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Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that Ludacris is neither for wussies nor for dummies. (Or more nicely put, he's neither for the impressionable/sensitive nor for the unsophisticated listener.) His strongly worded messages are delivered with humor, intelligence, and a social conscience -- as well as full-tilt enthusiasm for "wild" women and the party life. Parents with strict limits about lyrics in popular music should avoid Ludacris, plain and simple. The edited versions of his songs sound ridiculous; the omitted words are plentiful and obvious, and the tracks end up sounding like nonsense. For those willing to evaluate albums on a case-by-case basis, however, there's a lot to be said for making an exception for Ludacris' newest offering, despite a liberal sprinkling of racist, sexist, and explicit language.

Families can talk about whether Ludacris could get his point across as vividly with milder language. Aside from shock value, what does he accomplish artistically by pushing the envelope in this way? Families with relatives in prison will appreciate "Do Your Time," a shout-out to incarcerated friends and relatives.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Kathi Kamen Goldmark

The difference between Ludacris and someone like, oh, let's say Chingy, is that Ludacris brings more to the table than a bunch of swear words and a lust for the party life. He's a vivid, funny, and soulful lyricist, as well as an energetic performer.

Ludacris knows how to build a song dramatically, with attention paid to instrumental dynamics and background vocals. But mostly, even at his most explicit and inappropriate, Ludacris delivers a potent mix of intelligence and humor. It's true he writes lyrics that objectify women ("I'm gonna make 'em dance so I can see them shake they ass/then I'll put 'em in a trance till I get 'em out of them pants" on "Girls Gone Wild"), but there are also messages of hope, pride, and social consciousness ("I said it's time to stop the stealing/time to stop disrespecting our women/It's time to come home and raise our children ... to really mold our communities," on "Freedom of Preach").

There are rhymes that echo the coy brilliance of Smokey "You got a smile so bright/you know you could'a been a candle/you're holding me so tight, you know you could'a been a handle" Robinson, as on "End of the Night": "Hey mami, let's get it poppin' like Orville Redenbacher/the way you move once you started nothin' could ever stop ya/sweeter than Betty Crocker, and I'm ready to belly flop ya ..." But the highlight of RELEASE THERAPY is "Do Your Time," a shout-out to incarcerated friends and family members meant to deliver a message of inspiration, hope, and self-esteem.

Parents with strict limits about lyrics in popular music should avoid Ludacris, plain and simple. The edited versions of his songs sound ridiculous; the omitted words are plentiful and obvious, and the tracks end up sounding like nonsense. But if you're going to break down and let your kids buy an explicit album every now and then, you could do a lot worse than Ludacris, who writes with substance and artistry. You might also consider Kanye West or Busta Rhymes.

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