The Red Light District

Ludacris, The Red Light District

Think what you want about Ludacris, but no one can deny that he is hip-hop's king of choruses. Luda's hooks are big, brassy, and loud; they're tailor-made for club crowds and radio programmers. Some songs, like "Get Back," practically sound like one long hook, every line a potential anthem. At times, it's easy to forget that Ludacris knows how to rhyme too. His taffy-pull verbal style isn't as lyrically intricate as Nas's (who appears on "Virgo") and can't match Trick Daddy's thuggish bravado ("Hopeless"), but few other rappers exude his level of charisma. On "Number One Spot," Luda acts like he's strong-arming his way to the top, but it's really charm that propels the charge. Even on a song like "Two Miles an Hour," dedicated to "those who spend more on their car than their relationship," he's more clever than clownish in selling the concept. Red Light District has its share of filler, but, track for track, Ludacris still delivers satisfaction. --Oliver Wang