Rock The Bells has returned! The long-running hip-hop festival, which originally focused on legacy and underground rap acts, was basically defunct for the past ten years. However, that was until the rapper whose song the festival is named after revived the festival last year. The man born Todd Smith revealed the full lineup for the 2023 festival today with a trailer reproducing scenes from headliner Queen Latifah’s 1996 film debut Set It Off (this is a trend), showing the only thing that changed is the coast (the original Rock The Bells took place in California, and so featured more West Coast artists).
The lineup for this year’s festival (“don’t call it a comeback”) includes Big Daddy Kane, Boot Camp Clik, De La Soul, Fabolous, Ludacris, MC Lyte, MC Sha Rock, Method Man & Redman, Monie Love, Rakim, Roxanne Shanté, Salt-n-Pepa, Slick Rick, Swizz Beatz and friends, The Cold Crush Brothers, and Yo-Yo. In addition, the festival will feature a tribute to the late Sean Price by the members of Boot Camp Clik, including his widow Bernadette Price, as well as a set honoring the pioneering women of hip-hop who are often ignored.
The 2023 Rock The Bells Festival will take place on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York. You can get more information here.
Ludacris has done it all from classic albums to classic film franchises (that don’t seem to end). One thing’s for certain, he’s still your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper. In the spirit of 4/20, Luda took to Instagram to spit a couple of bars. He didn’t hold any punches proving the “throwing bows” rapper has still got it. While it’s no secret that Ludacris is really like that when it comes to the rhymes, he felt the need to remind a few folks.
In the video, Ludacris is at a tropical location, delivering vicious bars. “I go by Luda, still smoking buddha” he raps. “Never gave a fuck what no hating n-gga said on no computer.” After taking some shots at internet trolls he goes on to rap about all of his success. “I don’t need no mentions, came from the trenches/So when I hit it from the back might pull out the weave or her extensions.” This freestyle is the latest in Luda’s series of impressive off-the-dome releases. Although it seems that the “Chicken-N-Beer” rapper has had a creative resurgence, that’s surely not the case.
Luda has been doing this. In November, he dropped a “friendly reminder” freestyle over Armani White’s “Billie Eilish” beat that left fans chomping at the bits for more. It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from Ludacris. Although we’re getting dope freestyles from him, it has been over seven years since we’ve gotten an album. We all know that when Ludacris drops the industry moves and gets out of the way. However, it’s clear that some people needed to be reminded since the Fast and Furious star has taken this hiatus from music.
Since dropping Ludaversal, the rapper has been far from idle. Working on multiple projects from movies such as the Fast and Furious franchise to a new toy line, what can’t this man do? Not only that, but Ludacris also has a Netflix children’s show called Karma’s World, talk about multifaceted. Along with that, he’s also been finishing up college, showing everyone he isn’t just a one-trick pony. He’s also one of the few artists to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in the motion pictures category. Since hearing about the news in June of last year Luda’s now in the company of Charlie Wilson, Lenny Kravitz, Sheila E., and many others. Are you feeling the new Luda freestyle? Do you need another album from him? Let us know in the comments below!
In the words of Puck‘s Julie Alexander, Fast X is basically The Avengers: Infinity War movie of the long-running franchise. Likely the penultimate film of the main franchise, everyone you loved (or completely forgotten) from the previous films is seemingly back for their biggest ride yet.
Directed by Louis Leterrier (Transporter 2, The Incredible Hulk, Now You See Me), Fast X brings back most of the franchise’s characters to face off against their biggest villain yet. Jason Momoa (Aquaman) will make his franchise debut as Dante Reyes, the son of Fast Five villain Herman Reyes. Reyes now wants revenge against Dom (Vin Diesel) for the death of his father. And with Reyes targeting the allies Dom has made over the years, everyone is back in action.
“Fast X” has bombs, booty, and badassery galore
Our first glimpse of the action in this second trailer sees the gang driving through the streets of Rome. Tyrese is rocking a gold Lamborghini Gallardo while returning fan-favorite Han cruises alongside in an orange Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce. We then cut to Tej (Ludacris) and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) trapped in a semi-truck which, surprise! has a big ol’ bomb in the back. With a quirky smile, Reyes reveals that he’s about to blow up the Vatican. Momoa poses an interesting villain, who evidently departs from the machismo style so common in the series. Dante Reyes is set to be vibrant, extravagant, and completely against type for Momoa.
