Southern Hospitality (song)

Last updated
"Southern Hospitality"
Southern Hospitality.jpg
Single by Ludacris
from the album Back for the First Time
ReleasedJanuary 2001
Recorded2000; Master Sound Studios (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Genre Hip hop
Length4:40
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) The Neptunes
Ludacris singles chronology
"What's Your Fantasy"
(2000)
"Southern Hospitality"
(2001)
"Bia' Bia'"
(2001)

"Southern Hospitality" is a song by American rapper Ludacris, released in January 2001 by Def Jam Recordings as the second single from his second album Back for the First Time (2001). It was written by the rapper alongside Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, both of whom produced the song as members of the production duo the Neptunes. Williams also performs the line "nigga, throw dem bows", heard in the song's hook and outro.

Contents

"Southern Hospitality" debuted at number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the issue dated January 20, 2001, and peaked at number 23 on the issue dated March 24.

Background

In an interview with GQ, Ludacris stated that he had eaten soon before hanging upside down for the music video, and vomited soon after recording the scene. [1]

The song was a last-minute addition to the album, and Ludacris himself was surprised by its popularity. [2] [3] [4]

Music video

The official music video for the song was directed by Jeremy Rall. [5] and cinema choreographed by Chuck Ozeas. [6] The video features cameo appearances by Lil Jon, Jazze Pha, Scarface and Too Short.

The music video contains references to Atlanta life through Ludacris' clothes (such as his limited edition Atlanta 05 jersey from FUBU or his Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Braves jackets) and through displaying a few important locations in Atlanta history. Some prominent locations in Atlanta that are highlighted are popular fast food restaurant Church's Chicken, which is headquartered in Atlanta after finding new life there when it had almost went under. [7] The video also shows some locations on Auburn Avenue, also known as Sweet Auburn, [8] which is considered the "commercial, cultural, and spiritual center of African American life in Atlanta prior to the civil rights movement.". [9] One such example of a location on Sweet Auburn that is shown is that of Thelma's Rib Shack, previously known as Auburn Avenue Rib Shack, a popular location known to have been favored by famed activist and minister, Martin Luther King Jr. [10]

Video description

This video opens with Luda walking out a large mansion with two men behind him. Ludacris is wearing baggy clothes with a large chain and a grill. His friends are wearing similar attire. They pull up in front of a garage and get into an expensive Cadillac. They begin to ride on the street in the Cadillac while looking at the hot women on the side of the street. They begin to dance with the music. After rapping on top of the car they were riding in, he and his friends stand in front of a rib shack, showing off their jerseys with “ATLANTA” on them. A man shows the camera fried catfish, a shout out to the dirty south, while black men in suits and suitcases start dancing to the music as well. Luda shows off his grill again, then begins to dance with a hot woman. The video switches between these scenes with everyone dancing along to the song. The beat changes and shows two women walking alongside the street, while luda and his friends are smoking. They run towards Luda and he runs away into the street and gets hit by a car. Then Luda (now with an afro) keeps rapping upside down on the street, showing off people with big afros. All of the people introduced in all of the scenes continue to dance until the end of the music video. [4]

Chart performance

The song entered music charts in January 2001, as single from his major label debut album, Back For the first time. At the time of its debut in mid-January, the song sat at 86 on the Billboard Hot 100. But would see more commercial success as the year went on. When asked in a 2023 interview in the ALL THE SMOKE podcast, Ludacris said there was immediate positive response from general audiences for the single. He states that although he was satisfied with the song and the input he got from other artists, it was almost removed from the album because he did not think it would turn into the hit that it was. [11]

While steadily continuing to climb the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the song also entered the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at number six, as well as the Hot Rap Songs chart at number five. In March 2003, it peaked at number 23 on the former chart. [12] It would remain on the charts for the following 12 weeks before leaving with its final placement at 81 on June 2, 2001. [13]

Charts

Southern Hospitality Billboard Top 100(2001) Chart performance
dateposition
2001-01-2086
2001-01-2768
2001-02-0356
2001-02-1038
2001-02-1733
2001-02-2425
2001-03-1024
2001-03-0325
2001-03-1724
2001-03-2423
2001-03-3125
2001-04-0736
2001-04-1441
2001-04-2146
2001-04-2846
2001-05-0555
2001-05-1258
2001-05-1966
2001-05-2674
2001-06-0281

Weekly charts

Chart (2001)Peak
position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [14] 6
US Hot Rap Songs ( Billboard ) [15] 5
US Rhythmic ( Billboard ) [16] 10

Year-end charts

Chart (2001)Position
US Billboard Hot 100 [17] 77
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) [18] 25

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References

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  2. Grant, Noah (2023-05-31). "Ludacris Was Surprised That "Southern Hospitality" Was A Hit". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  3. Billboard hot 100-2001 https://www.billboard.com/artist/ludacris/chart-history/hsi/
  4. 1 2 Ludacris - Southern Hospitality (Official Music Video) ft. Pharrell . Retrieved 2024-04-29 via www.youtube.com.
  5. "Jeremy Rall". MVDBase.com (person). ASG. 1998–2017. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  6. "Chuck Ozeas – Director of Photography" . Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  7. "Church's Chicken. – Atlanta Influences Everything" . Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  8. Ludacris - Southern Hospitality (Official Music Video) ft. Pharrell . Retrieved 2024-04-27 via www.youtube.com.
  9. "Auburn Avenue". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  10. "Former Auburn Avenue Rib Shack to Be Rebuilt and Reopened As Auburn Angel | What Now Atlanta". whatnowatlanta.com. 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
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  13. "Southern Hospitality". Music Charts Archive. 2017-04-19. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
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  15. "Ludacris Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  16. "Ludacris Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  17. "Billboard Top 100 – 2001". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
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