Chicken-n-Beer | ||||
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Studio album by Ludacris | ||||
Released | October 7, 2003 | |||
Recorded | 2002–03 | |||
Genre | Hip hop, Southern hip hop | |||
Length | 60:22 | |||
Label | Disturbing tha Peace, Def Jam | |||
Producer | Ludacris (also exec.), Chaka Zulu (exec.), Kanye West, The Neptunes, Ruh Anubis Yazid, DJ Nasty & LVM, Icedrake, DJ Paul, Juicy J, Zukhan Bey, Erick Sermon, Black Key, T-Storm, Jook | |||
Ludacris chronology | ||||
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Singles from Chicken-n-Beer | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | |
The Austin Chronicle | |
Blender | |
Chicago Sun-Times | |
Robert Christgau | B+ |
Entertainment Weekly | B− |
Los Angeles Times | |
Q | |
Rolling Stone | |
USA Today |
Chicken-n-Beer is the third studio album by American rapper Ludacris. It was released on October 7, 2003, by Disturbing tha Peace and Def Jam Recordings. The album's production took place from 2002 to 2003, and it was handled by several record producers; including DJ Nasty & LVM, Kanye West, Mo B. Dick, DJ Paul, Juicy J and Ludacris himself. This Southern hip hop album, Chicken-n-Beer is musically similar to Ludacris' previous work, with his use of a fast, highly versatile flow. Some of the songs on the album take a political overtone.
The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 429,000 copies in its first week; unlike Ludacris' previous albums, the album achieved success outside the United States, charting in several European territories; including Germany and the United Kingdom. Upon its release, Chicken-n-Beer received positive reviews from most music critics, many of whom praised Ludacris' lyrical performance, although some criticized the adult humour in the lyrics as excessive. It was supported by four singles that were released from the album, two of which – "Stand Up" and "Splash Waterfalls" – became Ludacris' first to peak in the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Ludacris frequently employs a fast paced flow on Chicken-n-Beer, whilst often suffusing the words he raps with humorous punchlines and innuendos. Writing for BBC Music, Lewis Dene noted Ludacris to typically incorporate "lightning-quick phrasing, cutting wit and reference points a plenty" into his lyrics. Many of the songs on Chicken-n-Beer are of a predominantly sexual nature, and there were compared by Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club, to the material recorded by the likes of the hip hop group 2 Live Crew. "Stand Up" was described as a "steamy sex rap", and "Hoes in My Room", a collaboration with fellow rapper Snoop Dogg, details a fictional encounter with a collection of groupies following a live performance. Rabin further observed that Ludacris addresses such topics with "irreverent glee", despite describing these themes "well-worn" and clichéd. Ludacris attacks political commentator Bill O'Reilly, who specifically criticized Ludacris for the content of his lyrics and noted him as a bad influence. "Blow It Out" and "Screwed Up" contain direct references to O'Reilly and his comments, as well as observations on the difficulties of fame.