As the dubstep kicks in, Reyes reveals his origin story and tells Dom that he’s going to “break his family.” We are then introduced to just about every returning star – John Cena, Jason Statham, Scott Eastwood, and Charlize Theron to name but four. We get raves, crashes, CQC, the works in just over two and a half minutes. The trailer also introduces new ally Tess (Brie Larson) before ending with Dom racing an explosion down a dam. It’s everything that fans of the ridiculous franchise could want from a film of this scale. While an eleventh film is in development, don’t expect everyone to make it through this installment. Fast X hits theatres on May 19.
Ludacris is someone who doesn’t shy away from posting memes of himself on Instagram. In fact, this is something that can be said of most oldheads in the hip-hop game. Overall, Luda is someone that continues to entertain his fans, and his meme game on Instagram is a way to do that. Additionally, in order to stay in tune with the latest memes, the artist is always keeping up with the trends. Whether it be pop culture, sports, or music, he is tapped in with the latest news stories.
We know this largely because of the latest meme he posted on his Instagram account. If you have been following the NBA, you know that Draymond Green recently stomped on Domantas Sabonis. Subsequently, the Warriors star was suspended for one game in the middle of the playoffs. Consequently, the Warriors could be out of this series by tomorrow night. However, that did not stop Ludacris from reposting the meme below, which was originally created by The Score.
As you can see, the video starts out with the Green and Sabonis altercation. However, as soon as the stomp is made, the video cuts to Ludacris’ infamous 2003 music video for the track “Stand Up.” This was one of the biggest hits in the entire world 20 years ago, and it seems to still be very relevant today. Overall, we’re sure even Draymond Green could appreciate the use of this meme. After all, on Thursday night, all he will be able to do is scroll through Twitter and Instagram as his teammates play basketball. It is a harsh world, isn’t it?
The Sacramento Kings are currently up 2-0 on the Golden State Warriors. If they manage to go up 3-0, history tells us that the series is over. However, the Warriors are the one team that could back from something like this. Whether or not they will, still remains to be seen. Let us know whether or not you thought the suspension was just, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from the sports and music world.
Over the last decade, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges has swiftly transitioned from an A-list rapper to a popular movie star. The Atlanta native’s debut album Incognegro came in 1999 through his own record label, Disturbing Tha Peace. Def Jam repackaged the album to what fans came to know as Back for the First Time. This was after Def Jam signed Ludacris to the New York-based label. The record spawned hit singles like “Southern Hospitality” and “What’s Your Fancy.”
Ludacris climbed to the top of rap royalty with his subsequent albums and hit singles. He released seven more studio albums after Back for the First Time. His Release Therapy record won a Grammy for Best Rap Album. The lead single “Money Maker,” featuring Pharrell, also won Best Rap Song at the Grammys of the same year. Then, he released Ludaversal in 2015. Some of his popular hit records include: “Area Codes” featuring the late-great Nate Dogg; “Rollout,” “Stand Up,” “My Chick Bad,” and “How Low.” Luda also made guest appearances on Usher’s hit singles “Yeah” and “Lovers and Friends.” Further, he’s featured on DJ Khaled’s club banger, “All I Do is Win.”
Bridges is more recognized in Hollywood as a blockbuster actor than a hip-hop artist these days. This is largely because of his role in the multi-billion-dollar Fast & Furious franchise. He has appeared in six of the sequels. Luda has also signed to appear in the last two films of the franchise. Yet, the Fast and Furious Franchise films are not the only movies in his filmography. Here are some of the best movies the “Area Codes” rapper has appeared in so far.
End of the Road (2022)
Ludacris and fellow hip-hop alum Queen Latifah team up in this Netflix crime thriller, End of the Road. The film was released on the streaming platform in September 2022. It received mixed reviews due to its simple storytelling. However, it was a movie that showcased the acting range from Ludacris and Latifah.
