Ludacris

Solo Artist · One of the first Dirty South rappers to go mainstream

Photo: Peter Fitzpatrick · Public domain
Active 1998-present
Origin Atlanta, Georgia
Albums 9
Tracks 139
Most frequent collaborator Bangladesh · 22 tracks
Genres Southern Hip HopHip Hop
Artist
86%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 119 of 139 tracks

Does Ludacris write his own lyrics?

Yes. Of the 115 tracks in this catalogue that carry a published writing credit, he is named on 111, and the four exceptions are comedy skits on Chicken-n-Beer credited to their performer. The names beside his on a typical track belong to the producer who built the beat, or to the writers of a sampled record. His 1999 debut Incognegro is the one album with no writing credits published anywhere, which is a gap in the paperwork rather than evidence that someone else wrote it.

By the Numbers

9
Studio Albums
139
Tracks Credited
86%
Self-Written
28
Years Active
397
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 119 / 139 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 139 tracks: how many Ludacris wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Ludacris has a writing credit86%
3%
83%
14%
Sole author4tracks3%
Co-written115tracks83%
Outside writers20tracks14%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Ludacris's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 139 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)86%
Composer (music)0%
Producer14%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Ludacris's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 86%
0%
100%
100%
76%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1999Incognegro
2000Back for the First Time
2001Word of Mouf
2003Chicken-n-Beer
2004The Red Light District
2006Release Therapy
2008Theater of the Mind
2010Battle of the Sexes
2015Ludaversal
Early · 100% written
Mid · 91% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

0%
1990s
Incognegro
96%
2000s
Back for the First Time, Word of Mouf +4 more
100%
2010s
Battle of the Sexes, Ludaversal

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Ludacris sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Ludacris
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

EXO8%
Salt-N-Pepa35%
Jennifer Lopez46%
TLC59%
Destiny's Child69%
Brad Paisley78%
Snoop Dogg89%
86%Ludacris
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

What's Your Fantasy
Back for the First Time
Written by Ludacris, Christopher Bridges
Co-wrote
Southern Hospitality
Back for the First Time
Written by Ludacris, Pharrell Williams, Christopher Bridges
Co-wrote
Rollout (My Business)
Word of Mouf
Written by Ludacris, Timbaland, Christopher Bridges, Timothy Mosley
Co-wrote
Area Codes
Word of Mouf
Written by Ludacris, Nate Dogg, Jazze Pha, Billy Nichols, Christopher Bridges, Nathaniel Hale, Phalon Alexander, William Lee Nichols
Co-wrote
Move Bitch
Word of Mouf
Written by Ludacris, Mystikal, I-20, KLC, Christopher Bridges, Michael Tyler, Bobby Sandimanie, Craig Lawson
Co-wrote
Stand Up
Chicken-n-Beer
Written by Ludacris, Kanye West, Shawnna, Christopher Bridges, Rashawnna Guy
Co-wrote
Splash Waterfalls
Chicken-n-Beer
Written by Ludacris, Michael Guy, Larry Mizell, Christopher Bridges, Laurence Mizell
Co-wrote
Diamond in the Back
Chicken-n-Beer
Written by Ludacris, DJ Paul, William DeVaughn, Juicy J, Christopher Bridges, Paul Beauregard, Jordan Houston
Co-wrote
Get Back
The Red Light District
Written by Ludacris, Craig Bazile, KLC, O'Dell Vickers, Dominic Bazile, Christopher Bridges, Craig Lawson
Co-wrote
Number One Spot
The Red Light District
Written by Ludacris, DJ Green Lantern, Quincy Jones, Christopher Bridges, James D'Agostino
Co-wrote
Pimpin' All Over the World
The Red Light District
Written by Ludacris, Polow da Don, Darnley Scantlebury, Christopher Bridges, Jamal Jones
Co-wrote
Money Maker
Release Therapy
Written by Ludacris, Pharrell Williams, Christopher Bridges
Co-wrote
Runaway Love
Release Therapy
Written by Ludacris, Polow da Don, Keri Hilson, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Christopher Bridges, Jamal Jones, Richard Walters, Douglas Davis
Co-wrote
What Them Girls Like
Theater of the Mind
Written by Ludacris, Chris Brown, Sean Garrett, Rodney Jerkins, Christopher Bridges, Christopher Brown
Co-wrote
One More Drink
Theater of the Mind
Written by Samuel Barnes, Jean-Claude Olivier, Theo Bowen, Ludacris, Alexander "Spanador" Mosely, T-Pain, Christopher Bridges, Faheem Najm
Co-wrote
How Low
Battle of the Sexes
Written by Ludacris, T-Minus, Chuck D, Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee, Christopher Bridges, Tyler Williams, Carlton Ridenhour
Co-wrote
My Chick Bad
Battle of the Sexes
Written by Ludacris, Nicki Minaj, Derrelle Davidson, The Legendary Traxster, Christopher Bridges, Onika Maraj, Samuel Lindley
Co-wrote
Sex Room
Battle of the Sexes
Written by Ludacris, Trey Songz, Kriss Johnson, Tony Scales, Troy Taylor, Christopher Bridges, Tremaine Neverson
Co-wrote
Good Lovin
Ludaversal
Written by Ludacris, Miguel, Marcos Palacios, Ernest Clark, Christopher Bridges, Miguel Pimentel
Co-wrote

