andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Ludacris comes bearing gifts for 500 underprivileged families in Atlanta this holiday season.

For a sixth year, the rapper and his foundation’s LudaCares program will give away turkey and distribute food boxes to residents during this weekend’s American Thanksgiving.

“I especially look forward to this time of year because it allows me directly touch the people we are trying to help,” said Ludacris.

“Our major focus is youth — at the holiday time we uplift youth by uplifting the family” added the rapper’s mother, Roberta Shields, who is also president of the non-profit Ludacris Foundation.

“It’s a great feeling to sit with your love ones and share the many blessings that God has bestowed upon us. If we add to their blessings in a small way then we have accomplished our goal.”

The foundation, which Ludacris created in 2001, was recently named one of the top 20 “Leading Philanthropy Foundations” this year by Black Enterprise magazine.

Ludacris is currently on a promotional tour for his upcoming album “Theatre of the Mind,” which hits stores Monday.

Rapper Ludacris is marking the grand opening of his new restaurant with a high-priced feast – but for a good cause.

Proceeds from the April 24th private dinner at Straits Atlanta, for which patrons will shell out $100 per plate, will benefit HIV/AIDS research.

Afterwards, Ludacris, his manager Chaka Zulu and R&B singer Ciara will take part in a second fundraiser at Atlanta’s Lenox Square Mall. The three will hit the Ralph Lauren store for an exclusive shopping event, with all proceeds going to the Ludacris Foundation.

The event is in its second year. Last year, it raised more than $200,000 for the organization, which aims to inspire youth and build stronger communities.

“I’m happy to take one day out of my busy schedule to handle my other responsibilities,” Ludacris told Usmagazine.com.

“I want to touch the people before I get back on the music grind, and this is a way for me to do just that,” he said. “The community and making a difference will always be a part of my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Restaurant dealings and charitable work aside, Ludacris has been busy recording his upcoming album “Theater of the Mind,” which is slated for release in August.

Rapper Ludacris and rocker Tommy Lee are teaming up — or rather, facing off — to spread the word about the environment.

The two musicians have signed up to star in “Battleground Earth,” which will air on the Discovery Channel’s new network PlanetGreen.

The show will follow Ludacris and Lee as they embark on a 10-date bus tour, competing in challenges that highlight environmental issues along the way.

In the series finale, the two will band together to co-headline a concert at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre with proceeds going to Griffith Park, the second-largest city park in California.

“Battleground” is set to begin production in the next few weeks, with plans for a late July or early August premiere.

Ludacris previously supported the green cause when he took part in last summer’s Live Earth concert.

Rapper LUDACRIS has asked fans for privacy to grieve following the death of his father on Sunday.

WAYNE BRIAN BRIDGES, 52, died in an Atlanta, Georgia hospital after a long illness.

Ludacris – real name CHRIS BRIDGES – dedicated his prize for Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles earlier this month to his ailing father.

The 29-year-old said at the time that his dad was in critical condition and fighting for his life.

In a statement released yesterday, Ludacris said, “We are overwhelmed by the generous outpouring of love, condolences and support from family members, friends, fans and the many well-wishers.

“We thank you for your prayers and hope you will understand our need for privacy during this sorrowful time.”

According to the rapper’s publicist, the family has chosen not to publicly announce the cause of death and are planning a private funeral in Atlanta.

(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.

Rapper LUDACRIS’ post-Grammy Awards party was such a hot ticket even his own mother had trouble getting in.

The Grammy Award winner staged a glitzy bash at the Social Hollywood club late last Sunday and asked QUEEN LATIFAH to host it.

But he had no idea it would be the party that all his peers would want to get to, and his mother, who arrived late, had to fight to get in.

One reveller says, “The bodyguards were refusing entrance to everyone – even people who had the necessary blue VIP wristband. It seems the place filled to capacity pretty quickly.

“Then there was this one lady who kept loudly protesting that she and three friends had to get past security, into the party and up to the VIP area.

“There was a little fuss and then the bouncer let her and her friends in as everyone else protested. The bouncer then explained the woman was Ludacris’ mother.”

Among the stars who made it into the party and got to hang with the rapper, his mother and Queen Latifah were KANYE WEST, NE-YO, BUSTA RHYMES, KEVIN FEDERLINE, NICK LACHEY, CHRIS TUCKER and QUENTIN TARANTINO.

(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.

Kanye West and Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges won a copyright infringement trial on Thursday. A jury decided that their 2003 hit single “Stand Up” didn’t copy the style and lyrics of “Straight Like That” by little-known group I.O.F., according to Reuters.

The New Jersey-based I.O.F. (It’s Only Family) filed the copyright case in a New York court. They said copies of their song were distributed to music executives in 2002 and 2003, only to have elements of it appear in Ludacris’ “Stand Up,” which West co-produced.

I.O.F.’s manager, Jeff Billingsley, said the group would appeal the decision.

“Probably Ludacris feels good that he got over this, but he has not gotten away,” he said.

The case sought to determine if there was any liability before monetary damages could be claimed.

Rapper Ludacris appeared in a New York courtroom yesterday to face the charges that he and rapper Kanye West stole another song without consent for their song, “Stand Up,” E! Online reports.

BMS Entertainment/Heat Music LLC sued the two musicians alleging they stole lyrics from the IOF song “Straight Like That.”

EMI April Music Publishing, distributor Universal Music, Video Distribution Corp. and Def Jam Music Group are also named in the suit.

The charges are centred around the phrase “like that” which is used many times in both songs. Ludacris and West are both expected to testify in the case, which is expected to last a week or two.

Much like the aftermath of Sept. 11 just four years ago, celebrities, musicians, and actors are banning together to raise money for victims of another U.S. disaster. This time, the cause is Katrina, the Category 5 hurricane that has left the Mississippi gulf and the city of New Orleans in ruins.

?A Concert for Hurricane Relief,? to be broadcast on NBC, MSNBC, and CNBC this Friday at 8 p.m. EST, will include performances by Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., and Tim McGraw. Celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio are also scheduled to participate in the hour-long special, which will be hosted by Matt Lauer in New York. Viewers will be encouraged to donate to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

But the special which will likely draw the biggest crowd is a three-city MTV extravaganza that will feature performances by Usher, Green Day, Ludacris, and Alicia Keys. It will air live on Sept. 10 on MTV, VH1, and CMT from New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville.

“In the face of a tragedy of this scope, we simply have to do everything in our power to offer support, comfort and hope to all the people directly impacted by the hurricane,” said Judy McGrath, chair and CEO of MTV Networks, who announced the concerts yesterday. “Our goal is to join forces on every medium to get involved, to volunteer, to contribute in any way we can.”

Other artists currently on board for the event are Gretchen Wilson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews Band, Rob Thomas, Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington, and David Banner. Additional performers are expected to be added to the line-up as the show draws closer. All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross.

President George W. Bush has called Katrina ?one of the worst national disasters? in U.S. history as hundreds are feared dead in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.