"Southern Hospitality"
Single by Ludacris
from the album Back for the First Time
Released	January 2001
Recorded	2000; Master Sound Studios (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Genre	Hip hop
Length	4:40
Label	Disturbing tha Peace Def Jam
Songwriter(s)	Christopher Bridges Pharrell Williams Chad Hugo
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 by Disturbing tha Peace and Def Jam Recordings in January 2001 as the second single from his second album Back for the First Time (2001). It was written 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.

"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.

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]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2014)

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]

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]

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]