News
Email
Print
Ludacris delivers in rip-roaring style
Performing with him were Ray J, Hot Stylz, group Playaz Circle
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: September 19, 2008
With shades on, rapper Ludacris came to Winston-Salem last night with one thing on his mind -- giving a rip-roaring nonstop fury of a performance.
And he delivered. Members of the audience at Joel Coliseum sang along with enthusiasm to his songs, from the sexually suggestive "What's Your Fantasy" to that all-swagger attitude of "Number One Spot."
Ludacris, an MC based in Atlanta, was performing for the start of Chris Paul's Winston-Salem Weekend, a fundraiser for Paul's CP3 Foundation, which supports local programs and charities.
Also performing were Ray J, Brandy's little brother who seems better known these days for sex videos with Kim Kardashian than his actual songs, and the Chicago rap group Hot Stylz.
Hot Stylz was one hit and many misses. The biggest miss was a song about a dance known as the "Remote Control." Watch out. It's about to become the biggest dance craze for couch potatoes.
The group smartly made sure its last song was its largest hit, the trash-talking "Lookin' Boy," which manages to be both funny and danceable.
Ray J tried to cement his efforts at becoming the 21st century's version of the often sexually explicit singer R. Kelly, bursting out with such R&B ditties as "Sexy Can I" and the heartfelt "One Wish."
He did a good job of connecting with the audience, or at least the women in the audience, with his muscled chest.
But those were just warm-ups and short ones at that. Shouts of "Luda" rang from the audience, and Ludacris came through, attacking the microphone with sharp one-liners and a commanding voice.
And he even shared the stage with the group Playaz Circle, which performed its hit "Duffle Bag Boy," as well as a single off its new CD, Flight 360.
Ludacris, however, was the star of the show, an unstoppable flow of energy spilling from the stage into the audience. And the audience loved every moment of it.
■ Michael Hewlett can be reached at 727-7326 or at mhewlett@wsjournal.com.
■ Chris Paul's Winston-Salem Weekend will run through Sunday. Most activities are not open to the public, but the public is invited to the community church service at 11 a.m. Sunday and the after-church social at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Both will be at the Benton Convention Center. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted for the CP3 Foundation.
Email
Print
