Editing Ludacris (section)

===1998–2000: ''Incognegro'' and ''Back for the First Time''===
Ludacris served as an intern and then a DJ at Atlanta's [[WHTA|Hot 97.5]] (now Hot 107.9) under the name "Chris Lova Lova".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hotspotatl.com/videos/markallwood/ludacris-talks-conjure-fast-the-furious-exclusive-video/#more-1215211 |title=Ludacris Talks Conjure, Fast & The Furious (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO) &#124; HotSpotATL – Hot 107.9 Atlanta's Home for the Hip-Hop Community |newspaper=Hot 107.9 – Hot Spot Atl |publisher=HotSpotATL |date=September 20, 2010 |access-date=August 15, 2011}}</ref><ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ludacris-mn0000306258/biography|title=Ludacris|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason|publisher=allmusic|accessdate=March 3, 2022}}</ref> During his radio career, Ludacris met music producer [[Timbaland]], whose album ''[[Tim's Bio: Life from da Bassment]]'' would feature Ludacris on the track "Phat Rabbit" (credited as Ludichris).<ref name="allmusic"/>

Speaking with [[MTV]]'s hip hop show ''[[Direct Effect]]'' in 2000, Ludacris explained his stage name was a play on the word "ludicrous".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1428130/20001019/ludacris.jhtml|title=DFX: Ludacris Is "Back For The First Time"|last=Johnson|first=Elon|date=October 19, 2000|publisher=MTV News|access-date=March 3, 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030919214716/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1428130/20001019/ludacris.jhtml|archivedate=September 19, 2003|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1999, Ludacris released his debut album ''[[Incognegro]]'' through his independent label [[Disturbing tha Peace]].<ref name="allmusic"/> [[Def Jam South]] would later repackage ''Incognegro'' with some new songs added into Ludacris's major label debut ''[[Back for the First Time]]'' in 2000.<ref name="allmusic"/> The album reached number four on the U.S. [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and included the singles "[[What's Your Fantasy]]" (featuring [[Shawnna]]) and "[[Southern Hospitality (song)|Southern Hospitality]]" (featuring [[Pharrell Williams]]), which respectively reached the nos. 21 and 23 spots on the [[Billboard Hot 100]].<ref name="allmusic"/>