Word Of Mouf [PA] - Ludacris > Reviews > Ludacris has rolled out a classic!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Several hits, outrageously funny
Disadvantages:	Almost a comedy album, few serious tracks

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Release date: November 6, 2001
Label: Def Jam South

This is Ludacris' second studio album, and in my opinion his best. The joviality of the tracks in addition to the excellent and lively production on most tracks epitomise the Atlanta artist's musical style, and the singles ("Rollout (My Business)", "Area Codes", "Move Bitch", and "Saturday (Oooh Oooh!)") were some of the biggest rap hits of the year.

There 19 (one hidden) tracks on this album:

1. Coming 2 America 8/10
- An epic sounding homage to the Eddie Murphy film 'Coming To America'. There is a short excerpt from the film at the beginning of the track, and Luda's lyrics cast direct reference to the film, such the fictional country Zamunda. This track also features faux haters of Ludacris giving monologues about the rapper. This is overall one of my favourite songs on the album, due to the string-and- bass-laden beat and Luda's lyrics, which start slow and end rapidly as the song comes to a climax.

2. Rollout (My Business) 8/10
- One of the singles from the album, this song is a public address to people who wish to interfere with Ludacris' affairs, and who ask questions such as "Where'd you get that platinum chain, with the diamonds in it?" and "You's a superstar boy, why you still up in the hood?" His reply is for them to "roll out" of his business, as he declare in the chorus and the final verse. The horn-driven beat and Ludacris' inquisitive verse make for a great song overall.

3. Go 2 Sleep 6/10
- This song features Three Six Mafia, and is a song full of violent lyrics and aggressive chants of "Go to sleep, ho, go to sleep, if you're tired, be quiet and go to sleep". I'm not a fan of this song, as the beat isn't conducive to dancing, and the lyrics don't make me want to listen. One of my least favourite songs on the album.

4. Cry Babies (Oh No) 8/10
- A song that has so little subject matter it sounds like a freestyle in places, 'Cry Babies' nonetheless contains some of Ludacris' crowning lyrical glories. Lines such as "You see I'm ambidextrous, I slap ass with both hands" and "So put your belly on a plate and watch your weight, you're frosted like a flake and Ludacris feels grrrrrrrrrrrrreat!" are typical of his outrageous, humourous flow, and this song is full of this one-liners. I myself had to listen to this a few times when I first bought this album, such is the frequency of Luda's comical puns.

5. She Said 6/10
- Not up to the standard of some of the other songs on the album, the mediocre beat restricts the fluidity of Luda's lyrics about a girl who says she is a virgin.

6. Howhere (Skit) 6/10
- Telephone call between Ludacris and a friend revolving around puns on the word 'ho'. A little forced, but fairly funny.

7. Area Codes 9/10
- A smash hit for Ludacris, the soulful beat and supreme chorus by the velvet-voiced Nate Dogg just two aspects to this song about having hos all over the world. Ludacris' lyrics, containing many American area codes and geographical references, are as competent and funny as ever, and this is a track that never fails to sound good.

8. Growing Pains 8/10
- A more solemn song about childhood, that features Fate Wilson of DTP and Keon Bryce. It features a sample of the Dilated Peoples song 'Worst Comes To Worst', which itself contains a sample of William Bell's 'I Forgot To Be Your Lover'. I like this song as it shows a different side to Ludacris, away from the party music and ghetto persona, and the beat is top notch.

9. Greatest Hits (Skit) 7/10
- The funniest skit on the album, this is a spoof commercial for "Ludacris Greatest Hits Volume One: Done By Random White People".

10. Move Bitch 7/10
- A very energetic collaboration with the automatically recognisable Mystikal and I-20 about violence towards people that get in their ways. The chorus of "Move, bitch, get out the way, get out the way bitch, get out the way" is another example of a theoretically absurd hook that works in the context of the song, akin to the song 'Ho' from Ludacris' first studio album, 'Back For The First Time'. A rawkus club single, in short.

11. Stop Lying (Skit) 6/10
- Another skit, which revolves around a phone conversation between Ludacris and a woman he is trying to seduce. He keeps lying and consequentially being caught out.

12. Saturday (Oooh Oooh!) 7/10
- Another track that was released as a single, 'Saturday' is a song about the good things in life for Ludacris ("I got a big weed stash, cops just past, just seen a big ol' ass"). Not my favourite song on the album, but catchy none the less.

13. "Keep It on the Hush" 6.5/10
- A gospel-sounding song that begins with a preacher addressing his congregation, with Ludacris then bizarrely going on to talk about having quiet sex. Not the best lyrical content, the beat is good enough.

14. Word of Mouf (Freestyle) 7/10
- A freestyle with a beatbox backing, Ludacris displays some fine lyrical ability. For example:

"You think it's all practical jokes and big bloopers
But i smack bitches with no titties that work at hooters"

15. Get the Fuck Back 7.5/10
- There are several gunshots in the background, the beat is dark and aggressive, and the lyrics are provocative to boot. Nevertheless, this song is really well put together, and some of the lyrics are inspired:

"See 'em on Broadway and tap they ass
Catch 'em in the swimming pool and overlap they ass"

16. Freaky Thangs 8/10
- An acoustic guitar sample, fast rapping from Ludacris, even faster rapping from Twista, and a soulful chorus and bridge from Jagged Edge. This song about hopping on the good foot and doing the bad thing contains some great lyricism and is smooth from start to finish:

"Tan skin so, butter soft I'm rippin the buttons off yo' - BLOUSE
Smell the aroma of a dingaling king Ludacris when I'm in yo' - HOUSE
Check the ratio of men to women and women to men when down - SOUTH
Hot fellatio, hot jalapenos holla while they in yo' - MOUTH"

17. Cold Outside 6.5/10
- A valiant attempt at a serious track about everyday ghetto life. The lyrics are heartfelt, the beat is interesting, but the deep-voiced chorus ruins the song for me to be honest.

18. Block Lockdown 6.5/10
- A so-so track, decent beat and lyrics, but this never really gets going in my opinion.

19. Welcome to Atlanta (Bonus Track) 8/10
- A very catchy piano hook over a party beat, simply brilliant lyrics about the city that Ludacris loves ("A knock on the do', who is it?
I would happen to know, the one with the flow
Who did it?, it was me I suppose..."). Jermaine Dupri pops up with a verse that is, for a poor rapper, competent enough, but this song belongs to Ludacris' sparkling first verse and the proud chorus ("Welcome to Atlanta where the player's play, and we ride on them things like every day")

TO CONCLUDE:
On this album, Ludacris displays his eloquent, jovial style over head-noddingly good tracks in a way that I sadly don't think he has managed to replicate since. His comedy and intelligence leave him a cut above the competition in the same way that Redman utilises both tomfoolery and talent to great effect, and this is a classic rap record.

8.5/10