The Evolution of Ludacris

Happy 35th birthday to the rap superstar.

The Evolution of Ludacris - Over the past decade few rap stars have reached the all-world success of multi-talented wordsmith Ludacris. From No. 1 albums to starring in blockbuster films (Fast Five, Crash) Luda is a bankable star on various fronts. But the witty MC didn’t get here overnight. It has been a long journey that has seen Luda go from radio disc jockey, to independent artist, to releasing a multi-platinum debut, Back for the First Time in 2000. Today, as Ludacris celebrates his 35th birthday, BET.com looks back at meteoric rise to hip hop super stardom.Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Usher’s New Look Foundation
From the Chi to ATL - Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges was born in Chicago on September 11, 1977. He moved to Atlanta when he was 12.(Photo: Courtesy of the Bridges Family)
Mr. DJ - Before making it big, Luda, then better known as DJ Chris Luva Luva, worked as a jockey at Atlanta's 97. 5 (now 107.9 on the dial).(Photo: Shannon McCollum/Hot 107.9)Golden Opportunity - Luda got a glimpse of the game when Timbaland tapped him to appear on "Phat Rabbit" off his 1998 album, Tim's Bio: Life from da Bassment.(Photo: ep/Ezio Petersen  UPI /Landov)

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The Evolution of Ludacris - Over the past decade few rap stars have reached the all-world success of multi-talented wordsmith Ludacris. From No. 1 albums to starring in blockbuster films (Fast Five, Crash) Luda is a bankable star on various fronts. But the witty MC didn’t get here overnight. It has been a long journey that has seen Luda go from radio disc jockey, to independent artist, to releasing a multi-platinum debut, Back for the First Time in 2000. Today, as Ludacris celebrates his 35th birthday, BET.com looks back at meteoric rise to hip hop super stardom.Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Usher’s New Look Foundation

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