CD Release - Luda disturbing tha State

Ludacris hasn't issued an album since last year's Red Light District, but he's still in the news, thanks to his recent appearance at the Vibe Awards. During the ceremony, he walked on stage wearing an outfit made of the Confederate battle flag. Then, while performing a new song, "Georgia," he tore off the outfit to reveal a new one with red, black and green colors.

By most accounts, it was a provocative statement to promote an equally controversial song. On "Georgia," producer Vudu pairs a loop from the late, beloved native son Ray Charles' original "Georgia on My Mind" with lyrics from Luda and Field Mob. "I got five Georgia homes where I rest my Georgia bones/Come anywhere near my land and I'll aim at your Georgia dome," raps Ludacris. The panoply of voices on the song underscores this city's status as one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse and tragically crime-ridden metropolitan areas in the country.

The remake kicks off the new compilation from Luda's Disturbing tha Peace camp, but it has been tweaked: The album version features Jamie Foxx harmonizing the Charles' hook rather than the "Georgia on My Mind" sample itself. Foxx's performance is clean and emotive, but it can't compare to Charles, of course, or the startling clashes between Charles, Ludacris and Field Mob's vocals that made the first remake so powerful.

Since its debut, Golden Grain, Disturbing tha Peace has grown in number, and now includes Field Mob, Bobby Valentino, Playaz Circle, Norfclk, Shareefa, and Lazyeye, as well as founding members Shawnna, I-20, and Lil Fate. With so many family members, Disturbing tha Peace has plenty of different musical flavors.

As a result, Ludacris Presents Disturbing tha Peace is best heard as a sampler. Some will prefer "Gettin' Some," a nasty spotlight for Shawnna fueled by a Too Short sample and built for strip clubs. Others will rock "Family Affair," a posse cut with a slow, epic sound reminiscent of the Diplomats. There's even a rap-rock track, "Blood in the Air," by Lazyeye, Field Mob's Shawn Jay, and Norfclk's Small World. With beats from Salaam Remi, Trak Starz, Buckwild, DJs Khaled and Toomp, and many others, there's something for everybody.