Every rapper serves a different purpose in the game. Some become legends. Some become one hit wonders. Others have steady but uneventful careers. And on very rare occasions an artist comes along who changes the way the game will be played forever. Ludacris is one of those artists. From being the highest selling Southern hip-hop artist of all time to proving that Atlanta can produce a true lyricist Luda’s list of accomplishments is longer than the list of people who try and copy his style.

Throughout Luda has proven himself as a guaranteed hit maker as well as a diverse artist who can spit about girls running away from home one second to how big his rims are the next. His label Disturbing Tha Peace has been extremely successful as well and has always managed to find some of the best up and coming talent. He has also transitioned into the acting world and become a sought after actor for blockbuster movies. The man has done it all and is the definition of a hip-hop legend. Since Luda came along hip-hop will never be the same again.

Sixshot.Com's Jon Michael ’s caught up with Ludacris to discuss his motivation to keep making music, his acting career, and his upcoming album, Theater Of The Mind. 

Sixshot.Com: Luda you’re a veteran in the game and one of the most successful hip-hop artists of all time. You’ve released five platinum albums and are about to release your sixth. What is it that keeps you so motivated to keep making music and good music at that?

Ludacris: Man, um I like the challenge of being able to try and outdo myself and to try and do things that I’ve never done before. It’s a challenge just to try and reinvent myself. There’s also the simple fact of never forgetting where you come from. Even if I’m financially straight it’s knowing that I work for myself and knowing the passion that I have for hip-hop music and just loving what I do. That keeps me motivated and keeps me wanting to come out with great music that will make my fans proud.

Sixshot.Com: All throughout your career from your first album to now you’ve always been known for having hit records and being real popular with crossover hits and very visible in the mainstream. Do you think that’s kind of made people overlook the fact that you’re one of the best MC’s to ever step to a mic?

Ludacris: Until this album Theater Of The Mind comes out on November 24th I think it has been that way. (Laughs) Another thing is that I’m a very visual artist with so many crazy videos that people kind of overlook the lyrics when they’re laughing about certain shit.

Sixshot.Com: It goes without saying that you kill the verses and songs on your own albums but you’re also known for killing the guest appearances you do for other artists. Do you have a particular guest verse that you would call your favorite?

Ludacris: My favorite is probably the “Made You Look” remix with Nas and Jadakiss. After I did that verse people started looking at me in that light of being a respected MC because I was on there with two well respected MC’s and I held my own. I feel that I did what I had to do on that record.

Sixshot.Com: As far as acting goes you’ve been real successful, What do you attribute that success to?

Ludacris: I attribute it to taking it very seriously and just having the great opportunity to actually do it. I’ve also done a lot of videos, which kind of gives you a little background to that kind of stuff. I do think the transition was kind of big for me. The main two things though are really just studying and taking it seriously.

Sixshot.Com: Like you said you like to take things seriously. Is that one of the reasons why you’ve been so successful in so many areas like business, music, and movies?

Ludacris: I take everything seriously man. I don’t want to waste anybody’s time. Whether they’re listening to something or watching something I’m not about that man. I want to give people their money’s worth especially in a time like this when we’re in a recession. I have the job of entertaining people and that might help them get through certain things.

Sixshot.Com: How does this album, “Theater Of The Mind” differ from your five previous albums?

Ludacris: As far as the creative aspect of it goes it’s kind of themed off of television and movies. There are more elements to it. It’s not just songs. It’s about the concepts. Every single song on the album has a concept. Not only that but I’m bringing in people from different whether it’s the sports world, whether it’s the Hollywood world. Chris Rock is featured on a song. Spike Lee is talking on a song. Floyd Mayweather is on there. This isn’t your average, ordinary, everyday album. It’d an experience and it’s the presentation as opposed to it just being an album.

Sixshot.Com: Now Luda something I’ve always been curious about is the fact that on a few occasions people have very publicly attacked you for your lyrics which I found strange because I consider you to be one of the least offensive rappers out there. Why do you think situations like that went down?

Ludacris: I just think it’s because I’m one of the more visual artists and they really see me out there. I’m very popular as opposed to other dudes who may say thing but they’re not exactly on the government’s radar, you know what I’m sayin’? (Laughs) To answer your question though I think it’s because I’m very successful and I’m really out there, mainstream.

Sixshot.Com: Now Luda I don’t like to pigeonhole you to the South because you have fans all over the place but would you say that you’re the most successful Southern hip-hop artist of all time?

Ludacris: Well I know for a fact that I am the highest selling Southern hip-hop artist of all time. It’s all about opinion though when people talk about the most successful, period. I think there have been a lot of Southern artists that have had success. Do I think I’m up there with the best of them? Absolutely. But I don’t want to take away anything from what anyone else has done. The fact that I’m the highest selling says a lot but success can be measured on a lot of different things and in a lot of different ways. I’m glad to say that there are many successful Southern artists.

Sixshot.Com: Another thing that has everybody talking about “Theater Of The Mind” is that you got Jay-Z and Nas on the same song. Can you tell us about that?

Ludacris: Man, it almost feels like I’ve arrived in this motherfucker, you know what I’m sayin’? It was a beautiful experience and there are no words that can explain it. I feel like that song is timeless man. When I say timeless I feel like it’s in a time capsule. That song if you hear it five years from now you’re not only going to remember it but you’re going to remember what was going on in your life at that time. That’s how fuckin’ powerful I think that shit is. It’s not only because we’re doing it for hip-hop it’s because it reminds me of what that original hip-hop is and what the essence of hip-hop is. It makes me feel like how I felt when I heard my first hip-hop record. I think this song is very reminiscent of that time. This is a time when you don’t have a lot of true hip-hop songs in my opinion coming out.

Sixshot.Com: You had the option to leave Def Jam after your last album. I’m sure there were a lot of labels throwing a lot of money at you. Why did you decide to stay with Def Jam?

Ludacris: Yeah we did. I just accomplished a lot here being the first Southern artist signed to Def Jam. I felt like we could do a couple more albums together and it just feels like home. I just wanted to continue to build and finish up where I started.

Sixshot.Com: What about DTP, what can we expect to see from the label in the future?

Ludacris: Willy Northpole definitely has an album coming out. Playaz Circle and Shareefa are working on their albums. Shawnna and I are releasing an album called Battle Of The Sexes coming out in 2009. Male and female, relationships, fighting, and all of that. It’s going to be crazy.

Sixshot.Com: When you blew up Atlanta wasn’t untapped but it hadn’t reached it’s full potential. How has it felt to see the 'A 'blow up like it has and seeing so many artists come after you and be successful?

Ludacris: I kind of have to give the credit to Outkast and Goodie Mob for putting Atlanta on the map like that. When I came I kept the lights on in Atlanta when Goodie Mob and Outkast took a break. It makes me feel great though that I could be part of history and I’m going to continue to do that.

Sixshot.Com: Are you impressed with a lot of the talent that has come after you?

Ludacris: Yeah man, I’m a Jeezy fan and you see T.I. and me did records on each other’s albums. It’s a lot of good stuff coming out of Atlanta and I think we’re real consistent when it comes to putting out good music.

Sixshot.Com: All right Luda the album, Theater Of The Mind is dropping Monday, November 24th. Anything you’d like to say to all your fans out there?

Ludacris: Man just make sure you get this album because it’s going to be a collector’s item and you’re not going to be able to just buy one or two songs because you’re going to feel like you’re missing pieces of the puzzle. There ain’t nothin’ but hot sixteens all over this motherfucker.