LUDACRIS - LUDACRIS: 'MUM SAVED MY CAREER'

Rapper-turned-actor LUDACRIS insists he owes his career to his mother, because she fought high-powered executives at Pepsi when they dropped him as their spokesman. The CRASH star insists the feisty matriarch, who runs The Ludacris Foundation for disadvantaged kids, has never had any reservations about getting tough. Ludacris says, "She took it upon herself to go and holler at the executives. They ended up cutting us cheques to help out the community. "What's not to love about my mother? She's always been there for me. She's great at being a leader. I love her drive and self-motivation. "She set me goals starting when I was twelve. If I wanted something, like a videogame, I would save up and have a plan to make it happen. "If she wasn't tough on me I wouldn't be the person I am today."