Ludacris - Southern Smoke

Ludacris rode the early-2000s Dirty South explosion to widespread popularity, as his songs enjoyed an enormous embrace, mainly by urban media outlets but also MTV and pop radio. The Atlanta-based rapper went from local sensation to household name after Def Jam signed him to its Def Jam subsidiary in 2000. In addition to connecting him with super-producers Timbaland, the Neptunes and Organized Noize they gave Ludacris a remarkable marketing push, making him one of the rap industry's most in-demand rappers. He's guested on hits for everyone from Missy Elliot (One Minute Man) to Jermaine Dupri (Welcome to Atlanta) - having a #1 success in the UK with 'Yeah' with Ludacris and Lil Jon.