BBMAs Co-Host Ludacris on Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj & More of This Year's Chart-Topping Performers

Christopher 'Ludacris' Bridges poses at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas. 

Ahead of the May 21 show at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, co-host Ludacris weighs in on the stacked roster of ­performers, including Bruno, Nicki and other chart-toppers. 

Bruno Mars

Chart Coup: With “That’s What I Like,” Mars scored his seventh Hot 100 No. 1 -- continuing his run as the most chart-topping male artist of the 2010s.

On Deck: The 24K Magic World Tour launches July 15 in Las Vegas.

Luda's Take: “We stayed at the same hotel years ago, and I remember doing shots together -- great f---ing time.”

The Chainsmokers 

Chart Coup: The EDM duo’s “Closer” spent 12 weeks atop the Hot 100 -- the most in the top five for any song in the chart’s history.

On Deck: Following the recent release of their debut LP, Memories...Do Not Open, Alex Pall and Drew Taggart will hit arenas on their Memories Tour through Aug. 25.

Drew Taggart and Alex Pall of The Chainsmokers perform onstage at the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards which broadcast live on Turner's TBS, TNT, and truTV at The Forum on March 5, 2017 in Inglewood, Calif.

Ed Sheeran 

Chart Coup: With the debuts of “Shape of You” and “Castle on the Hill,” Sheeran became the first act to achieve two top 10s in one week.

On Deck: Sheeran is touring his Billboard 200-topping ÷ through March 2018.

Luda's Take: “His writing skills are out of this world -- very unique.”

Ed Sheeran performs on stage at the BRIT Awards 2017 at the O2 Arena on Feb. 22, 2017 in London.  

Florida Georgia Line and John Legend

Chart Coup: “Cruise” and “H.O.L.Y.” notched FGL two of the three longest-ruling No. 1s on Hot Country Songs.

RMV/REX/Shutterstock

Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line perform at the Country Jam Music Festival in Eau Claire, Wi. on July 21, 2016.

Drake 

Chart Coup: The rapper’s More Life -- his seventh consecutive No. 1 on the Billboard 200 -- scored a record number of U.S. song streams for a single week: 384.8 million.

On Deck: Drake teased a possible OVO Fest in London at one of his Boy Meets World Tour shows there in February.

Ross Gilmore/Getty Images

Drake performs at The SSE Hydro on March 23, 2017 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.  

Nicki Minaj with Lil Wayne, David Guetta, and Jason Derulo

Chart Coup: Minaj recently bested Aretha Franklin for total chart entries by a woman on the Hot 100.

On Deck: The rapper’s label boss, Birdman, recently told Billboard Minaj is hard at work on a new album.

Luda's Take: “She’s representing for women in hip-hop. We need more.”

Nicki Minaj performs "Do You Mind" at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Nov. 20, 2016 in Los Angeles.

This article originally appeared in the May 27 issue of Billboard.