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Theater Of The Mind

EMAILPRINTby Ludacris

Ludacris reviews
68
9.2 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 10 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >

Album Info

Label: Def Jam

Release Date: 25 November 2008

Discs: 1 disc

Genre(s): Rap

Summary

The sixth album for the rapper features such diverse guests as Ving Rhames, Rick Ross, Chris Rock, Spike Lee, T.I., T-Pain, Jay-Z, Nas, Chris Brown, and Jamie Foxx.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

90

RapReviews.com

While Ludacris may be professing loudly to do it for hip-hop on his latest album, it's refreshing to know he can do it for hip-hop and still do it for the mainstream who may not realize just how artful he really is.

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80

NOW Magazine

Yes, it is Christopher Bridges’s best work (relatively) but ultimately, he might not be capable of a Whut?! Thee Album-level classic. Top track: I Do It For Hip Hop, co-starring Nas and Jay-Z NOW | November 26-December 3, 2008 | VOL 28 NO 13 Go to Music Post a comment : All comments are reviewed.

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80

Billboard

This one's stuffed with massive, flamboyant beats; overloud dirty-comic vocals; and all the usual lyrical stops.

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80

Boston Globe

Even Spike Lee appears to show he got game. All this would be distracting if the 14 tracks weren't so darn good. Luda's lyrics are so sharp and supremely witty throughout.

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75

Entertainment Weekly

We've watched this movie more than a few times, but it's always fun to see this many talented pals cutting loose together.

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75

Prefix Magazine

There’s no telling if Ludacris will ever be given the level of respect he desires, but this help proves that he deserves it.

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75

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Though clever and consistent, Ludacris' colorful lyrics and wildly expressive delivery lack the laugh-out-loud, abuse-the-rewind-button hilarity of his best guest verses; it's his misfortune to contribute his meanest 16 bars to other rappers' albums.

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70

All Music Guide

While his previous effort, 2006's "Release Therapy," was much more the thematically tight album and deserved a concept, this loose set of tunes is all-together more entertaining, thanks in no small part to a highly inspired Luda and all the punch lines he lands.

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70

Rolling Stone

If the cred-grabbing lyrics feel rote alongside guests like Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, Luda's thundering cadence and pop-wise club jams are strong.

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64

Paste Magazine

Ludacris’ force-of-nature vigor attempts the Herculean task of yoking the mess together but can’t quite tame a rambling array of singles.

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63

Los Angeles Times

His sixth album, proves that the rapper-actor-restaurateur has mastered Hollywood's most abiding lesson: Stick to formula. Each song plays like a scene in a movie, a motif that makes for richly visual storytelling but many a familiar situation.

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60

Blender

Punch line for punch line, Luda is still the best in the business (e.g., promising to get ladies “wetter than Michael Phelps”), but these sex jams and hater disses feel too flat and perfunctory for his thousand-watt personality.

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60

Slant Magazine

Luda has suggested he wanted this album to have a cinematic through line, maybe in order to consolidate his diversified media representations, but Theater doesn't cohere in a manner that would satisfy anyone short of Paul Haggis, or anyone who has listened to an album by Prince Paul or Madvillain, for that matter.

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60

Village Voice

As a consequence of his preoccupation with acting and "lyricism," Luda neglects to do what he does best: make fun music.

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53

Pitchfork

While Theater isn't quite as dire as the above may indicate, like every other Ludacris record, it doesn't grow on you--in fact, it actually contracts.

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50

PopMatters

Theater of the Mind, ultimately, is a difficult record to absorb. It’s not so much Ludacris’ persona that’s changed and yet this album tries to almost completely change his sound.

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34

cokemachineglow

Theater of the Mind is a disappointment and more--snickering through both high-minded social consciousness and insipid cash cows, the album, so flat and fucking boring, serves absolutely no one but Ludacris himself.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 9.2 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

James J. gave it a10:
Underrated album.

robbie k. gave it a10:
Perfect album title and sublime lyrics to go with it.He aint got no competition. Luda's the best.

Frank S gave it a10:
Excellent beats, great list of co-stars, how could you not like Luda?!

Max Winkler gave it a10:
Proves that Luda is one of the best lyricists out there along with MF Doom and Jay Electronica

Anthony B gave it a10:
Thank you Luda.

Dana W gave it a10:
Amazing album! Ludacris is the best in rap. His lyrics are superb and continues his streak of amazing albums.

Read more user comments >

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