Release Therapy

Infobox Album
Name = Release Therapy
Type = Album
Artist = Ludacris


Released = September 26, 2006 (U.S.)
Recorded = October 5, 2005–January 2006 at Turner Recording Studios in Atlanta, GA
Producer = The Neptunes
The Trak Starz
Dre & Vidal
DJ Toomp
The Runners
Polow da Don
Genre = Southern rap, Crunk
Length = 62:36
Label = Def Jam South, Disturbing tha Peace
Reviews =
*About.com Rating|3|5 [http://rap.about.com/od/albumreviews/fr/ReleaseTherapy.htm link]
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:rckxlfjedcqo link]
*The A.V. Club (B) [http://www.avclub.com/content/node/54138 link]
*Entertainment Weekly (B-) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1537721,00.html link]
*Pitchfork Media (5.8/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/38877/Ludacris_Release_Therapy link]
*RapReviews.com rating-10|8.5 [http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2006_09F_release.html link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/11695876/review/11925480/release_therapy link]
*Stylus Magazine (B-) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/ludacris/release-therapy.htm link]
*"The Guardian" Rating|3|5 [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,,1883096,00.html link]
*XXL Magazine Rating|4|5 [http://xxlmag.com/online/?p=4923 link]
Last album = "The Red Light District"
(2004)
This album = "Release Therapy"
(2006)
Next album = "Theater of the Mind"
(2008)Singles
Name = Release Therapy
Type = studio
single 1 = Money Maker
single 1 date = 2006-07-17
single 2 = Grew Up a Screw Up
single 2 date = September 2006
single 3 = Runaway Love
single 3 date = 2007-02-12
single 4 = Girls Gone Wild
single 4 date = 2007-02-12 _{(UK only)}
single 5 = Slap
single 5 date = April 2007

"Release Therapy" is the Grammy Award-winning sixth album from Def Jam recording artist Ludacris. It was released on September 26, 2006.

Background

"Release Therapy" won the Best Rap Album award for the 2007 Grammy Awards.

Ludacris also shaved his cornrows off for now a "fade" haircut. He said with a new album that was different than his other five albums, there would be a new haircut to go with it, similar to what Busta Rhymes did with "The Big Bang".

Ludacris released a mixtape called "Pre-Release Therapy" with DJ Green Lantern to precede the album.

Concept

Unlike the previous albums released by Ludacris, Release Therapy has a more mature and serious approach to the music (e.g the 2nd single Runaway Love is Ludacris's first stab at socially concerned music). It is also Ludacris's darkest album to date, both in mood and subject matter. The different approach Ludacris took with Release Therapy has caused many listeners and fans to debate on whether the album is Ludacris's best or worst.

Ludacris also stated that his new album will be somewhat like a tape on CD. "The way we're going to try to format the record is you have your Release side and your Therapy side," he said. "Everybody knows the Release side would be 'War With God,' 'Tell It Like It Is.' I have a record called 'Slap.' Just getting everything off my chest. The Therapy side would be feel-good — a song like 'Woozy' with R. Kelly on it is therapeutic. Even 'Money Maker.' Some women's therapy is getting out, going to the club and shaking they ass. It's therapeutic to them."

ingles

The first single, "Money Maker", which was produced by and features Pharrell, was released to U.S. radio outlets on July 17, 2006. It was a huge success making number 1 on various charts through the U.S.. These charts included the Billboard Hot 100, the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap Tracks and the Hot 100 Airplay.

Ludacris shot a video for the first single, "Money Maker" which premiered on MTV on August 17, 2006.

The other singles in order were Grew Up a Screw Up, Runaway Love, and Slap.

Runaway Love, which was featured by Mary J. Blige and produced by Polow da Don was a huge success similar to Money Maker. It reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Hot 100 Airplay.

Chart performance

The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart selling 309,800 copies in the first week making it Ludacris' third number one album in a row. As of now, the album has sold over 1.3 million copies in the U.S. [http://latinrapper.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=16186&hl=Release+Therapy]

Track listing

"We Ain't Worried 'Bout U" is featured in both the Japanese and UK editions of the album. Also the Japanese import includes a further bonus track #16 "Sweet Revenge" which is also featured on the 2nd DTP compilation.

amples

*"Grew Up a Screw Up" - The Notorious B.I.G.'s verse on 2pac's "Runnin' (Dying to Live)".
*"Ultimate Satisfaction" - Benny Benassi's "Satisfaction".
*"War With God" - Billy Paul's "War of the Gods"
*"Runaway Love" - Slick Rick's "La Di Da Di"

Charts

Album – Billboard (U.S.)