Ludacris and Big Boi weigh in on hip hop is dead debate

By: Yves Erwin Salomon

Ludacris and OutKast's Big Boi are the two latest rappers to weigh in on the debate sparked by the title of Nas'latest album, Hip Hop Is Dead...The N. Ludacris told MTV.com, "I don't feel that hip-hop is dead. I feel like the South is keeping it alive. What we do is hip-hop. Some people may not feel that way. You gotta respect some people's opinion, but hey. You gotta stay to your opinion in the game."

Ludacris added, "Because the South is dominating it right now. Saying that hip-hop is dead is like saying the South is dead too. They may not like some of the music going on in the South. But everybody in the South is saying, 'We are keeping it alive.'... At the end of the day, hip-hop is what you make it. What we do in the South isn't hip-hop -- that's what some people think. We think it is. Some people say it's country-rap tunes. Hip-hop is what you make it."

Big Boi also shared his thoughts on the state of the game. He said, "Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but if it's dead, why is the South boomin'? We got the ball right now. ... But nobody better never come out their mouth wrong about me or my homeboy Andre 3000 ever. Ever! Tell them. We don't even play. I'll slap the s**t out of you. That's why you never hear about OutKast getting into nothing."

Nas' Hip Hop Is Dead...The N hits stores today, December 19th