You also have an eco-friendly reality show Tommy Lee coming up. How was it working with him?

Ludacris: We’re actually doing that now. Tommy Lee, after getting to know him, I think that he’s a really, really cool, down-to-earth guy. Crazy as hell, in a good way. I mean, he’s been in this music industry longer than I can imagine, so I’m learning things along the way. But what’s most important is that we feel we are doing our part in saving the planet. And that’s a hell of a responsibility, but somebody’s got to do it. The whole reality show is pretty much a competition between him and myself in an entertaining way, trying to get people to become more eco-friendly and not tell people that they should or that they must, it’s more telling people that they could and they can do little things to help out.

You said he’s crazy in a good way. How so?

Ludacris: [Laughs.] Yeah man, we’ve been partying. Last night we were on a plane together because we had to leave one city and go to the next one, and we were both in first class, and he was rocking out in first class with his headphones in his damn iPhone. The stewardess is telling him to turn his electronics off, and he doesn’t. He’s completely ignoring everybody on the fucking plane, but he was very close to getting thrown off of that shit.

Was that the first time you kind of got a glimpse at the similarities and differences between a rock star and a rap star?

Ludacris: Yeah, and there’s more similarities than differences, to be honest. We both go hard. At the end of the day, I think [Tommy] is just misunderstood. Stereotyped and highly misunderstood. People want to put a lot of negativity on somebody. I feel like we’re both good guys. We just like to party and have a good ass time. At the end of the day, it says a lot, us volunteering our services and our celebrity and what we’re doing during this show.

Aside from a few features, you’ve been pretty quiet in the rap world lately. Are you bored with it?

Ludacris: Yeah. I just feel that the music is kind of diminishing when it comes to good music, but that’s just my personal opinion. My album will be out in September, so I’m coming back out. It’s called Theater of the Mind.

What’s the concept behind the title?

Ludacris: When you listen to music, you should be able to put yourself in a mindset or a mental place where you can picture most of the things that’s going on—like a movie. It’s like a motion picture album. That’s the best way I can describe it.

Who have you worked with so far on the project?

Ludacris: Man, after six albums in the game, the one thing I’ve learned, my friend, is I don’t want information to get out, because I’m not all the way done with it. The right time will be when I turn the muthafucka in and I know exactly who’s staying, who’s going, what samples are cleared, and which ones are not.

Does anyone in the game still excite you?

Ludacris: I would definitely say Wayne. That’s one person I do have on my album as a surprise. I’ll give you some information. Wayne excites me. Definitely Kanye—it’s always good to hear Kanye. I would say Game as well. Game is also on the album.

You talk a lot about unity in your recent song “Let’s Stay Together.” What made you write that one?

Ludacris: I got the beat from Juicy J and Paul and when I heard it, I got that idea of “Let’s Stay Together.” I knew that there was so much contention in hip-hop, whether it be the beefs or groups breaking up, and I wondered what would happen if certain people were still together, since there’s not as much good music in hip-hop right now. I just wish that could come back.

Killer Mike recently released a song called “2 Sides,” basically calling out people who rep Atlanta but aren’t actually from there. Is that the kind of separation you’re talking about?

Ludacris: I haven’t heard [the Killer Mike Track]. The general outlook of the “Stay Together” song was…people are looking at this genre of music like nobody can get along, and they may be the reason for their own demise. To a certain degree, it can make all of us look a little crazy. The Killer Mike song, I haven’t heard it, but I’ve always liked him—he’s underrated. Home // CELEBRITIES // WEB EXCLUSIVE // Ludacris