Back for the First Time

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Back for the First Time

| type = studio

| artist = Ludacris

| cover = Ludaback4firsttime-2000.jpg

| alt =

| released = {{Start date|2000|10|17}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = {{hlist|Southern hip-hop|dirty rap}}

| length = {{Duration|m=56|s=30}}

| label = {{hlist|Disturbing tha Peace|Def Jam South}}

| producer = {{hlist|Bangladesh|I-20|Jermaine Dupri|Lil' Fate|Ludacris|Mike Johnson|Organized Noize|Timbaland|The Neptunes}}

| prev_title = Incognegro

| prev_year = 1999

| next_title = Word of Mouf

| next_year = 2001

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Back for the First Time

| type = studio

| single1 = What's Your Fantasy

| single1date = September 12, 2000

| single2 = Southern Hospitality

| single2date = January 2, 2001

| single3 = Ho

| single3date = July 15, 2001

}}

}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web |last=Birchmeier |first=Jason |title=Back for the First Time - Ludacris {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/back-for-the-first-time-mw0000619927 |access-date=September 19, 2024 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}

| rev2 = Christgau's Consumer Guide

| rev2score = {{Rating-Christgau|neither}}{{Cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |title=Consumer Guide |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Ludacris |access-date=September 19, 2024 |website=www.robertchristgau.com}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = B+{{Cite web |last=Seymour |first=Craig |author-link=Craig Seymour |date=November 10, 2000 |title=Back for the First Time |url=https://ew.com/article/2000/11/10/back-first-time/ |access-date=September 19, 2024 |website=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}

| rev4 = NME

| rev4score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{Cite web |last=Bardowell |first=Derek A |date=September 12, 2005 |title=Ludacris: Back For The First Time |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-nme-3356-336296 |access-date=September 19, 2024 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}

| rev5 = RapReviews

| rev5score = 7/10{{Cite web |last=Juon |first=Steve 'Flash' |date=October 30, 2000 |title=Ludacris :: Back for the First Time – RapReviews |url=https://www.rapreviews.com/2000/10/ludacris-back-for-the-first-time/ |access-date=September 19, 2024 |website=RapReviews |language=en-US}}

| rev6 = Rolling Stone

| rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite magazine |last=Ex |first=Kris |date=December 7, 2000 |title=Recordings |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311033251/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/259444/back_for_the_first_time |access-date=March 11, 2007 |magazine=Rolling Stone |page=110 |issue=855}}

}}

Back for the First Time is the second studio album by American rapper Ludacris. It was released on October 17, 2000, via Disturbing tha Peace and Def Jam South, marking his major label debut.

Production was handled by Bangladesh, I-20, Jermaine Dupri, Lil' Fate, Mike Johnson, Organized Noize, Timbaland, The Neptunes, and Ludacris himself. It features guest appearances from I-20, Lil' Fate, Shawnna, 4-Ize, Foxy Brown, Pastor Troy, Trina, UGK and Pharrell Williams.

The album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, with 133,000 copies sold in its first week in the United States.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 25, 2000 |title=Limp Bizkit's Sales Record |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=114143&page=1#.UAeJuVGa_mI |access-date=September 19, 2024 |website=ABC News |language=en}} It was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on May 7, 2002 for selling over 3 million units in the US and also received a gold certification by Music Canada on April 19, 2001 for shipments of more than 50,000 copies in Canada.

Its lead single, "What's Your Fantasy", which was previously released on Incognegro, made it to No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in the US and number 19 on the UK singles chart. On November 30, 2022, it was certified double platinum by the RIAA. The second single off of the album, "Southern Hospitality", peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in the US and number 25 on the UK singles chart. The album's third and final single, "Ho", was also previously appeared on Incognegro, and reached No. 103 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.