Ludacris

Ludacris in 2008, Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Christopher Brian Bridges

Place of Birth: Champaign, Illinois, U.S.

Date of Birth: September 11, 1977

Ethnicity: African-American, as well as small amount of Native American

Ludacris is an American recording artist/rapper, entrepreneur, and actor. He got his first major break in 2000, with his album Back for the First Time, and stars in The Fast and the Furious films. He is also known as Chris Lova Lova, Luda, Velvet Jones, and Bronze Bridges.

He was born in Champaign, Illinois, to African-American parents, Roberta Shields and Wayne Brian Bridges. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia, with his family in his high school years. According to Ludacris’s family stories, one of his great-great-grandfathers was a white Jewish man who was said to be named Luther Smith. It is not clear if Ludacris’s Jewish ancestry has been verified.

Ludacris is married to Gabonese model Eudoxie Mbouguiengue. He has four children, including a daughter with Tamika Fuller; and two with Eudoxie. Ludacris has acquired Gabonese citizenship.

Ludacris’s paternal grandfather was Otha Paris Bridges (the son of Thomas H. Bridges and Augusta Cheek). Otha was born in North Carolina. Thomas was the son of Peter Bridges and Terra/Terry Cross. Augusta was the daughter of Hugh R. Cheek and Mary J. Davis.

Ludacris’s paternal grandmother was Mary Christine Davis (the daughter of William Ernest Davis and Mary Cassie Lewis). William was the son of Robert Davis and Maria Cunningham.

Ludacris’s maternal grandfather was Robert Edward Shields, Sr. (the son of William Shields and Mamie Jackson).

Ludacris’s maternal grandmother was Juanita Irene Craig (the daughter of William G. Craig and Bertha Cheatham Motley). Juanita was born in Illinois. William was the son of William A. Craig, who was of African-American and Native American descent, and Nancy. Bertha was the daughter of Luther Baker Smith and Stella Motley.

Ludacris is a cousin of singer Monica‘s stepfather.

Ludacris is also a second cousin, once removed, of comedian and actor Richard Pryor. Ludacris’s maternal great-great-grandparents, William A. Craig and Nancy, were also the maternal great-grandparents of Richard Pryor.

Sources: Genealogies of Ludacris – http://www.geni.com
http://www.wikitree.com

Ludacris’s paternal grandfather, Otha Paris Bridges, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Ludacris’s maternal great-great-grandfather, William A. Craig, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

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