TOTALLY LUDACRIS

THE RAPPER TRIES BREAKING NEW GROUND--AND ASKS NEWSWEEK'S LORRAINE ALI IF HE'S HIT PAYDIRT.

From the magazine issue dated Dec 6, 2004

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On Ludacris's fourth CD, "Red Light District," the Atlanta rapper leaves the 24/7 party behind for more experimental, emotional terrain. He still tangles with "manicured and pedicured" ladies, and takes a jab at Bill O'Reilly (the Fox host's tirades once cost Ludacris a Pepsi endorsement), but they're remnants of his past.

LORRAINE ALI: Let's start from the beginning. On "Number One Spot" I love how you rap over that groovy Austin Powers melody.

LUDACRIS: Wait, what about the intro? Aren't you supposed to go through each and every track? You just skipped one.

We can jump around. I'm impressed that just seconds into your CD you say your sales are bigger than Elvis's. You're a master boaster.

Thank you. That's nice to hear.

On "Number One Spot," I love how you manage to rhyme "Nevada" and "Impala": "Ludacris is hotter than Nevada/I'm ready to break the steering wheel on your Impala." But I was expecting more drama on the O'Reilly front.