Exclusive: Ludacris Talks ‘Burning Bridges’, Growing As An Artist & Next Album ‘Ludaversal’

Ludacris is back and he sounds hungry. In between doing his Luda Verses, the Platinum selling and GRAMMY award winning rapper & actor released his 6 song EP Burning Bridges last week exclusively on Google Play. The quality project took people who had written him off by surprise.

Before Luda reprises his role as Tej Parker in Furious 7 on April 3, 2015, he will be releasing his 8th studio album Ludaversal on March 31, 2015. He has some pressure on him to deliver but the man sounds ready. We recently caught up with him to chat about fan reaction to Burning Bridges, why his fans need to grow with him, what we can expect from Ludaversal, what rappers from the new generation he’s digging and more.

I have liked some of your recent stuff and there’s also some that I haven’t. But I’m digging your new EP Burning Bridges. I think you spit some real bars on it. My favorite is probably the title track.

Oh thank you, I appreciate the feedback.

On ‘In My Life’ featuring John Legend, you rap about some words of wisdom that Usher and Jay Z have shared with you. Can you elaborate a bit more on that?

Oh yeah. Usher told me if I don’t evolve, I’ll evaporate. Any artist you take, whether it’s Eminem, Jay Z or anyone, you always hear fans saying ‘I want to hear the old Eminem, I want to hear the old Jay Z, I want to hear the old Luda’. So it’s almost like they want you to be stuck in a time capsule. But I feel true fans grow with you and grow with your progression. I mean if you want to listen to the old Luda, just go back and listen to the old Luda. I think every human being has to progress and evolve in life. And that’s what those rhymes were about.

Ludaversal has been delayed many times but you have announced that it’s finally releasing on March 31, 2015. What can we expect from the album and how much has it changed over the years?

Oh yeah, it’s changed as I continue to record. Part of the reason is that it’s been delayed so much and we have had some sample clearance issues as well. It gets really frustrating. Some songs are completely fresh on this album while some have been around for a while. That’s why I have been doing this Ludaverses because with these, I can just rap and throw it out there. I don’t have to handle any business or anything, it’s fun. But to answer your question, I think the way people have been appreciating Burning Bridges, Ludaversal is little light but has me in top form — whether it’s the rhymes, the hooks, the metaphors. It will be everything that people love about Luda.

That ‘Party Girls’ record you released earlier this year was dope to me. I know it got some negative feedback and didn’t do too well on the radio but I really liked it.

Ha, thanks man. We’re artists who paint and not everybody is going to love every painting. Nobody’s perfect and I love every painting I’ve painted. I learn a few things too and that’s why fans who have been waiting for me to put out an album for 4 years have been loving Burning Bridges.

You usually work with a few artists on your albums. Tell us some of the people you have worked with on Ludaversal.

Well, I haven’t finished the album yet and I’m not gonna turn it in before February so I don’t wanna give you false information. So respectfully, I won’t be able to answer that question right now. But yes, you can expect a few people on it but I can’t tell you any names.

Like you said, artists like you often have split fans — some want you to do something new while others will say ‘we want the old Luda back’. How do you plan to balance the two?

Yeah, that’s what I was talking about earlier. Man, all I can say is that when you listen to Burning Bridges, I feel like that’s the perfect balance of the old me and the new me. And Ludaversal is going to be the same. You’re going to like it.

Who are some of your favorites from the new generation of rappers?

I like Los. I think he’s dope. I like J. Cole’s album too.

Yeah, Los is a real spitter. His freestyles are crazy.

Yeah, exactly!

I have noticed that people often forget your name while naming their top rappers dead or alive. Do you feel some type of way about that?

Hell yeah man! You’re damn right. And I won’t stop until I earn that back, I think my best is yet to come. I’m competitive.

Okay last one and this is something we ask everyone we interview – Michael Jackson or Prince and why?

Oh that’s a tough one. Damn. I think they’re incomparable, they are two different great artists in their own right. I’m not even being political, I’m just being real.