Album Review: Back for the First Time - Ludacris

Ludacris, for those that don't know, is an Atlanta-based rapper known for many things whether it be his music, his record label, Disturbing Tha Peace, or his various movie roles. Chances are, anyone who's been alive since at least the 90's knows who Ludacris is for any one of these reasons, however this album came out right before his more popular appearances. Not saying that this isn't a very popular album, considering it's gone at least 3x platinum, but that his more notorious works appear a bit later.

Now, many people may know that Back for the First Time was pretty much a re-releasing of Incognegro, considering that they came out almost months apart from each other, except through a major label. Since Incognegro was a pretty popular independent release, it was decided that Back for the First Time would be the "updated" version for the world to see. Incognegro would lose 3 songs, "It Wasn't Us", "Midnight Train" and "Rock and a Hard Place", and instead gain 4 new songs, "Stick Em Up", with UGK, "Southern Hospitality", produced by The Neptunes, "What's Your Fantasy Remix", now featuring Trina and Foxy Brown, and a previously released track, "Phat Rabbit", produced by Timbaland.

While i have not listened to Incognegro to know what i'm missing, i do know that i enjoy Back for the First Time. One thing about me is that i rarely listen to party music alone, i always get that feeling that "if i'm not partying, party music is merely a tease", and so you'll find me instead listening to lyrical artists. While Ludacris isn't the most lyrical and is very much party music, i can't pretend that i wouldn't listen to Luda alone, for various reasons.

As many people already know, Ludacris is a funny person and that shows in this album. Luda's hilarious persona is out in full view for the majority of this album, and i enjoyed every minute of it. Now while this album isn't as hyper as some of his later works, I'm looking at you Word of Mouf, it still packs that Luda punch, with some surprisingly lyrical sucker punches.

This album is one of those truly impressive south albums where the chorus' are catchy as anything while the lyrics are straight nasty. And this isn't just Luda, but his cast of features. While some lines came across rather weak, at least in my standards today, every verse was legit and brought the right energy to it. While there were very few lines that caught me off guard or wowed me, Ludacris was easily able to hold my attention throughout the entire project.

I'm sure the assistance of the production made this easier, as well. The production was so hyped with beats made by Bangladesh, Organized Noize, Jermaine Durpi, The Neptunes, Timbaland, and even a couple by Luda himself. There were times where the beat was in your face like "Game Got Switched" and "What's Your Fantasy" while time's that they were just plain jammin like "Hood Stuck", "Southern Hospitality" and "Get Off Me" then there were other times where they were just plain spitteriffic tracks like "1st and Ten" and "U Got a Problem". No matter what the purpose of each track, all of them will bang in your speakers somehow, even the dope laidback "Mouthing Off".

Speaking of "Mouthing Off" , which is almost like a street corner cypher, my favorite feature comes from this track. 4-Ize absolutely kills it, infusing pop culture with his dope lines, i'll explain in more detail on the Track By Track Review. There were about 10 features on this album and all were well placed and well used. I-20 and Fate Wilson, from DTP, had great verses rivaling Luda in the tracks "1st and Ten", a lyrical countdown, and "Catch Up", A realization yet defiant response concerning their bad habits. And while Shawnna only sang the chorus in "What's Your Fantasy", she receives back up in the remix from Trina and Foxy Brown, who do a good job showing the female perspective of the sexual anthem. Another good feature was a fresh Pastor Troy on "Get Off Me", an elbow throwing track where Troy and Luda occasionally traded off lines with each other in their verses. The final, somewhat surprising, feature were the UGK verses on the banger "Stick Em Up", which were as Trill as ever.

All in All, there isn't much to dislike about this album, when you except it as it is. It's not a lyrical album, although it does have it's fair share of lyrical moments, it's a young mans party album that plenty of people can enjoy. The hooks are catchy, The verses are nice, and The production makes you want to move. There's also 3 hilarious skits throughout this album to help set-up some of the songs. It's fun and you know what you're getting out of this album, and it delivers on that completely. There's no regrets in having this in your collection.

Rating: Must Buy

Stand-Out Tracks: Game Got Switched, 1st and Ten, What's Your Fantasy, Get Off Me, Mouthing Off, Ho, Catch Up, Southern Hospitality