but I don’t know if it’s like an EP or an LP. We’re going to figure it out.”
When asked what made him return after all this time, Luda replied: “These movie projects like Fast & Furious and doing a lot of things like the Karma’s World project that’s on Netflix – you know, doing other art forms where I’m creative, where I’m putting my heart into that – I want to make sure that I leave a legacy on this earth. So it was just taking a step back and getting hungry again, living some life.”
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He continued: “‘Cause when you put out music, in order for it to be organic and real, you gotta talk about what goes on in your life. So if I had like nine consistent albums, sometimes you gotta take a step back and live some life so that you have a lot more to talk about and that’s what I was doing.”
Throughout the last year, Ludacris has teased his return with a series of freestyles to remind fans and peers that he’s still got it.
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“I go by Luda, still smoking buddha/ Never gave a fuck what no hating n-gga said on no computer,” he rapped in a 4/20 freestyle he released. “I don’t need no mentions, came from the trenches/ So when I hit it from the back might pull out the weave or her extensions!”
It’s been over eight years since Luda’s last studio album, Ludaversal, but the multi-hyphenate certainly hasn’t been resting on his laurels. Between movies (including the box office juggernaut Fast & Furious franchise), a new toy line, his Netflix children’s show Karma’s World and finishing college, among other things, it’s safe to say the 46-year-old has remained busy.
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In May, Ludacris was honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The artist formerly known as Chris Lova Lova was joined by a star-studded bevy of supporters that included LL COOL J, Queen Latifah, Vin Diesel and Tyrese – but it was when legendary Los Angeles radio host Ellen K announced that Luda’s eldest daughter, Karma, was about to share some thoughts that the “Roll Out” rapper got emotional.
“I was fighting tears. Seriously, I was glad that I had my sunglasses on today,” he said. “That blew me away. Usually, it’s not easy for people to keep certain things from me, but that was 100 percent a surprise. Seems like everybody knew but me! I’m a little pissed off right now. I’m a little mad.”
Ludacris also gave props to his fellow rap contemporaries and supporters, while also remarking that he was the product of the collective of people that helped him become who he is today.
“No matter what people say I can’t do, I will continue to shatter those stereotypes and show people it’s possible in order to make everyone who got me here proud,” he said. “Because you all inspire my hard work and dedication to receive this star today. I’m motivated by legacy and history.”
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He continued: “This means that I’ve made my mark, my own personal history being documented. To be amongst these names is just amazing to me. I’m just so thankful. So, getting a star is a statement, but be clear about this statement, the even bigger statement to me is that we are all interconnected.
“And I am a culmination of the people who showed up for me today believing in me and pushing me to inspire me. So y’all be clapping for me all day I’m gonna need y’all to give yourselves a round of applause. Because I’m nothing without you.”
