Street's Disciple (Columbia, 2004) by Nas

This double album is considered by many (myself included) as one of the weaker points in Nas' extensive catalogue.  However, because it is Nas, there are still some very strong records.  "These Are Our Heroes" and "Virgo" featuring Doug E. Fresh and Ludacris are great.  "Thief's Theme" is also a standout and wise choice for a single.  The cons unfortunately outweigh the pros on this album though as a lot of the production comes across and mediocre.  And just like every double rap album of all original material not called Life After Death, the set could easily be cut in half.  Personally, I prefer quality over quantity.

Unpredictable (J, 2005) by Jamie Foxx

I was actually a little disappointed with Unpredictable.  Considering Jamie Foxx won an Oscar for playing Ray Charles, I expected more sophistication.  The actual singing is good and the production is solid.  But the content is every cliche that Hip-Hop and contemporary R&B had fed into for the past fifteen years.  In a nut shell, Ludacris' guest verse on "Unpredictable" is the album's best moment.

Straight Outta Cashville (G-Unit, 2004) by Young Buck

Proving that current southern hip hop music was more than just crunk at the time, Nashville's Young Buck put a bit of gangsta attitude back into rap below the Mason Dixon.  "Shorty Wanna Ride," the album's second single, is one of Lil Jon's finest productions and embodies a lot of the album in its 4:21 length- the south, the hood and a somewhat rowdy (but still very skilled) approach to rhyming.  "I'm a Soldier" is a great start to the album, and 50's guest appearance helps get the momentum up and running.  Other than that, the other album's highlight is when Ludacris outshines his host on "Stomp" and delivers harsh words for T.I.

Release Therapy (Def Jam, 2006) by Ludacris

The fifth major label release from Ludacris finds him getting a bit more serious than his previous efforts.  He still puts forth humorous punchlines and raps about pretty girls ("Money Maker" and "Girls Gone Wild"), but they seem very out of place alongside his more serious content.  "Runaway Love" with Mary J. Blige has three verses all telling fictitious stories of three girls who ran away to escape problems that they faced at home.  "Do Your Time", which features numerous rappers, is about serving time in prison.  And "Grew Up a Screw Up" finds Luda and Jeezy exploring the tough personal circumstances that they each had to overcome.  Ludacris proved that he could be just as effective when he's serious as when he's funny.  However, he didn't quite figure out how to balance it properly on this go-round.

Word of Mouf (Def Jam, 2001) by Ludacris

Luda's second Def Jam album is arguably his biggest.  He abandoned some of the tough talk of Back for the First Time, and replaced it with witty wordplay.  "Rollout (My Business)", with a beat courtesy of Timbaland, is one of my favorite Ludacris records ever.  That song, along with others (see also "Saturday [Oooh Oooh!] and "Area Codes"), proves he can adapt to any beat and tear it to shreds.  The only issue I have with this album is that it runs a bit long.  Fortunately, it ends on a high-note with "Welcome to Atlanta" alongside Jermaine Dupri.

Theater of the Mind (Def Jam, 2008) by Ludacris

Ludacris is a hip-hop superstar, but I feel like he is still underrated as an emcee.  His punchlines are crazy and he can destroy any beat that he rhymes over.  Mr. Birdges took note of this and crafted a theatrical piece for his 6th album.  I think it is some of the best work that he has released to date.  The song with Floyd Mayweather [Grand Rapids stand up!] ("Undisputed") is my favorite and the fact that he did a song with Jay-Z and Nas together is legendary.  Luda also made history by being the first southern rapper on a Premo beat [wherein he got a beat from Premier for his own album, Scarface appeared on Gangstarr's  "Betrayal" in '98].  And, in my opinion, he outshines Lil Wayne on "Last of a Dying Breed" with one of the best lyrical displays and impassioned deliveries that I've ever heard from him.