Ludacris recounts trying out for '2 Fast 2 Furious' while on tour with Eminem

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated 5/7/21

Luda's improvisational skills aren't only reserved for spitting bars.

The 43-year-old actor and rapper reflected on how he auditioned for 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and began his on-screen legacy as Tej during the latest episode of Entertainment Weekly's Binge: The Fast Saga podcast:

"A lot of people don't realize or know that John Singleton had me try out. I was on tour with Eminem at the time, and I got the call. I realize it now, because I believe Ja Rule was supposed to get this part, and they couldn't come to an agreement, or something like that. And at the last minute, they had to hurry up and fill this character's role. So, me being on stage, I mean, I just remember right before getting on stage, I was in my dressing room, and someone told me, 'You have to try out for this part. They only have like one day, so you got to put it on tape now. Here's the sides, and you got to do it.'

"I'm like 15, 20 minutes from going on stage. I'm looking over the sides, and I'm like, 'Here's a great opportunity. Let me just give it the best that I have within the timeframe.' And I did it, and I got the call the next day. John Singleton told me I got the part."

Singleton, who passed away in April 2019 from a stroke at 51 years old, served as director on the second installment of the still-going Fast franchise. Prior to 2 Fast, he earned two Oscar nominations for directing and writing Boyz n the Hood (1991)—becoming the first Black person to be up for best director as well as the youngest-ever.

At the time of the audition, Ludacris was on the second leg of Eminem's Anger Management Tour.

Ludacris has gone on to embody Tej in five more films: Fast Five (2011), Fast & Furious 6 (2013), Furious 7 (2015), The Fate of the Furious (2017), and the upcoming F9 due June 25.

The three-time Grammy winner—and 20-time nominee—also penned two songs for 2 Fast 2 Furious:

Outside of the Fast blockbusters, Ludacris has starred in several other hit films such as Crash (2004), Hustle & Flow (2005), Fred Claus (2007) No Strings Attached (2011), and more.

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