Ludacris is a Grammy-winning Georgia-based Southern hip hop artist with over 17 million records sold in the United States and 24 million records sold worldwide. He has been in several movies and TV shows as well. His hosting of the show "Sprite Step Off" has dynamically inspired and enabled young people across the country to aim high and achieve more through scholarships and community service.

Luda is currently opening for the Black Eyed Peas on their international tour, and they were in Boston this Friday. Blast got a chance to chat with the star about what he has been up to lately.

BLAST: Your new album "Battle of the Sexes" was supposed to be released on March 16, but it’s now going to be released on the 9th. Why did you push to the earlier date?

LUDACRIS: Because of the anticipation.

BLAST: It took you a long time, a whole year, to make this album. What would you say is the central message of the album?

L: It is to get a male and a female perspective on the album. That’s how the record is, talking about women talking. The record is talking to women and the women are talking back to me!

BLAST: You’ve said that your single "Hey Ho" is kind of like a follow-up to the song from your first album, "Ho." Would you say your view of women has changed over the years?

L: On the record, I’m saying that ho is a ho. I am not necessarily calling woman a ho. I’m saying that if a man sleeps around, then he would be a ho also. So, the view has never changed. If everyone wanna take it as if I was just talking about women. But it’s a double standard, basically. You know what I’m saying? It’s a double standard of how people say if a man sleeps around, they would be considered a player but when a woman does the exact same thing, they would be considered a ho. That’s not right. So, I stand up and take up for the women.

BLAST: You donated your private jet to support Haiti. Can you tell me your thought that put you into the action?

L: Oh, because a lot of commercial airlines couldn’t fly into Haiti… and they needed medical supplies as soon as possible. So you know, that was the best way to make something happen. Of all the things that they needed, I understood they needed that more than anything.

BLAST: I just heard that you will be in "The Fast and the Furious 5." Is that true?

L: Ah, yeah.

BLAST: What is it like to be touring with the Black Eyed Peas?

L: I really like the songs of the Black Eyed Peas. It’s really a fun, energetic show and I think that combining both of our fan bases together is a great thing.

BLAST: After the tour, what’s the next thing on your agenda?

L: Hopefully, shooting the Fast and the Furious movie.

BLAST: How did the "Sprite Step Off" finale go?

L: You have to wait and see next Sunday. I can’t give you anything yet but I definitely tell you it’s a surprise.

BLAST: Was it amazing?

L: It was a very good competition. Very competitive.

BLAST: So I won’t ask you who won and got the scholarship then.

L: Exactly. But on the Internet right now, if you wanna cheat… it says who won.

About The Author

Eiko Watanabe is a Blast staff writer in New York

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