Discography 9 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Ludacris139 tracks
B22Bangladesh, 22 tracks I20I-20, 20 tracks FW14Fate Wilson, 14 tracks ON11Organized Noize, 11 tracks S10Shawnna, 10 tracks 6Jermaine Dupri, 6 tracks T6Timbaland, 6 tracks DT6DJ Toomp, 6 tracks PW4Pharrell Williams, 4 tracks AW4Arbie Wilson, 4 tracks SB4Swizz Beatz, 4 tracks JM4Johnny Mollings, 4 tracks TB4Terrence Battle, 4 tracks T4T-Storm, 4 tracks AD4Aldrin Davis, 4 tracks DI4Da Internz, 4 tracks 434-Ize, 3 tracks MJ3Mike Johnson, 3 tracks TN3The Neptunes, 3 tracks TM3Timothy Mosley, 3 tracks DP3DJ Paul, 3 tracks JJ3Juicy J, 3 tracks JH3Jordan Houston, 3 tracks KD3Kasseem Dean, 3 tracks SB3Sleepy Brown, 3 tracks RM3Ray Murray, 3 tracks RW3Rico Wade, 3 tracks JP3Jazze Pha, 3 tracks K3KLC, 3 tracks J3Jook, 3 tracks I3Icedrake, 3 tracks CK3Craig King, 3 tracks PD3Polow da Don, 3 tracks V3Vudu, 3 tracks AH3Andrew Harr, 3 tracks JJ3Jermaine Jackson, 3 tracks on The Jacksons's page TR3The Runners, 3 tracks MP3Marcos Palacios, 3 tracks EC3Ernest Clark, 3 tracks FD3Frank Dukes, 3 tracks PT2Pastor Troy, 2 tracks C2Chimere, 2 tracks P2Pharrell, 2 tracks T2Trina, 2 tracks ND2Nate Dogg, 2 tracks NH2Nathaniel Hale, 2 tracks PA2Phalon Alexander, 2 tracks PK2P. King "The Specialist", 2 tracks M2Mystikal, 2 tracks CL2Craig Lawson, 2 tracks TC2Torrey Cook, 2 tracks LM2Lenny Mollings, 2 tracks MG2Michael Guy, 2 tracks LM2Larry Mizell, 2 tracks LM2Laurence Mizell, 2 tracks MG2Marlon Goodwin, 2 tracks DN2DJ Nasty & LVM, 2 tracks MB2Mo B. Dick, 2 tracks RP2Raymond Poole, 2 tracks CH2Chad Hugo, 2 tracks 2C22 Chainz, 2 tracks PC2Playaz Circle, 2 tracks DG2DJ Green Lantern, 2 tracks TM2The Medicine Men, 2 tracks TT2Tic Toc, 2 tracks DA2DK All Day, 2 tracks N2Needlz, 2 tracks DS2Donnie Scantz, 2 tracks H2Heazy, 2 tracks LM2LT Moe, 2 tracks SR2Salaam Remi, 2 tracks EC2Earl Conyers, 2 tracks MM2Matthew McAllister, 2 tracks JJ2Jamal Jones, 2 tracks BV2Bobby V, 2 tracks N2Nas, 2 tracks DE2Doug E. Fresh, 2 