By Noe Gutierrez
With Coachella and Stagecoach 2016 now over, the desert has little time to go into music detox. Grammy award winning artist and actor, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges will be performing at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $79, $59 and $39 and can be purchased on-line or at the Fantasy Springs Casino Special Event Center box office. Coachella Valley Weekly spoke with “Luda” this week from his home in Atlanta. He shared his enthusiasm to return to the desert. “It’s been years and years since I’ve been to the Coachella Valley, but let’s just say I’m back for the first time.” Ludacris continues to support his 9th studio release, Ludaversal. Released in March of 2015, Ludaversal sold almost 70,000 copies in its first week. In all, Ludacris has over 19 million records sold in the United States alone. ‘Luda’ gives a heads up to all who plan on attending, “This show is gonna be crazy! I want everyone to come out, have some fun and go through my history with me. I can’t wait for May 14th!”
Ludacris’ enthusiasm for this area is evident. He would like to make the desert a routine stop. He has also experienced Coachella in the past. “Anybody that loves music has to experience Coachella. It’s for all music lovers and different genres. Everybody coming together; I think it’s great for the culture and great for the movement period. It covers what’s going on in the past, present and future. I would absolutely love to perform at Coachella at some point.” Ludacris would be an ideal consideration for Coachella 2017 given the triumph of Ice Cube’s 2016 appearance and hip hop’s more recent imprint on the festival.
Ludacris has always left his own impression in the music industry. He embraced technology’s immersion in music early on. “The internet has taken the music industry by storm. I’m excited to see the evolution of it. More genres of music are going to blend themselves together and you won’t be able to put labels on them. I don’t put any labels on myself, so whatever they want to call me, I’m good. I always try to be different and show a lighter side and try not to be so serious because I love to laugh and that’s what makes Ludacris, Ludacris.”
Ludacris is an anomaly. He wrote his first song at age 9. Now 38, he has witnessed the evolution of hip hop. “I have seen the blending of different types of music together especially with people being more melodious and that’s what makes songs catchy.” Ludacris has incorporated this symphonic approach to his new music. “I feel like Ludaversal was my most critically acclaimed album I’ve ever put out. You can look back at it and it’s a solid album from beginning to end. It received the best reviews of any album I’ve done. It’s introspective. That’s what I set out to do and make a complete album. You can listen to it from beginning to end and feel how I blended it all together.”
Ludacris plans to release new music in 2017 and has begun filming for “Fast 8.” the eighth installment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise, starring Charlize Theron, Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and Kurt Russell. The release date is April 2017. He is also hosting the 2016 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas with Ciara on May 22nd. Ludacris relishes having a full plate, “I’m just trying to stay busy and wear different hats and continue to evolve as a man, an artist and entrepreneur.”
Along with this maturation has come generosity. With the Ludacris Foundation, Ludacris has been able to inspire and empower youth through education and memorable experiences to live their dreams by uplifting families, communities and fostering economic development. “I’m an individual who does not like to give handouts; I give hand-ups. I want to help kids who want to help themselves. Sometimes you can’t help people who don’t want to help themselves.” The Ludacris Foundation focuses on three key areas or the 3L’s: Leadership and Education; LudaCares, a hands-on community outreach; and Living Healthy Lifestyles. Their efforts reach youth at all age levels.
Ultimately, Ludacris is gratified with his most beloved role. “Being a father to three children is the most passionate hat I wear. I love to continue to make everyone in my family proud.”
You can find more information on the Ludacris Foundation on Facebook.
