Ludacris’ 7th album, Theater of the Mind, won’t do it for you so let me remind you that he’s one of the illest MCs in the game. Nasty flow? Check. Ear-grabbing delivery? Check. Unique voice? Check. Memorable punchlines? Check, check, check. The chink in his armor has always been his inability to make an album devoid of fillers. That’s what separates the likes of Em, Jay, and Nas from Ludacris. Unlike those guys, ‘Cris can’t carry an album in its entirety. Theater of the Mind carries on that tradition, but not without a few pleasant surprises.

The Great:

• “Undisputed” (Co-Starring Floyd Mayweather) - Luda’s Rocky Balboa attitude here is undeniable. A good wake-up theme song for lazy Monday mornings.
• “I Do It for Hip-Hop” (Featuring Jay-Z and NaS) - The runaway sibling to Lupe’s “Hip-Hop Saved My Life,” with Jay delivering the best 16. Damn, when will Nas stop sneak-dissing Jay on their collabos?
• “Do The Right Thang” (Featuring Common & Spike Lee) - A nod to Spike Lee, authenticated by a cameo from the man himself. Luda’s message of individual responsibility here is really an abridgment of his previous spiel on cuts like “Runaway Girl” and “Child of the Night.” Still, he gets a “B+” for effort. 9th gets an “A” for monstrous production.
• “MVP” - Not only is this the best song on the album, it’s one of Luda’s best performances ever. Luda was put on earth to rhyme over this beat.

The Good:

• “Last of a Dying Breed” (Lil Wayne) - This is very fresh. How can you go wrong with the god MC Lil Wayne donning his throaty flow and dropping lyrical gems like “I surprise myself sometimes” and “How did he thought of that”?
• “Everybody Hates Chris” (Featuring Chris Rock) - The hook is annoying, but everything else about this track is enjoyable, from the sample-heavy production to Chris Rock’s hilarious skit.

The Meh:

• “Wish You Would” (Featuring T.I.) - Did we really need a bland collaboration to prove that Luda and T.I. squashed their petty beef?
• “One More Drink” (T-Pain)
• “Call Up the Homies” (Featuring The Game & Willy Northpole)
• “Southern Gangstas” (Featuring Rick Ross, Playaz Circle)
• “I Know What Them Girls Like” (Featuring Chris Brown)
• “Nasty Girls” (Featuring Plies) - An ode to the girl who’s “a lady in the streets but a freak behind closed doors.” The most original concept ever.
• “Contagious” (Featuring Jamie Foxx)

Verdict: Though Ludacris is one of the nastiest MCs to ever breathe on a mic, Theater of the Mind proves he still has trouble making an album that’s listenable from start to finish. Thankfully, the shitty songs are sequenced next to one another so you can skip them all at once. If you’re an avid Ludacris fan, nothing will deter you from buying this album and enjoying the hardbody beats. If you’re not already familiar with Luda’s work, Theater of the Mind is not for you.