Ludacris' Theater Of The Mind will both benefit and suffer from comparisons to
Kanye West's 808s And Heartbreak, which
was released the same week by the same label. Where Heartbreak boldly challenged listeners, Mind gives Ludacris fans exactly what they want and
expect, leading to an album that's more immediately accessible, but ultimately
less resonant. Familiarity breeds contempt, and a distinct air of "been there,
done that" hangs over Mind. The
obligatory T-Pain-assisted single "One More Drink" offers an ode to the
judgment-impairing powers of beer goggles, while "Call Up The Homies" finds
Ludacris reaching out to out-of-state pals in his quest to hook up with hos in
different area codes. Both are fun pop songs, but they're also the kind of glib
mirth-makers the rapper could probably churn out in his sleep.