Ludacris
The
“Fate of the Furious” Interview
with
Kam Williams
Luminous
Ludacris!
The
multi-talented Chris "Ludacris" Bridges has enjoyed a
remarkable career. As a recording artist, Bridges has sold more than
15 million albums domestically, thanks to the blockbuster success of
such singles as “Stand Up,” “Get Back,” “Southern
Hospitality,” “Number One Spot,” “Money Maker” and “My
Chick Bad.”
All
of these records were accompanied by ingenious videos that
demonstrated Luda's far-reaching imagination and his willingness to
stretch the boundaries of what rap videos could look and feel like.
Blessed with an unrivaled mix of lyrical acumen, wit and imagery, he
has solidified himself as one of music’s premiere entertainers.
Though
best known for his infectious tunes, Ludacris has proven himself
equally adept at composing powerful songs with serious subject
matter, such as the hit “Runaway Love.” Furthermore, his
versatility and artistic complexity enabled him to make a seamless
transition to acting.
On
screen, he most recently co-starred in Furious 7, a follow-up to his
stellar work in the Fast and Furious franchise's 2 Fast 2 Furious,
Fast Five and Fast & Furious. He was a member of the A-list
ensemble assembled for the romantic comedies New Year’s Eve and No
Strings Attached.
Luda
also delivered critically-acclaimed performances in Hustle & Flow
and the Academy Award-winning Best Picture, Crash, as well as on such
television series as Empire and Law & Order: Special Victims
Unit. Plus, since stepping back into the studio, he's been wowing
music fans with his 8th studio album, Ludaversal.
The
consummate businessman, Luda's latest venture includes the
highly-anticipated Chicken-n-Beer restaurant coming soon to the
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. In addition, he is
dipping his hands in the tech space by partnering with apps such as
Roadie, an on-the-way delivery service.
Luda's
philanthropic efforts rival his entertainment accomplishments. He
partnered with Crash writer/director Paul Haggis and Artists for
Peace and Justice to help raise more than $4 million for Haitian
relief efforts. And he's raised more than $100,000 for Atlanta flood
victims through The Ludacris Foundation, too. Having partnered with
Jane Fonda, Bill Gates, Richard Branson and Nelson Mandela, to name a
few, the foundation continues to inspire youth through education.
Kam
Williams: Hi
Luda, thanks for another interview.
Ludacris:
What's
up, Kam?
KW:
I really loved this film!
L:
You and
me both. so, I'm glad that you feel it.
KW:
Furious
7 left me in tears, given the sensitive way they handled Paul
Walker's exit. So, that left me wondering whether they'd be able to
get back to the action following such a moving conclusion. But they
handled the transition seamlessly and very tastefully. It works
perfectly.
L:
It
does, Kam. And I feel like this is the most clever of all of them.
It's really smart. If you see it twice, you'll notice a lot of things
you missed the first time. I'm just happy that we continue to outdo
ourselves, man, because, at this point, it's like, "How are we
doing this?" There's definitely a higher power controlling the
franchise.
KW:
What's
it like shooting without Paul?
L:
It's
very emotional. That's a void that will never be filled. All we can
do is carry on his legacy by making the best movie possible. That
adds a little pressure on us .
KW:
But you
did manage to outdo yourselves. Other than James Bond and some of the
comic book adaptations, I can't think of another franchise with such
staying power.
L:
Exactly!
That's what we like to do... break records!
KW:
How do
you explain the series' enduring appeal?
L:
I think
maybe our really being a family off-screen might have a lot to do
with the chemistry you see on-screen.
KW:
What's
new about your character, Tej, this go-round?
L:
Tej
Parker's happy because he got himself a tank provided by the U.S.
government. And you also get to see some skills that you never knew
he had. I just love how he continues to grow along with the entire
franchise. That makes it so special.
KW:
You
have some excellent lines in this episode, and so does Tyrese. The
film also features some great banter between Dwayne Johnson and Jason
Statham's characters. And Charlize Theron was a terrific villain.
L:
I think
Charlize's addition is one of the picture's greatest qualities. While
women were already fans of the franchise, her performance literally
taken it up another notch, because she brings her own fan base.
KW:
She
disappeared into the role so well, I didn't even know it was Charlize
for at least 10 minutes after she made her first appearance.
L:
Dude,
that's what I'm trying to tell you. She's so good at what she does
that she make Vin and everybody else around her better. We just
continue to up the ante.
KW:
You
know what was hilarious? How Clint Eastwood's son, Scott, is in the
film, but playing a nerd instead of a macho character you'd expect.
L:
We
always like flipping the script a little and doing the unexpected
which is why it's so successful.
KW:
In my
review, I said this film is worth the price of admission for the
opening scene alone, like Taken, District B-13 and the remake of Dawn
of the Dead. That drag race was breathtaking and kept me on the edge
of your seat.
L:
Exactly,
Kam! And it moves from one action sequence to the next without ever
losing the integrity or continuity of the storyline.
KW:
What's
going on with you musically, Luda?
L:
Everything's
good! I'm getting back into the bloodstream of music. I just dropped
a single called Vitamin D. Everybody's talking about the video. You
definitely need to check it out. There's this whole hoopla about this
CGI (computer-generated) chest and abs I have in it.
KW:
Tell
me a little about your upcoming projects.
L:
I have
an independent film called Ride coming out, and I do some voiceover
work in a movie called Show Dogs. Besides that, on TV, they're
bringing back the show Fear Factor with me as the host.
KW:
Congratulations! Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: With so many classic
films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?
L:
If
Halle Berry does a remake of Monster's Ball, I'd like to play Billy
Bob Thornton's character.
KW:
[LOL]
Ling-Ju Yen asks: What
is your earliest childhood memory?
L:
My
earliest childhood memory? That's a good question, Kam. Just going
out to the park with my mom, and playing on the slides and the
swings.
KW:
Was
there a meaningful spiritual component to your childhood?
L:
I grew up Christian, if that's what you're asking. I prefer not to
get into discussions of religion these days. But I'm very much a
believer in a higher power.
KW:
If you
could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?
L:
If I could have one wish
instantly granted, I would probably ask for world peace.
KW:
Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone
would?
L:
Wow! That's such a good
question. I really have to think about that... I wish somebody would
ask me if I could cook, and I'd tell them, "Hell no!"
KW:
Well, what's your favorite dish to eat?
L:
Chicken
Parmesan.
KW:
Larry
Greenberg asks: Do you have a favorite movie monster?
L:
The Predator, because he had dreadlocks. I felt like he was Jamaican.
KW:
Susan
Doran asks: How did you come up with the name Ludacris? I figure that
the "cris" part comes from Chris being your real first
name.
L:
That's exactly right. Since my
music embodied the dictionary definition of "ludicrous," I
think it was kind of creative to combine it with my name and come up
with "Ludacris."
KW:
Finally,
what’s in your wallet?
L:
An
American Express Black Card, man.
KW:
Thanks
again for the time, Luda, and best of luck with the film, the new
single and the new TV show.
L:
Thank
you, Kam.
To see Luda's new video, Vitamin D, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xseqj9d7FsY
To order a copy of Luda's latest CD, Ludaversal, visit:
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