Ludacris portrays Reggie, the brother to Brenda (Queen Latifah). She has two children, Kelly and Cam. The family is forced to relocate from Los Angeles to Houston after Brenda’s husband dies of cancer. Reggie, who hasn’t quite put his life in order, joins them to live with their mother while they get back on their feet.
John Henry (2020)
Ludacris stars alongside Terry Crews in this thriller drama film. The film had a limited theater release in January 2020. However, it was on Netflix that the film garnered viewership success. It premiered on the streaming platform in May 2020 and was the second most popular movie title at a certain point. Maurice Fadida and Eric B. Fleischman, who produced the movie, have expressed interest in a sequel after its initial success on Netflix.
The film is loosely based on the folklore of John Henry. Terry Crews plays John, while Ludacris portrays his crime-lord cousin, Hell. John is also an ex-member of Hell’s gang. The two cross paths after John tries to save two immigrant children from the clutches of his crime boss-cousin.
The Ride (2018)
The Ride is a heartwarming independent drama film that was released in 2018. It is available for viewing on Prime Video. The film received mostly positive reviews upon its release. Ludacris and Sasha Alexander play an interracial couple (Eldridge and Marianna Buultjens). They decide to adopt John, a minor initially placed in juvenile detention after a violent and racially charged incident.
The film centers on the couple’s efforts to help John overcome the challenges of his white supremacist upbringing. Eldridge and John slowly bond over the love of BMX riding and extreme sports. The family forms a bond of admiration, mutual respect, and redemption as the film concludes.
New Year’s Eve (2011)
New Year’s Eve is a romantic comedy that centers on several couples interconnected by their problematic New Year’s Eve experiences. The film is directed by Garry Marshall. It consists of an ensemble cast including Halle Berry, Jessica Biel Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi, Robert De Niro, and Ludacris. Zac Efron, Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Seth Meyers, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Sofía Vergara also appear.
Ludacris features as Lieutenant Brendan Nolan in the film. He is friends with Claire Morgan (Hillary Swank) and helps her make the final arrangements for the famous New York City New Year’s Eve ball drop. The film opened at No. 1 at the box office and has amassed $142 million worldwide. Critics, however, were not too kind to the movie, which several publications rated as one of the worst. Many suggested it was because of the bloated star-studded cast.
Gamer (2009)
Ludacris co-stars alongside action movie phenom Gerald Butler in this science fiction thriller film that premiered in 2009. The film also features Terry Crews, who would later join forces with Ludacris for the movie John Henry. Gamer is a classic tale of how technology can be used to control human beings against their will. Of course, there always has to be resistance in such movies to create conflict. Ludacris plays the character of Brother, the spokesperson and leader of the Humanz. The Humanz is a small group of activists who are against mind-controlling technology.
Hustle & Flow (2005)
Former rappers like Will Smith, Ice-T, and Ice Cube have certainly paved the way for rappers transitioning into movies. Film studios are more comfortable now than before, bringing hip-hop acts like Ludacris, 50 Cent, and even Quavo into film franchises. Things were a little more difficult in the 2000s and backward. Hip-hop artists, and to some extent, Black actors, had to settle for stereotypical roles to prove their talents.
However, that sidebar doesn’t diminish the brilliance of Hustle & Flow. The film debuted to rave reviews due to its direction and the acting prowess of Terrence Howard. Ludacris plays the character of Skinny Black. He is a famous Memphis rapper who crosses paths with DJay (Terrence Howard). The conflict between the two ‘alphas’ is brief but believable. Of course, in 2005, Ludacris was already a famous rapper, which also helped deliver his scenes with Howard.
Fast & Furious Franchise (2003 – )
The Fast and Furious franchise is a series of action-packed movies that revolve around street racing and international heists. They also have a strong theme of family. The first sequels centered on the relationship between Dominic Toretto, played by Vin Diesel, and Brian O’Conner, played by the late Paul Walker. Notable actors like Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, and Hellen Mirren appeared in the later films as the franchise grew.