tracks NJ2Nasir Jones, 2 tracks DC2Don Cannon, 2 tracks D"2Donald "Don Cannon" Clark, 2 tracks W2Wyldfyer, 2 tracks YF2Youtha Fowler, 2 tracks WC2Wyatt Coleman, 2 tracks T2T-Minus, 2 tracks DD2Derrelle Davidson, 2 tracks TL2The Legendary Traxster, 2 tracks SL2Samuel Lindley, 2 tracks KC2Kevin Cates, 2 tracks M2Monica, 2 tracks DB2David Banner, 2 tracks SS2Syk Sense, 2 tracks MB2Maneesh Bidaye, 2 tracks I2Illmind, 2 tracks 1O21500 or Nothin', 2 tracks TU2The University, 2 tracks JL2J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, 2 tracks JB2Just Blaze, 2 tracks M&2Mel & Mus, 2 tracks U1UGK, 1 track FB1Foxy Brown, 1 track CB1Crunchy Black, 1 track DC1Darnell Carlton, 1 track T61Three 6 Mafia, 1 track BN1Billy Nichols, 1 track WL1William Lee Nichols, 1 track KB1Keon Bryce, 1 track PF1Peter Francis, 1 track WB1William Bell, 1 track BT1Booker T. Jones, 1 track S1Sandiemanie, 1 track T1Twista, 1 track BC1Brandon Casey, 1 track BC1Brian Casey, 1 track TH1Tony Hayes, 1 track CM1Carl Mitchell, 1 track JE1Jagged Edge, 1 track BB1Burt Bacharach, 1 track CB1Charles Bobbit, 1 track IH1Isaac Hayes, 1 track JB1James Brown, 1 track LC1Lyn Collins, 1 track HD1Hal David, 1 track FW1Fred Wesley, 1 track GC1Gloria Collins, 1 track NB1Nasty Beatmakers, 1 track RB1Ron Browz, 1 track KW1Kanye West, 1 track PS1Premro Smith, 1 track 8&18Ball & MJG, 1 track CT1Carl Thomas, 1 track WD1William DeVaughn, 1 track LF1Lil' Flip, 1 track WW1Wesley Weston, Jr., 1 track ZB1Zukhan Bey, 1 track LF1Lil' Fate, 1 track ES1Erick Sermon, 1 track SD1Snoop Dogg, 1 track CB1Calvin Broadus, Jr., 1 track MD1Mickey Davis, 1 track BK1Black Key, 1 track C1Chingy, 1 track HB1Howard Bailey, Jr., 1 track QJ1Quincy Jones, 1 track JD1James D'Agostino, 1 track CB1Craig Bazile, 1 track OV1O'Dell Vickers, 1 track DB1Dominic Bazile, 1 track D1DMX, 1 track F1Future, 1 track DM1Damon McDaniels, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 368. B Bangladesh · I I-20 · FW Fate Wilson · ON Organized Noize · S Shawnna

