In addition to his many other ventures, multiplatinum rapper, acclaimed actor and renowned philanthropist Ludacris is hosting an action-packed reality show on MTV2 called “Sprite Step Off.” The show follows Ludacris and six collegiate step teams from around the country as they strive to make the national championships and win a combined $1.5 million dollars in scholarships. The show airs 3 p.m. on Sundays on MTV2.
The six, half-hour episodes are executively produced — in conjunction with the upcoming Rainforest Films Stomp the Yard 2 — by two African American women, Tracey Baker-Simmons and Wanda Shelley of Simmons-Shelley Entertainment
Ludacris can relate to the famed black college tradition since success in stepping depends upon a team’s creative skills. “You kind of get the behind the scenes [look] and get to see what goes into all of the strategic and creative thinking when it comes to the world of stepping, which of course has been around for quite some time. It’s a culture and it’s a phenomenon that has been going on for so long. But I don’t feel anybody’s ever [gotten] a glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes in terms of what’s with these fraternities and sororities and the camaraderie that happens between them,” Luda tells the media.
Luda is emerging from a break in his performance schedule and is busier than a traffic cop at rush hour these days. His highly anticipated album Battle of the Sexes is due to hit the market in March. He begins his tour with the international superstars Black Eyed Peas this week in his adopted hometown of Atlanta. He recently unveiled his liquor line, Conjure Cognac and will be down in Miami for the Super Bowl to promote the adult beverage. In addition, Luda is giving away cars for struggling ATL-iens, contributing to the recovery efforts in Haiti and continuing the work of his Ludacris Foundation.
In “Sprite Step Off,” Ludacris actually gets to experience campus-life vicariously through the student participants, something that his career as a radio deejay and hip-hop star prevented him from being able to do in college.
“Stepping was always something that I was actually fascinated by even though I never did it myself. I feel like [with] television today, I would like to show – especially when it comes to students and education and things of that nature — people are using collective thinking. “ –terry shropshire.
