Ludacris Celebrates 25 Years
Ludacris celebrated 25 years in the music industry at Miami's Jazz In The Gardens, and he brought out some heavy hitters [https://thebeattampabay.iheart.com/content/2026-03-09-ludacris-brings-out-trick-daddy-trina-chingy-at-jazz-in-the-gardens/]. Trick Daddy, Trina, and Chingy all joined him for a star-studded performance. Talk about a throwback set!
Before his major label success, Ludacris was a DJ known as "Chris Lova Lova" at Atlanta's Hot 97.5 (now Hot 107.9). He gained early exposure on Timbaland's 1998 album, *Tim's Bio: Life from da Bassment*. Ludacris independently released his debut album *Incognegro* in 1999. He sold an estimated 50,000 copies, many from the trunk of his car. Def Jam South then signed him in 2000, re-releasing *Incognegro* as *Back for the First Time*. His album *Word of Mouf* (2001) reached number three on the Billboard 200 and was certified triple platinum by the RIAA. It sold over 3 million copies and featured hits like "Rollout (My Business)" and "Move B***h". Jazz in the Gardens, where Ludacris celebrated his anniversary, is a prominent festival in Miami Gardens, Florida. The 2026 festival, the 19th annual, featured a mix of R&B, hip-hop, and soul artists. Other performers included Jhené Aiko, Nelly, Mya, and Ashanti. Beyond music, Ludacris has had a successful acting career, notably in the *Fast & Furious* franchise. He first appeared in *2 Fast 2 Furious* in 2003 as Tej Parker. Ludacris also founded the Ludacris Foundation in 2001, focusing on youth outreach and community development. He opened a restaurant, Chicken-n-Beer, at the Atlanta airport in 2016.
