“Going Hollywood” is a double-edged sword in Hip Hop and no one knows this more than Ludacris. From his breakout performance in Crash to an appearance in the highly anticipated ensemble flick New Year’s Eve, Ludacris has become more synonymous as a Tinseltown heavyweight than as a rapper. That’s not to say that he’s been musically dormant, but Pop collaborations with the likes of Enrique Iglesias and Taio Cruz seemed to only underscore that his trajectory had shifted.
On 1.21 Gigawatts: Back To The First Time, the rapper fights to dispel this notion with braggadocio blended with his patented punchy one-liners, bouncy production and Southern charm. From the mixtape’s “Intro” to “Say It To My Face” 
featuring Meek Mill, there’s plenty of teeth-baring; “Your records are my theme song/cuz I’m still shopping off your ringtone” he raps on the latter to an undetermined adversary. The subliminal shots continue on “Bada Boom” (believed to be directed at Big Sean and Drake’s alleged claims that Luda stole their Supa Dupa Flow rhyme style): “Nothing’s been new since Big Daddy Kane/flows get recycled and passed around to different names” Luda raps fiercely. “Do your research before you make a claim/so bogus that’s disrespecting pioneers in the game.” No names are mentioned and the actual truth of who originated what can be left for the scholars to debate, but Luda’s conviction is nonetheless refreshing.
The mixtape’s other gems lie in the tracks where lyrical gymnastics are balanced with sonically unexpected production, specifically the jumpy “Muthafucka Can U Buy That” (produced by Drugs) with an interpolation of dialogue from Richard Pryor’s cult classic film The Mack and the Waka Flocka-assisted “Rich & Flexin’” (produced by FKi) featuring a sample of Justin Timberlake’s romantic dirge “Cry Me A River.” These moments are solid enough to eclipse the tape’s weaker notes, like the sexually charged “Shake N Fries” featuring Gucci Mane and the painfully hackneyed chorus “With all that shake/can a playa get some fries with it?”
Additional guest appearances come courtesy of Rick Ross, 2 Chainz and Wiz Khalifa while formidable production is provided by Drumma Boy, Big K.R.I.T., Juicy J and more. All things aside, the crux of 1.21 Gigawatts: Back To The First Time is a marked hunger that fans have not heard in Ludacris for some time; he still takes rapping seriously. It’s unclear what’s next for this multi-talented hyphenate, but one thing’s for certain, he can always come back home.
DX Consensus: “FreEP” (the second highest possible praise for a mixtape)
Listen to Ludacris 1.21 Gigawatts: Back To The First Time
I actually think this is one of the best tapes of ’11. Disses aside.
SICK mixtape, Luda is back!
still have a lot of respect for ludacris, always been a fan.
on a side note how come theres no review for cold corner 2?!?!?!
What the hell is that, your mixtape?
agree they reviewed that fuckin joke of a ”rapper” souljah boys mixtape lloyd banks cold corner 2 and the bonus cd are fuckin quality banks is very underrated mc people just get put off because his flow isnt always really clear and ppl are 2 lazy or stupid to give him a proper listen
@todd jones gtfoh
“BEST MICTAPE OF THE YEAR” LUDA IS BACK!!!
nice tape
Okay…you need to review The Marathon Continues now
WTF? This tape sucked. Ludacris should stick to acting
Were you smoking crack when you were listening to it? Obviously you were. “Miss Me With That BS” Lol. This mixtape is BANGING! Later Hater.
def best mixtape then cold corner….mixtapes are better than albums these days because record companies just want that pop sound now
DEF AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT.
REVIEW LLOYD BANKS COLD CORNER 2!!!!!!
“tinseltown heavyweight”? wow that actually made me laugh out loud.
I LOVE THIS!!!
Ive been waiting for new luda ever since battle of the sexes and this definatly delivers well
I was kinda worried that he might have trouble with the newer style of southern rap such as trap style music but with songs like rich & flexing I am happily wrong luda definatly shows his style and ability to hip on just about anything not to mention hd still brings classic southern style with songs like I’m on fire and also suppling his fast hard hitting flows he’s also known for
All and all great album I’m a huge ludacris fan so I hope he keeps this music up for awhile
Classic
so dope. this is one of the best mixtapes of all year. Love how he put chin checked newbies like Big Sean and Drake. Dudes haven’t been around long enough to be poplin off that arrogant ish
HOT SHIT. LUDA!
Str8 fire Luda. I needed this shit bro
So let me get this straight, HipHopDX thinks ASAP Rocky’s mixtape is better than this???
Luda goes his hardest in years while ASAP copies the southern sound and gets praised like some sort of innovator? #Wheretheydothatat?
Thinking the same. I guess this is why these reviews are just opinions.
Luda Murdered Anybody An Everybody On this Mixtape Who Tryna Come At Him Point Blank
this over take care and finally famous luda took em to school
this was a big release, i consider it the first “true” luda album after red light district since he changed his swagger and his content from release therapy to battle of the sexes. Hopefully he stays with this sound on his next lp
yes!!! This joint goes IN!!! Love Luda…wish he would get the credit and respect he deserves….top mc dead or alive easily! 10x plus platinum.. multi talented…conjure da shit..shout out to that as well. Lol. But the mixtape is crazy.. great production…classic luda. I love it!
adawd
Good for Luda
HUARD as fuggg!!
LUDA >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> LIL WAYNE
Luda going hard on this one…. n new rappers aint shit. I heard drake said luda stole his flow… wen he signed to a nigga thats signed to a nigga thats signed to an another nigga.
ludacris killing it!!!! once again but to much about money he has and finishing up beef with others it aint that ludacris, but it bumping!!!
love shake n fries also bada boom
happy he back he the best he tell like it is on this
Luda Back On Top
I got to say ludacris is going hard on all the rappers in the world yall niggaz cant fuck with him real talk
this shit cray
best mixtape of the year, nuff said
firee
If you a luda fan you gonna like it
not bad
sick
Best Ludacris mixtape ever
“mother fucker ca you buy that”…that track is insane….lol…luda dropped the best mixtape of the year along with banks…..and bada boom shut the haters down…drake got real quiet after that…lol…he said nothing but the truth on bada boom, no killing or “im gonna shot you” bullshit just plain facts
All ya’ll about dumb. Big Sean never said he created the supa dupa flow. He said that people where giving him credit for the flow along time ago and Drake later said he was listening to Big Sean and got the idea. Love Ludacris, but Big Sean never dissed Luda like that and Drake don’t have nothing to do with anything. Ya’ll probably the same dudes that think a 19 year old CO at the time can’t distribute drugs!
But, by implying that he created this type of flow, Big Sean is disrespecting the legends that came before him. Luda proved that with his “time machine” interlude. While some fans may be ignorant as to the history of rap, Big Sean should not be (if he respects the game whatsoever).