On October 17, 2000 a clean-cut kid representing Atlanta, Georgia would change hip-hop music forever. He was a far cry from hip-hop’s usual formula of drugs, guns, and violence. He was actually the opposite as he represented a new way to make it to the top of the rap game.

He didn’t hustle drugs on the corner to pay for studio time. In fact, he graduated college and got a job as an on air personality at an Atlanta radio station. Through hard work and persistence, the young man would finally be able to realize his dreams of hip-hop superstardom. Spending most of his free time recording music, he would go on to release an independent album which would go on to sell a staggering amount of copies, most of which were hand to hand or out of the trunk of his car.

It was at this point when a hip-hop legend with a new title would recruit the young MC and begin to build a brand around him. They decided that the game plan would be to re-release his independent album under a new title with a few changes. This time, however, the world would get to hear it. This rapper is Christopher Bridges, better known as Ludacris and the album is his major label debut Back for the First Time. Signed to Def Jam as the marquis artist for it’s new division Def Jam South, the pressure for Ludacris to succeed was enormous. It didn’t seem to bother him as he delivered in fine fashion.

Luda, who can easily be credited, as one of the if not the main artist to bring modern Down South hip-hop to the forefront was a breath of fresh air. Everything about him was different, from his flow and delivery to his animated personality, not to mention lyrical abilities usually not expected from a Southern artist. The album, mostly produced by a then little known producer by the name of Bangladesh was an instant hit. His lead off single “Southern Hospitality” had the nation in a frenzy, as it tore up the charts and nightclub dance floors alike.

Initially written off as a party rapper, it was obvious there was so much more to the man formerly known as Chris Lova Lova. He not only put the South in a place it had never been before but he also raised the bar for all those who were to follow. With songs like “What’s Your Fantasy?”, “Hood Stuck”, “Get Off Me”, and “Catch Up”, as well as guest appearances by Pastor Troy and UGK, the word was out that the new kid on the block was not to be reckoned with. Considered a classic for the South, I consider it a classic for hip-hop. Check out these classic verses from Back for the First Time.

Cadillac grills, Cadillac mill's
Check out the oil my Cadillac spills
Matter of fact, candy paint Cadillacs kill
So check out the hoes my Cadillac fills
Twenty inch - wide, twenty inches high
Hoe don't you like my twenty inch - ride
Twenty-inch thighs make twenty inch - eyes
Hoping for American twenty inch - pies
Pretty ass - clothes, pretty ass - toes
Oh how I love these pretty ass - hoes
Pretty ass high class anything - goes
Catch 'em in the club throwin' pretty ass 'bows
Long-john drawers, long-john stalls
Any stank puss' make my long john - pause
Women on they cell makin' long john calls
And if they like to juggle, get long john's - balls

Dirty South mind blowin' Dirty South bread
Catfish fried up, Dirty South fed
Sleep in a cot'-pickin' Dirty South bed
Dirty South girls gimme Dirty South head
Hand me down flip-flops, hand me down socks
Hand me down drug dealers hand me down rocks
Hand me down a 50-pack Swisher Sweets box
And goodfella rich niggaz hand me down stocks
Mouth full of platinum, mouth full of gold
Forty glock cal' keep your mouth on hold
Lie through your teeth you could find your mouth - cold
And rip out ya tongue cause of what ya mouth - told
Sweat for the lemonade, sweat for the tea
Sweat from the hot sauce, sweat from the D
And you can sweat from a burn in the third degree
And if you sweat in your sleep then you sweat from me