Ludacris

Profiles the sometime-controversial rapper who is also referred to simply as "Luda."

He’s sold over 15 million albums, won Grammys and other awards, starred in popular movies and television shows, and brought the Dirty South style of hip-hop music to audiences far and wide. Chris Bridges grew up loving hip-hop and house parties, but it wasn’t until he changed his name to Ludacris that he found fame and recognition all over the world. He found controversy along the way as well, but he never let anything stand in the way of his dreams. Bridges is also a serious actor who has starred in some of the most critically acclaimed movies of the early 2000s. Meet the man who brings his special gifts to two different worlds in this biography of Ludacris, rap star and actor.

Ludacris knew from a young age that he wanted to work in the music industry, but while most rappers don't usually go this route, attending college was a choice that seemed very logical for Ludacris. In this hip-hop biography on Ludacris, everything from his childhood to his move to Atlanta to the internship that changed his life will be covered.

Beginning to rap at the age of 9, Ludacris (born Christopher Brian Bridges) drew on a wide range of musical influences supplied by his father, who steeped his son in many genres of popular music. Soon he was recording boisterous and madcap rap albums, each of which went double or triple platinum. Ludacris has also appeared in several high profile, popular, and critically successful films. Despite run-ins with media giants Oprah Winfrey and Bill O-Reilly over the content of his lyrics, Ludacris is generally regarded as a genial and light-hearted rap superstar, one whose range of talents are only beginning to be revealed to an increasingly enthusiastic public.

Back in the days of Louis Jordan and Bullmoose Jackson and His Buffalo Bearcats, swing, and World War II,Billboardmagazine started keeping tabs on the best-sellers in record stores in New York City’s Harlem. That Harlem Hit Parade chart of 1942, the starting point of this book, wasBillboard’s first accounting of the growing interest in the music that would come to be known as R&B. Today, more than sixty years later, Billboard is proud to present the first edition of The Billboard Book of Top 40 R&B and Hip-Hop Hits, packed with complete, authoritative chart information on the most popular songs and artists, including everyone from the Nat King Cole Trio to Ray Charles to Mary J. Blige to Jay-Z. Great for music fans, record collectors, industry professionals, and trivia lovers, this book will answer questions, resolve arguments, and inspire new ideas. • Capitalizes on one of W-G’s top-selling titles, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits— more than 50,000 copies sold of the 7th edition! • Complete history of Top 40 R&B and hip-hop hits, covering 62 years • 300 pictures of top recording artists • Author Joel Whitburn is the leading authority on charted music

A humorous and heartwarming picture book from legendary musician Chris "Ludacris" Bridges about the special bond between father and daughter. Karma and her daddy love to make music together! Karma sets up the rhyme and daddy finishes it. Together, they're the perfect team! But when it's time for Karma to write her daddy a rap for his birthday all on her own, she can't quite make it perfect. What rhymes with banana anyway? Told with heart and humor, Karma soon realizes that she never has to do anything alone as long as she has daddy by her side.

This edition lists every song that made the Billboard "Hot 100" and Pop music charts from 1955 through 2006, and includes basic chart facts, plus detailed artist and song title data of more than 26,000 titles and 6,200 artists. New features include lists of artist awards and classic songs that did not chart, but have become fan favorites.--