HIP-HOP

Latest releases reviewed

LUDACRIS
Red Light District Def Jam
***

For every Jay-Z or Nas, you have to have a Ludacris. Now on his fourth album, there's little sign of anything groundbreaking or earth-shattering here, rather hip-hop's clown prince continuing the goofing around that made 2003's Chicken N Beer a bit of a laugh. Luckily, between the bouncy, sleazy booty-funk and psychedelic word-plays, Ludacris does have some decent tunes to peddle; Get Back, in particular, is a heart-stopping barrage of pumping beats and Luda-cheek. Throughout, it's the rapper's discovery of Amsterdam's infamous Red Light area that acts as an excuse to keep the party going, though he does throw a punch or two at his media nemesis, Fox News motormouth Bill O'Reilly. Fine production, tongue-twisting rhymes (check Potion or Number One Spot) and lots of smoke: nothing more, sure, but also, just as importantly, nothing less. www.defjam.com Jim Carroll