Before he was in "Fast and Furious," Chris Bridges was just an MC named Ludacris. Exploding on to the scene in the year 2000 with hits like "What's Your Fantasy" and then "Area Codes," this Atlanta rapper was taking the whole country by storm with his music.
Ludacris' influence on music can't really be understated. As one of the leading southern rap artists of his time, he really helped to put Atlanta on the map in the rap world, and we all know how that's going now. Along with the likes of Outkast, Ludacris brought that southern lifestyle to TV screens across America with whacky music videos that were huge hits.
Today we're throwin' it back to Luda's earlier jams from his first few albums. With no shortage of gems, take this as a gateway for a Ludacris marathon of your own.
Ludacris ft Shawnna - What's Your Fantasy
It's the year 2000, what's selling? SEX. All over BET's "106 & Park" and MTV's "TRL" are super-provocative music videos that are putting all sorts of body parts on display for young teenagers to drool over. Ludacris upped the ante as he trades lines with Shawnne about licking each other from head to toe.
Fun Fact: this cut is best known from Back For The First Time, but it was also on Ludacris' debut album Incognegro.
Ludacris ft UGK - Stick Em Up
Here's a slightly lesser known cut from Back For The First Time, but if you had the CD then you already know what it's all about. Luda gets gangster with UGK on "Stick Em Up."
Ludacris - Southern Hospitality
If you're anywhere in your 20s, you probably had this one bumpin' in your adolescent years. This was the cut!
Ludacris - Coming 2 America
"The royal penis is clean your highness..."
Hopefully not everyone had to go through poppin' this CD in their parents car after purchasing it...SMH.
Ludacris - Rollout (My Business)
What's better than a big ol', bobble-headded Ludacris rapping? Not a whole lot, but that beat comes close.
Ludacris ft Nate Dogg - Area Codes
Ludacris hooked up with the late, great, Nate Dogg for a legendary cut with "Area Codes." RIP to the king of the hook.
Ludacris ft Mystikal & I-20 - Move Bitch
This one will still shake a dance-floor like an earthquake, straight up.
Ludacris ft Sleepy Brown - Saturday (Oooh! Ooooh!)
The image of the chicken saying, "sticky icky icky" while getting it in has always been a little disturbing, but this track is a definite banger.
Ludacris ft Jermaine Dupri - Welcome To Atlanta
This one bumped ridiculously hard as well, and do you remember that remix? HOT DAMN!
Ludacris ft Shawnna - Stand Up
And then there was Luda's 2003 album Chicken-n-Beer. It wasn't quite as impactful as Word of Mouf, but it was a solid addition to his discography with tracks like "Stand Up."