This one made my day. I'm laughing so hard right now. Thanks Ann!

Words cannot describe how much I can't stand this hypocrite.

I wonder if Ebony Magazine (I believe that is the onw who spoke up against Nelly?) has anything to say about this.

Ludacris aside, The Heart of the Game is excellent. I saw it this weekend and was crying and cheering in the theater. It highlights a number of feminist issues, all while documenting a group of strong, talented women. Worth seeing.

This is my first post ever on Feministing! Thanks for the great site.

The thing that's hilarious about it to me is that no matter how much anyone speaks up about it, is that Ludacris will be crying and boo hooing his whole way to the bank.

Maybe Ludacris is trying to change his image before his daughter grows up and everything he's said about women applied to her.

I hope you're right prarielily.

Or perhaps he views his rap music as what it is...entertainment...and his job...and not a life style.

That said, if the documentary is good and his lyrics don't actually reflect his lifestyle...more power to him. And if they do reflect his lifestyle...well I wouldn't want to go into my hotel room and find a fat girl, a girl that smells like semen and venereal disease and other unattractive women that are expecting sexual favors from me. If I were in that same situation, I would definitely feel his pain.

TheTruth: I, too, feel Ludacris's pain. After all he's just minding his own business, "lookin' for some women that can fondle my balls," only to find *gasp* some unattractive ladies in his dressing room. The poor thing is then forced to order up some better-looking prostitutes (excuse me, "fine bitches"). It must be a rough life.

Let's just hope and pray he isn't singing about personal experience. "Fat, gorilla, monkey mouth bitches"? I'd never wish such a thing on another human being!

Haha Ann.

Well if the shoe fits...

I mean, yes, it is definitely a horrible yarn of woe and sorrow that Snoops poor nephew Ludacris had to spin. It practically brings me to tears.

I think you did misinterpret the lyrics, however. I know his use of the vernacular is difficult to decipher, but it seems to me, that they had a different set of "fine bitches" already on the way...and they arrived at their hotel suite to find the unattractive women had weaseled their way into the hotel room (and not the dressing room) (they hadn't invited them).

Perhaps your interpretation is correct, but that was just how I interpreted it!

If this was before or after he ate a womans leg like it was a drumstick from a bucket of fried chicken is beyond even my incredible powers of deduction.

Pick your battles. I consider myself to be a feminist, but I've always loved Luda. He's a phenomenal rapper and songs like "Ho" are obviously cheeky and fun. I mean, come on: "Reach into the sky for the hozone layer." That's just funny, not to mention clever. I would love to do a story on Luda, to get the chance to interview him. He's a smart, sharp guy who plays the rap game well and is constantly innovating. If you listen to Luda's music and read his interviews, you should be able to understand that his music is his art, and he takes advantage of creative license. It doesn't have to reflect what he really thinks. As far as the Chicken 'n Beer album cover goes.. yeah, yeah, meat, objectification, all that. But come on. Big deal. I don't know -- I just love him. Always have, always will.

Thanks Katie...that was exactly my point.

So it's okay to objectify women if you're a good artist?

This is where feminism gets fuzzy...again

I don't know much about Ludacris, but I remember feeling the same way about the Beastie Boys with License to Ill...it was a fun, exuberant album but a lot of the songs were less than enlightened. I felt guilty for enjoying it so much.

The Beasties evolved, they grew up, their lyrics matured, their music got more complicated, they took risks...and now, there's no question they're thoughtful, progressive, intelligent artists. Most people wouldn't have thought it possible back in 1988, though.

Let's give these new artists, like Ludacris, the benefit of the doubt. They may start off as crude, arrogant young men, out to prove themselves at the expense of women, but that doesn't mean this phase'll last forever.

Think about it, Madonna started off as the slutty Material Girl...and now she's spiritual Mama Kabbala. I still can't stand her (she can't sing), but the image has certainly done a 180.

If Ludacris is trying to do something good and decent now, why disparage the effort by linking it to some questionable projects from earlier in his career? Judge each work on its own merits.

Just a thought.

If you felt guilty about liking License to Ill (and probably Paul's Boutique and Check Yo Head too), than you'd probably feel really guilty about digging on...

MC Paul Barman!
Princess Superstar!
Kool Keith!

all of whom contain some of the most mysogynistic sounding lyrics of all time.

Inflaming people is how a rapper gets famous, if people didn’t get upset about treating women badly, rappers wouldn’t sing about it.
Raps misogynism is a backlash to 70’s feminism, raps rebellion to feminist indoctrination was to become even more misogynistic, It’s only because at that point (early eighties) it was well known you weren’t supposed to talk about women like that, if you did people would react, just like if you talk about killing cops or what have you, it has since just become a rap staple. It still an easy sell.