Ludacris

Ludacris is an American rapper, actor, and entrepreneur best known for his role in shaping early 2000s hip-hop and for his long-running part in the Fast & Furious film franchise. As one of the first Dirty South rappers to achieve mainstream success, he built a career with platinum-selling albums such as Word of Mouf (2001), Chicken-n-Beer (2003), and The Red Light District (2004). His catalog includes Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles like “Stand Up” and “Money Maker,” along with high-profile features on global hits including Usher’s “Yeah!” and Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” which remains one of the highest-certified singles in U.S. history. Ludacris has earned three Grammy Awards, an MTV Video Music Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, establishing him as one of the most decorated Southern rappers of his era. Beyond music, he gained worldwide recognition playing Tej Parker in Fast & Furious, a franchise that continues to dominate box offices globally. He has also expanded into television, creating the Netflix children’s series Karma’s World in 2021.

Ludacris’s early life was marked by frequent moves, early exposure to music, and a steady path toward building a rap career.

• Born September 11, 1977, in Champaign, Illinois, as Christopher Brian Bridges.
• Moved to Oak Park, Illinois, as a teenager and attended Oak Park River Forest High School in ninth grade.
• Relocated to Centreville, Virginia, for one year, where he attended Centreville High School.
• Settled in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated from Banneker High School in 1995.
• Studied music management at Georgia State University from 1998 to 1999.
• Wrote his first rap song at age nine and joined an amateur rap group by age twelve.
• Worked as an intern and DJ at Atlanta’s Hot 97.5, performing under the name “Chris Lova Lova.”
• Met Timbaland during his radio career, earning a feature on “Phat Rabbit” in 1998.
• Launched his independent label Disturbing tha Peace and released his debut album Incognegro in 1999, leading to his first major break with Back for the First Time in 2000.

Ludacris’s family has been a strong source of support throughout his life and career.

• He was born to Roberta Shields, who managed his early career, and Wayne Brian Bridges. Both are African American.
• Ludacris is an only child, which helped him develop a close relationship with his mother.
• His ancestry includes Choctaw, English, and Jewish roots, and he is a distant cousin of comedian Richard Pryor.
• He married Gabonese model and philanthropist Eudoxie Mbouguiengue in December 2014 during a private ceremony in Costa Rica.
• Together, Ludacris and Eudoxie have two daughters, Cadence Gaëlle (born June 4, 2015) and Chance Oyali (born July 28, 2021).
• He also has two daughters from previous relationships, Karma Bridges (born August 2001) and Cai Bella Bridges (born December 2013).
• In January 2020, Ludacris, along with his mother and two daughters, acquired Gabonese citizenship.