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Ludacris writes what he raps. Of the 115 tracks in this catalogue that carry a published writing credit, he is named on 111, and the four that leave him out are comedy skits on Chicken-n-Beer credited to their performer. The co-writers beside him are not ghostwriters: they are the producers who built the beat and, on the sample-heavy tracks, the writers of the sampled record. Shondrae Crawford, Timbaland, Kanye West, Swizz Beatz and the Neptunes all turn up for that reason. His 1999 debut is the one blank stretch, and it is blank because nobody published its writing credits at all.

Quick Facts

  • Real nameChristopher Brian Bridges, born in Champaign, Illinois and raised in Atlanta
  • Own labelFounded Disturbing tha Peace in the late 1990s and released his debut on it before Def Jam signed him
  • Chart peaksFour albums reached number one on the Billboard 200
  • Hot 100 number ones"Stand Up" and "Money Maker" both topped the chart as a lead artist
  • GrammysThree Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album for Release Therapy
  • AuthorshipNamed as a writer on 111 of the 115 tracks in this catalogue that carry a published credit

Creative Fingerprint

A rapper credited on nearly every song he performs, with the co-writer slots filled by the producer of the beat and the owners of the sample rather than by another lyricist.

The Story

Ludacris is Christopher Bridges, a rapper from Atlanta who started out as a radio DJ and founded his own label, Disturbing tha Peace, to put out his 1999 debut Incognegro. Def Jam South picked him up and reissued a reworked version as Back for the First Time in 2000. Nine studio albums followed over sixteen years, four of them reaching number one on the Billboard 200, along with a parallel acting career in the Fast & Furious films.

Awards & Recognition

Grammy Award for Best Rap Album for Release Therapy at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in 2007
Grammy Award for Best Rap Song for "Money Maker" at the same ceremony
Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Yeah!" with Usher and Lil Jon in 2005
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture for Crash
BET Award for Best Collaboration for "Runaway Love" in 2007
BET Award for Viewer's Choice for "Yeah!" in 2004

Frequently Asked Questions Ludacris

Does Ludacris write his own lyrics?
Yes. Of the 115 tracks in this catalogue that carry a published writing credit, he is named on 111, and the four exceptions are comedy skits on Chicken-n-Beer credited to their performer. The names beside his on a typical track belong to the producer who built the beat, or to the writers of a sampled record. His 1999 debut Incognegro is the one album with no writing credits published anywhere, which is a gap in the paperwork rather than evidence that someone else wrote it.
How many albums has Ludacris released?
Nine studio albums, starting with the independent Incognegro in 1999 and ending with Ludaversal in 2015.
Who wrote "Stand Up"?
Ludacris, Kanye West and Shawnna. West produced it as well, and it was Ludacris's first Billboard Hot 100 number one.
Who wrote "Money Maker"?
Ludacris and Pharrell Williams, who produced the track and sings the hook. It won Best Rap Song at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.
What was Ludacris's first album?
Incognegro, released in August 1999 on DTP Entertainment, the label he set up himself. Def Jam South reworked it into Back for the First Time the following year, and eleven of its tracks carried over.
Which Ludacris album won a Grammy?
Release Therapy, which took Best Rap Album at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in 2007. Its lead single "Money Maker" won Best Rap Song at the same ceremony.
Who produced most of Ludacris's records?
No single producer runs the catalogue. Shondrae Crawford, working as Bangladesh, carries much of the early Def Jam material, and Organized Noize, Timbaland, Jermaine Dupri, Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, the Neptunes and DJ Toomp all appear across the nine albums. Ludacris produces tracks himself and is an executive producer on every one of them.
What does Ludacris's real name mean for his credits?
Writing credits are registered to Christopher Bridges, so that is the name in the composer column here, while the lyricist column uses Ludacris. Both refer to the same person.
Did Ludacris write for other artists?
His guest verses on other people's records are his own writing, which is how he reached number one on the Hot 100 three more times as a featured artist, on Usher's "Yeah!", Fergie's "Glamorous" and Taio Cruz's "Break Your Heart".
Why do so many producers appear as writers on his songs?
In hip hop the person who makes the beat holds the music copyright, so the producer is registered as a co-writer. Clearing a sample adds the writers of the sampled record on top of that. Neither means someone else wrote the verses.

Sources

Wikipedia: Ludacris Wikipedia: Ludacris discography Wikipedia: List of awards and nominations received by Ludacris