Number One Spot

For the Def Jam Recordings compilation album, see Number 1 Spot.
"Number One Spot"
Single by Ludacris
from the album The Red Light District
ReleasedFebruary 15, 2005
Recorded2004
GenreHip hop
Length4:32
LabelDTP, Def Jam
Songwriter(s)Christopher Bridges, James D'Agostino, Quincy Jones
Producer(s)DJ Green Lantern
Ludacris singles chronology
"Sugar (Gimme Some)"
(2005) 		"Number One Spot"
(2005) 		"Oh"
(2005)

"Number One Spot" is a song by American rapper Ludacris from his fifth studio album The Red Light District. The song heavily samples Quincy Jones' "Soul Bossa Nova", which was also used as the theme tune to the Mike Myers James Bond parody film series Austin Powers; the films' references play a major part in the song and its music video.

In the song's first verse, Ludacris says, "Respected highly, hi, Mr. O'Reilly/Hope all is well, kiss the plaintiff and the wifey". This line is a response to Bill O'Reilly's criticism of Pepsi for featuring Ludacris in a TV commercial in 2002; it is a reference to a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against O'Reilly by a former employee in 2004.

The song reached #19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and #30 in UK. "Number One Spot" was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the Grammy Awards of 2006, but it lost to Kanye West's "Gold Digger".

A remix to the song features Kardinal Offishall.

Music video

The music video features spoofs of scenes from the Austin Powers films, with Ludacris taking the roles of Austin Powers, Fat Bastard, Goldmember and Dr. Evil. The video also features LisaRaye and Verne Troyer, who plays Mini-Me in the film franchise. Quincy Jones, Slick Rick, Katt Williams and DJ Green Lantern also make appearances in the music video. The subsequent single entitled "The Potion" was the conclusion to the music video (lasting approximately 45 seconds). The video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video in 2005.

Track listing

CD Single
  1. "Number One Spot" (clean version) – 4:34
  2. "Number One Spot" (explicit version) – 4:34
12" single
  1. "Number One Spot" (explicit version) – 4:34
  2. "The Potion" (explicit version) – 3:54
  3. "Get Back" (explicit version) – 4:30
  4. "Get Back" (Sum 41 rock remix) – 4:11

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
United States February 14, 2005 Rhythmic contemporary radio Def Jam South, IDJMG [10]
Urban contemporary radio

References

  1. ^ "Ludacris: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  2. ^ "Ludacris Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  3. ^ "Ludacris Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard.
  4. ^ "Ludacris Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  5. ^ "Ludacris Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
  6. ^ "Ludacris Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  7. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2005". billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  8. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2005". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  9. ^ "American single certifications – Ludacris – Number One Spot". Recording Industry Association of America.
  10. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1593. February 11, 2005. p. 27. Retrieved December 9, 2023.


Stub icon

This 2000s hip hop song-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.