Ludacris is gearing up for a multi-tiered and mutli-faceted plan to introduce his newest release to his fans. There are plans to rollout consecutive new singles and videos leading up to the November 25th release of THEATER OF THE MIND, the most important album ever recorded by Disturbing Tha Peace CEO and DTP/Def Jam recording artist Ludacris. The unprecedented schedule got underway last week (Oct. 14th) when the song "Undisputed," went up on iTunes, followed this week by the premiere of the video for "Undisputed," which co-stars boxing champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather. On October 20th, the second new single "One More Drink" co-starring T-Pain impacted radio formats, in advance of going up on iTunes. In between, on Oct. 23rd, Ludacris will perform on the annual syndicated BET's Hip Hop Awards '08 and on October 24th, Ludacris will perform on MTV's Veteran's concert live from Nokia Theater. The "One More Drink" video premiere will then take place on Election Day, Nov. 4th.
One week later (Nov. 11th, Veteran's Day) comes the third new single. The final element, a video podcast on Nov. 18th (details to be announced in the weeks ahead) sets the stage for the eagerly anticipated arrival of THEATER OF THE MIND in the physical and digital marketplace on Nov. 25th.
In between this mind-boggling schedule he has been busy continuing to build on his career as an actor. The new action film Max Payne, based on the popular video game, opened in the # 1 box office spot raking in over 18 million dollars in its weekend debut. Chris Bridges aka Ludacris stars as an internal affairs agent alongside Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis and Beau Bridges. Also on the movie front, after a successful limited release in NY, Toronto, LA and the UK (in which it debuted at #1 as well the 1st weekend) RocknRolla, written and directed by Guy Ritchie, will be released throughout the rest of the U.S on October 31st. Chris joins an ensemble cast including Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton, Idris Elba and Oscar nominee Tom Wilkinson for an exciting tale of the Russian mob setting up shop in London.
THEATER OF THE MIND is the long-awaited follow-up to Luda's RIAA platinum Release Therapy (released Sept. 2006), which debuted at #1 on first week sales of 309,000 copies - the same week that its first single, "Money Maker" (featuring Pharrell Williams) hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts, Luda's first #1 hit in six years. A rare RIAA platinum single, "Money Maker" was followed at #1 by "Runaway Love" (featuring Mary J. Blige), whose video directed by Chaka Zulu/Jessy Terrero dealt with the issues facing runaway and homeless youth. Luda and Mary J. performed the song live with special guests Earth, Wind & Fire at the 49th annual Grammy Awards worldwide telecast - where Release Therapy won for Best Rap Album. "Runaway Love" went on to win Best Collaboration at the BET Awards '07.
2006 was a landmark year for Chris `Ludacris' Bridges. In addition to the success of Release Therapy - his follow-up to 2004's double-platinum The Red Light District - he also scored rave reviews for his star appearance in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the show's highest rated episode ever. His role in the critically acclaimed film, Crash (which opened May 2005) began to reap honors in 2006, including landing Bridges the SAG Award for Best Ensemble, the Critics Choice Awards for Best Ensemble, and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporter Actor in A Motion Picture.
He teamed up again with Terrence Howard for John Singleton's critically acclaimed Sundance discovery Hustle & Flow. Ludacris also began hosting his own XM satellite radio show, Disturbing Tha Peace Presents Ludacris' Open Mic. Filming also took place in London for Fred Claus - in which "Fred Claus, Santa's bitter older brother, is forced to move to the North Pole" - starring Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti, with Chris cast as `the DJ Elf' with issues. After an appearance in the indie film Ball Don't Lie, he went to work on RocknRolla and Max Payne, and finished up his seventh studio album, THEATER OF THE MIND.
THEATER OF THE MIND, Release Therapy and The Red Light District follow-up 2003's double-platinum Chicken-N-Beer, the #1 Pop/#1 R&B, success that gave Ludacris his first across-the-board #1 Rap/#1 R&B/ #1 Pop crossover smash hit single with "Stand Up." Ludacris' mega-selling streak began with his debut, 2000's triple-platinum Incognegro (aka Back For the First Time, with "What's Your Fantasy" and "Southern Hospitality"); followed by 2001's triple-platinum Word Of Mouf (with "Area Codes," "Move B***h," and "Saturday (Oooh Oooh!)").
