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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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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)

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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)

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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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Self-Made - In addition to Timbo, Luda began garnering attention from labels with his 1998 independent release, Incognegro.(Photo: Scott Gries/NBA/ImageDirect)

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Primetime - Despite offers from Bad Boy Records, among other labels, Luda signed with Def Jam South after being recruited by then president Scarface.(Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

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Star Status - Luda released Back for the First Time, a revamped version of Incognegro, in 2000. The LP has sold 3 million albums to date.(Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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Scene Stealer - With a multi-platinum album under his belt, Luda became one of the most sought after MCs in the game. His cameos in songs like Missy's "One Minute Man," LL Cool J's "Fatty Girl" and Ciara's "Oh" stand as some of the most memorable guest verses in hip hop history.(Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

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A Changed Mane - Luda cut his cornrows six years into the game. His Release Therapy album is the first one to be released without his trademark look.(Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images

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Critically Acclaimed - Not exactly the typical critics' choice, Luda won his first Grammy as a solo artist in 2007. He won Best Rap Song for "Money Maker" and Best Rap Album for "Release Therapy."(Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

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Entrepreneur - It ain't no fun if the homies can't have none. Luda's Disturbing Tha Peace Records has put out albums from Chingy, Field Mob, Shawnna and I-20. (Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images)

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Thespian - After a slow start in movies like The Wash and 2 Fast 2 Furious, Luda gained Hollywood credibility by appearing in the Oscar-winning Crash. He's since appeared in movies alongside stars like Mark Wahlberg, Idris Elba, Vince Vaughn and Gerard Butler just to name a few. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Fox)

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Misunderstood - Though he's far from the most controversial rapper, Luda has landed in hot water over the course of his career. He got kicked out of a Pepsi campaign after Bill O'Reilly brought his explicit content to light back in 2002. Additionally, he caused an uproar for lines directed at Senator John McCain during Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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Luda Loves the Kids - He may get a bad rep at times, but Luda's been giving back for years through his Ludacris Foundation.(Photo: Courtesy of The Ludacris Foundation)

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An End for a New Beginning - Ludacris closes down his Atlanta restaurant, Straits, in January 2012 after a four-year run. He's reportedly focusing on a new venture in Atlanta Hartsfield Airport among other exciting moves for his multiple careers. (Photo: Moses Robinson/WireImage)

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A Victorious Battle - Now a hip hop veteran, Luda released his 7th album, Battle of the Sexes, in 2010. The album was originally set to be a collaboration with Shawnna, but for unknown reasons it became Luda's solo project and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. It was his fourth #1 album in a row.(Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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Making Peace - After a long cold war between the two ATL giants got heated in 2007, when Luda's manager, Chaka Zulu and T.I. got into a scuffle, the beef would come to a peaceful end. T.I. later made a public apology for the entire ordeal  and went on to collaborate on two singles with Luda, "Wish You Would" and T.I.'s "On Top of the World." (Photos from left: Thomas Janssen/ PacificCoastNews.com, Michael N. Todaro/Getty Images for AKOO)

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A Man's Love - Ludacris is in love with his medical-student girlfriend, Eudoxie. The two have been spotted together on several occassions enjoying each other's company.  (Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images)

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Bright Future - For his eighth studio album, Ludaversal, the 34-year-old rapper has worked with the Neptunes to lay some incredible new tracks. He premiered his first single, "Jingalin," in May and also released a song with Kelly Rowland called "Representing." As he celebrates another birthday, we look forward to more great things from the mouf of the South.(Photo: Ben Rose/Getty Images for Bing)