Grammy Award-winning rapper Ludacris to perform at Fairfield University on February 15 at FUSA concert | Press Releases

On Friday, February 15, the annual Fairfield University Student Association (FUSA) concert will feature Ludacris, the Grammy Award-winning, platinum-selling performer who is at the top of his game these days in the world of rap music. Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges will perform at Alumni Hall on the Fairfield campus as part of his national tour, according to FUSA. Tickets are $40 and will go on sale to the public through Ticketmaster on Saturday, December 8. (See details below regarding student tickets.)

Ludacris, 30, has achieved great success in recent years in music and film. This year, he won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album for his fifth album, "Release Therapy," topped the Billboard charts with two number-one songs, and had a mainstream hit with the tune, "Glamorous," a duet with pop star Fergie. His latest film, Fred Claus , a Hollywood comedy starring Vince Vaughn, is a hit at the box office. He also co-starred in Crash , which won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2006.

"Release Therapy" is a work that brought raves from critics and has sold more than a million copies. "Runaway Love," a duet with Mary J. Blige, is a song about children fleeing abusive homes. It hit number one on the Hot 100 chart shortly after "Money Maker," an infectious dance song, rose to the top spot. Ludacris won a Grammy for Best Rap Song for the latter tune.

The Illinois native tells fans on his web site that he has evolved into a "more three-dimensional storyteller" on "Release Therapy." "Maturity is a beautiful thing. Going into the studio to make 'Release Therapy,' I felt like a wiser, more intelligent person. That was part of the vibe I wanted to bring across on the record, a more personal side that many have not seen. I know this is my fifth album, but I feel as though this is the first time I've ever exposed this much of myself. Like the film Crash , people can either love me or hate me, but they'll always respect me."

Ludacris's other albums include "The Red Light District," "Chicken-n-Beer," "Word of Mouf," and "Incognegro."

Ludacris continues to make a name for himself in movies. He appeared in the sleeper hit, Hustle & Flow , a film that won an Oscar. Ludacris played a pivotal role in Crash , which focused on race relations in Los Angeles. He and his Crash castmates received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a cast in a motion picture. For his acting in the film, Ludacris received BET, Black Reel Award, Black Movie Award and NAACP Image Award nominations. He also received a MTV Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in 2 Fast 2 Furious , and a Grammy Award nomination for penning a song from the film's soundtrack, "Act a Fool."

Ludacris also is helping to run a record label while cultivating a group of diverse artists. As chief executive officer of Disturbing Tha Peace Records, he helps oversee the music of Bobby Valentino, the platinum-selling singer, and Shawnna, the popular female rapper.

The rapper also established The Ludacris Foundation, which supports grassroots organizations that work to help young people. He received the 2007 National Runaway Switchboard's Spirit of Youth Award for helping teenage runaways. He's also an ambassador for Youth AIDS, an education and prevention program that aims to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Fairfield University student tickets, which require a valid University identification card, are on sale at the BCC information desk from Dec. 3 through Dec. 7. The student ticket cost is $30 and only one student ticket and up to three $40 tickets may be purchased per ID card. Beginning Dec. 10, Fairfield University students may purchase unlimited public tickets on campus. Campus ticket sales will close Dec. 12. After Dec. 12, all ticket sales will be through Ticketmaster.