Ludacris plays Tej Parker in the films. He was initially a street racer/referee and an old friend of Brian O’Conner. The later sequels portray Tej as a tech genius, usually helping Toretto and Co. hack into various computer systems. He is frequently paired with Roman Pearce, played by Tyrese Gibson, to provide comic relief.
Ludacris needs help reining in his daughters as they perform to Rihanna’s songs at home. Rihanna recently headlined the Super Bowl halftime show, putting an end to an extremely long drought for her fans. The pop star and entrepreneur has been hard at work for many years now. However, she has not released an album since 2015’s Anti. That’s not to say she hasn’t given fans anything, though. Rihanna has been featured on several songs belonging to other artists in the years since her last album. Still, most of Riri’s focus has been on running her incredibly lucrative makeup line, Fenty. Additionally, she has taken time to expand her acting career. She has accepted roles in films like Ocean’s 8. In it, she stars alongside other Hollywood giants like Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, and Helena Bonham Carter.
Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance was almost universally praised, even if it drew many, many FCC complaints. She immediately made an impression during the opening her show with her 2015 single, “Bitch Better Have My Money.” The singer performed the hit on a moving, elevated platform. She sported a hot, form-fitting outfit that alluded to a now-confirmed second pregnancy. It just goes to show that Rihanna understood how to make the most of her 13 minutes of screen time. Her fans, the Rihanna Navy, had been hoping for news of a new album. Sadly, there was no word on that. She continued the performance with her top-charting singles, including “Only Girl (in the World),” “We Found Love,” “Work,” and more.
In a hilarious post made to Ludacris’ Instagram, the rapper asks for help with two of his young daughters. “I came home from set & these girls in here talkin bout chicks better have they money,” Luda wrote in the caption. “@badgirlriri please send help.” In the video, the girls perform to “Bitch Better Have My Money”. In the background, Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance plays on the television. Fake microphones in hand, they lip-sync to the song. At one point, the girls make it rain with what appears to be fake money. Luda recently posted an insane freestyle on his page, but this new post shows just how well he balances family and career.
Luda and Rihanna clearly have a friendly rapport, which isn’t surprising considering they’ve worked together several times in the past. Whether or not Rihanna has sent help remains to be seen. We’ll just have to keep our eyes peeled for updates.
It has been reported Ludacris’ Karma’s World Entertainment company has inked a new licensing deal. The media company has teamed up with two Black-owned haircare businesses, landing them their first-ever licensing deal. Ludacris’ mission-oriented media company Karma’s World Entertainment and its production company, 9 Story Media Group have struck licensing deals with two Black haircare […]
Janet Jackson is set to go on tour this summer. In a new announcement, the legend will capture her life in the forthcoming documentary, Family First.
The new documentary will be delivered by Lifetime and A&E, chronicling her efforts to bring the Jackson family band back together for the first time in 40 years. The effort will be done with her brother Randy.
Jackson said of the doc, “I am excited to continue to share my story, and welcome fans into my life and the ‘Together Again’ tour. Thank you for your never-ending support, and I hope you enjoy the next chapter.”
Randy Jackson added, “In this next chapter in the documentary, Janet and I are thrilled to welcome viewers on the road with us as we embark on the ‘Together Again’ tour, celebrating the milestone of 50 years of Janet’s career with fans across the country. We look forward to the continued partnership with Lifetime and A&E, and to sharing our family with viewers.”
Janet Jackson’s tour is her first in four years. This time she’s bringing Ludacris.
Janet just announced her 2023 Together Again North American Tour on social media, and fans wonder what she has up her sleeves.
“I’m going back on tour and yes we will be together again very, very soon,” Jackson said in an Instagram video on Monday. “I miss you guys so much and I can’t wait to see you. Our opening show is April 14 in Hollywood, Florida. I’m so excited.”
Hip-Hop is celebrating its 50th anniversary and SOHH is highlighting five movies that have impacted rap culture. The following movies include Boyz N The Hood, Friday, Belly, Paid In Full, and Hustle & Flow. Hip-Hop turns 50 and tributes to the genre will continue to happen throughout the year. SOHH, here are five movies that have […]
