Back in 2001, Ludacris had everyone in our vicinity threatening to “drop bows” on their opposition—lyrics inspired by his hit, “Southern Hospitality.” However, the song nearly didn’t happen.
“That was the last song I recorded for the album,” Ludacris told Bootleg Kev. “We had to turn the album in like a day.”
“I remember going to Virginia. Again, we went to Virginia. It was me and Chaka [Zulu]. Pharrell put on that beat, and I was like, I kinda like it. I go in the damn car and write within like forty-five minutes. I just wrote all the verses. Go back in there, spit it, and Chaka and Pharrell were going crazy, like, This is it. This is the one. I’m sitting there like, It’s cool.“
Ludacris admitted that he didn’t realize “Southern Hospitality”—the “Throw Them Bows” record—would become what it is today.
“I did not know it was a hit. I thought it was another album cut.”
Turns out, “Southern Hospitality” was one of those ones. It peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The people at HHAD speak on behalf of all Ludacris fans when we say we’re glad he listened to Pharrell and Chaka Zulu, his business partner, regarding the song.
