Ludacris Back For The First Time CD

BACK FOR THE FIRST TIME was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.

After the runaway success of his debut INCOGNEGRO, Ludacris answered demand for a follow-up with BACK FOR THE FIRST TIME, his Def Jam South debut, which features many of the same cuts as the former album, plus three new songs. Here Ludacris continues his mission to get bodies shaking, both down South in his hometown of Atlanta, and beyond.

The remix to his hit single, "What's Your Fantasy," features two of the sassiest girls in hip-hop, Foxy Brown and Trina. "Southern Hospitality," and "Phat Rabbit," give hip-hop a taste of what Ludacris has got cooking for his next outing.

When Def Jam signed Ludacris in 2000, the Atlanta rapper had already released a regionally successful independent album (Incognegro) with a hot single ("What's Your Fantasy"). So rather than send Ludacris back into the studio to record a follow-up album, Def Jam chose to repackage Incognegro as Back for the First Time (the title a play on the re-released nature of the music) and append some new material. The decision proved wise. Incognegro had been a strong album debut, produced largely by talented newcomer Shondrae, along with Organized Noize (who produce "Game Got Switched") and Jermaine Dupri ("Get Off Me"), and featuring a roster of hungry underground rappers (I-20, Fat Wilson, Shawnna, Pastor Troy, 4-Ize). Plus, "What's Your Fantasy" was already a proven hit, if perhaps too explicit for mainstream radio play. The real difference between Incognegro and Back for the First Time, however, is the newly recorded material -- four songs, each a standout: the Neptunes-produced club-banger "Southern Hospitality," the previously released Timbaland-produced "Phat Rabbit," the rowdy U.G.K.-featuring "Stick 'Em Up," and the provocative Trina and Foxy Brown remix of "What's Your Fantasy." The most significant of these additions is "Southern Hospitality," a feel-good party song that -- sequenced late in the album, at track 14 -- comes as a pleasant relief after the proceeding up-from-the-underground hardcore tone of Incognegro/Back for the First Time. [The clean version edits all moments of profanity.] ~ Jason Birchmeier

Recorded at Patchwerk Studios, Atlanta, Georgia; Sound Asylum Studios, College Park, Georgia; Hit Factory, New York, New York; Manhattan Center, New York, New York.

Personnel: Ludacris (vocals, rap vocals).

Audio Mixers: Mike Wilson; Nike Wilson; Jimmy Douglas; Timbaland.

Recording information: Hit Factory, New York, NY; Manhattan Center, New York, NY; Patchwerk Studios, Atlanta, GA; Sound Asylum Studios, College Park, GA.

Photographer: Jonathan Mannon.

Personnel includes: Ludacris, Lil Troy, UGK, Shawna, 4-Ize, Trina, Foxy Brown, Pharrell, Fate Wilson, Infamous 2-0.

Producers include: Shondrae, Organized Noize, Ludacris, Timbaland, Infamous 2-0.

Rolling Stone (12/7/00, p.110) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...The album's bounce-inducing, sweat-producing soundtrack...is layered like childhood issues and packs drama like your ex-lover..."
Rolling Stone (12/7/00, p.110) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...The album's bounce-inducing, sweat-producing soundtrack...is layered like childhood issues and packs drama like your ex-lover..."
Entertainment Weekly (11/10/00, p.90) - "...One of the year's most notable hip-hop newcomers....the album is a randy charmer largely because of the contrast between his dirty, down-home raps and the sleek future-shock beats..." - Rating: B+
Entertainment Weekly (11/10/00, p.90) - "...One of the year's most notable hip-hop newcomers....the album is a randy charmer largely because of the contrast between his dirty, down-home raps and the sleek future-shock beats..." - Rating: B+
CMJ (10/30/00, p.26) - "...BACK is a rowdy, verbally intense down-bottom carnival with guest production from Timbaland and the Neptunes that should up the ante for the entire subgenre [Southern rap]..."
CMJ (10/30/00, p.26) - "...BACK is a rowdy, verbally intense down-bottom carnival with guest production from Timbaland and the Neptunes that should up the ante for the entire subgenre [Southern rap]..."
The Source (12/00, p.256) - 3.5 mics out of 5 - "...He proves that he's a lyricist capable of making sturdy album cuts and catching a few 'what'd-he-says?'....A warm intro to the rhyme singer."
The Source (12/00, p.256) - 3.5 mics out of 5 - "...He proves that he's a lyricist capable of making sturdy album cuts and catching a few 'what'd-he-says?'....A warm intro to the rhyme singer."