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Ludacris kicked off his 9th annual LudaDay Weekend in Atlanta. The festivities, which started last Thursday (Aug. 28), are specifically to benefit the rapper’s hometown and led by his Ludacris Foundation.
LudaDay Weekend lasted four days starting with a celebrity bowling event at the Bowlmor Lanes in Atlanta. Some of the A-List celebrities in attendance included Keshia Knight Pulliam, Angela Simmons, Big KRIT, Dwight Howard and a number of music executives.
On the next day, the Ludacris Foundation invited media and DJ personalities to Frank Ski’s Restaurant & Lounge in appreciation of their support through the years.
On Saturday (Aug. 30), Ludacris returned to his alma mater Georgia State University and presented a free block party that was open to the public while catering to the younger students on campus. Mike WILL Made It served as host and his Making Wishes Matter Foundation was at the forefront of the event. The producer and head of Eardrumma Records gave some shine to a magnetic kiddie trio called D Squared.
“Bring them up here,” he said, pointing into the crowd at the three teen girls, dressed in brightly matching colors. “Y’all come onstage, this is what Making Wishes Matter is all about.”
Upstarts like Rochelle Hot 16, Scotty ATL and Translee also shared the stage with rappers Two-9 and Rae Sremmurd before the event was shut down for unknown reasons.
On Sunday (Aug. 31), LudaDay participants reconvened at Georgia State University’s Sports Arena for the celebrity basketball game. Ludacris’ Team DTP went head-to-head with the Young Money Cash Money Billionaire squad. A number of ‘Love & Hip Hop Atlanta’ cast members were in attendance, from Stevie J and Joseline Hernandez to Rasheeda and her husband Kirk Frost.
Rappers Roscoe Dash, Trinidad James and Lou Williams of the Toronto Raptors were amongst a number of celebrities, artists, and professional NBA players on the court that day. While it was all in good fun, Houston Rockets b-baller Dwight Howard wowed the crowd by putting down quite a few dunks and wrestling the ball away from Gloria Govan of ‘Basketball Wives: LA’ — more than once.
In the end, Ludacris’ team was victorious and the proceeds all went to charity. “I do this every year to give back to the community,” he said.
“When I say ‘give back,’ we’re really specific and detailed in what we do and we try and make an impact to do it bigger and better every year,” Luda continued. “We always have fun. Almost at ten years… We’ll be going full throttle by next year.”
