At the tender age of 31, Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges has lived more of his dreams than most people experience in a lifetime. His popularity is at an all time high. He’s earned industry acclaim. He’s traveled the globe. By all accounts he’s a legitimate actor, as his acting career is off to a fine start. He’s a successful entrepreneur. He’s established himself as a philanthropist. And to top it all off… are you ready for this? He actually maintains a normal relationship with his family (i.e. not the crazy Hollywood-type relationships that seem to dominate the headlines) to whom by the way he gives all the credit for keeping him grounded.

Ludacris is a young man with personal style that has as much to do with his deliberate choices as it does with designer labels. He is well dressed and has a penchant for well-made, couture gear. (He jokingly threatened to abscond with a pair of Prada sneakers he rocked in the photo shoot.) Still, when asked what he considers his best accessory, his response had nothing to do with clothes. He reflected momentarily, before saying, “My intuition and my heart. I care, and I have the ability to understand people’s needs and meet them.”

In 2001, The Ludacris Foundation was organized because Chris Bridges recognized that there are many youth in the Atlanta area in need of guidance to build a brighter future. The self-assured Ludacris, who began doing community outreach years ago during his stint as a disc jockey at a local radio station, admits that his initial involvement in community service was just about fulfilling a requirement. Over time however he grew to love the work. “I could see the impact,” he recalled.

Since starting the foundation, which consists of a team of 11, Ludacris has enlisted the support of partners across the country and remains enthusiastic about using his voice to encourage others to make the same impact. He said, “When I speak, it’s like an extension of my music. Words are very powerful, and I’ve learned that the words (you) use can make a world of difference.” Chris Bridges’ message has proven, no doubt, to be powerful. So far, The Ludacris Foundation has raised funds (to date, more than a half a million dollars) and generated significant alliances with celebrities and corporations, including Sears, WalMart, and Harley Davidson, in an effort to help other nonprofits and to touch the lives of a lot of people, many of whom live in Atlanta.

While Ludacris wasn’t born in Atlanta, he grew up here and readily talks about his love of the city and the people he is driven to help. “Everyone here is like family. It’s a home away from home for a lot of people, and it’s encouraging and motivating to me. It’s important that we continue to work together.”

It’s that same sentiment that led him to bring his restaurant to Atlanta. Ludacris’ business partner, whom he met at the annual Ludacris Foundation dinner about two years ago, invited him to his restaurant in San Francisco. He renewed his love affair with Singaporean cuisine and knew instinctively that the building he already owned in Atlanta was the perfect home for Straits. “I wanted to bring something different, something exquisite, to the city I’m so very passionate about.” He’s happy with how Atlantans are supporting the restaurant and praises them for being diverse, energetic, and receptive to new concepts.

While some celebrities complain about invasions of privacy, Ludacris has adapted well to the realities of being a public personality. In fact, he makes light of his attempts to maintain some semblance of a normal routine. “I move like a crook. I kinda know where I can go without anyone disturbing my peace. I maneuver in a way that’s very comfortable. I move through back doors, through side doors… It’s actually kind of fun. I move like 007.”

One of the less fun parts of being a celebrity is having detractors. In spite of his legions of fans, Ludacris is not without his share. In addition to the public squabble with Bill O’Reilly—which Ludacris characterizes as an issue of the past—Bernard Goldberg, a political commentator, included Ludacris on his list of 100 People That Are Screwing Up America. Mr. Goldberg claims that Ludacris, among others, contributes to the country being a cynical place. Ludacris, who has strong political convictions, shrugged it off. “He (Goldberg) should add himself to that list for always trying to look for the bad in people and not the good. I’ll keep it at that.”

Christopher Bridges clearly is not fazed by his critics. And he apparently does not allow them to distract him from the master plan he has carefully laid out for himself. He continues to make the music that his fans love, but—more important in the big picture—he is an artist who is striving to bring about change where he sees it is needed the most. Even Bernard Goldberg would have to admit that there’s nothing cynical about that.