Southern Hospitality (song)

"Southern Hospitality" is the second single released off Ludacris's album Back for the First Time, released in early 2001. It was composed by The Neptunes. The song debuted at #86 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the issue dated January 20, 2001, peaking at #23 on the issue dated March 24.

Music video
The official music video for the song was directed by Jeremy Rall. and cinema choreographed by Chuck Ozeas. 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. The video also shows some locations on Auburn Avenue, also known as Sweet Auburn, which is considered the "commercial, cultural, and spiritual center of African American life in Atlanta prior to the civil rights movement.". 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.

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.

Chart performance
Debuting around late January in early 2001. Christopher (Ludacris ) Brian Bridges's "Southern Hospitality" was released as single from his album, also released later in 2001, 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 recent interview (2023), about the almost instant positive response general audiences had towards the single. Ludacris states that although he was aware that the song sounded nice, and that he was happy with 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. While steadily continuing to climb the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Southern Hospitality received notoriety on other BillBoard charts. Such as the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs where it peaked at position 6, and Hot Rap Songs where it sat just higher at position 5. It was in march of 2000 That the song would reach its peak on the billboard hot 100 at position 23. Though the track would not place any higher, it would remain on the charts for the following 12 weeks before leaving with its final placement at 81 on June 2, 2001.

Trivia

 * In an interview with GQ, Ludacris stated that he had eaten soon before hanging upside down for the music video and threw up soon after recording the scene
 * Southern Hospitality was a last-minute addition to the album and Ludacris was surprised by its popularity
 * Southern Hospitality spent 20 weeks on "BillBoard" Hot 100 after its peak on March 24, 2001
 * Years after Ludacris released the official video for Southern Hospitality, fans and commenters continue to enthusiastically praise the song as a timeless addition to their playlists.