Ludacris responds to Katt Williams’ Illuminati allegations with freestyle

Clips of the countless absurd statements Katt Williams made on the most recent episode of Shannon Sharp’s Club Shay Shay podcast have been spreading like wildfire. In the nearly three-hour interview, Williams takes aim at an impressive number of minor and major celebrities, reminding the world just how much he loves controversy.

Among the targets of Williams’ criticism this week was Ludacris. In a 90-second tirade, the comedian accuses the rapper/actor of making a deal with the Illuminati that granted him a $200 million, 20-movie contract (“Fast & Furious is on what number right now?”) and a “light-skinned, ugly-faced wife.” In return, Williams alleges, Luda had to shave his afro and “couldn’t do the sideburn thing no more with the points,” a concession Williams implies he refused to make, turning down the movies, the money, and the wife.

On Thursday night, a day after the release of Sharp’s interview with Williams, Ludacris posted a video to his socials in which he responds to the allegations with a freestyle over Kanye West’s “Devil in a New Dress” instrumental. After starting off with some Seussian flexes (“Like Snoop’s cannabis shredder, I’m always on my grind,” “I bring my watch collection on my jet, lemme take my time”), he gets into the body of his argument, which hinges on a line only the man behind “Money Maker” could cook up: “Never been Illuminati, only Ill-Luda-nati.”

His response to the wife slander is surprisingly mild — “Now I’m married with kids, the evolution of life / Never been a clout chase, never say shit for likes” — seeming to take more offense at the Fast & Furious comment. “RIP John Singleton,” he raps, shouting out the legendary director who helmed 2 Fast 2 Furious (as well as Boys n the Hood, Poetic Justice, Snowfall, and many other films and TV shows before his passing in 2019), “You never have to flex / When you earn every one of your Fast & Furious checks.”

Luda’s tirade ends with a mention of his classic hairstyle (but no mention of why he changed it) and an apparent reference to rumors of Williams’ drug problems (Williams has denied ever doing drugs): “Afro with the sideburns, yeah that’s my signature / Addiction’s on the rise, comedians check ya temperature.” Before ending the recording, he makes a very strange face and puts two fingers to his throat in a way that would be more appropriate for checking one’s pulse than their temperature.

Watch the Ludacris section from Williams’ interview (in which Kevin Hart also catches a stray) and Luda’s rapped rejoinder below via Stereogum.