Ludacris speaks to at-risk teens

New Haven (WTNH) - Rapper and actor Ludacris visited with teens in New Haven today hoping they will make the right choices with their lives. He brought a message of tolerance and non-violence after a teen was killed in the streets less than two weeks ago.

You may have seen his videos or movies like Crash. But, chances are you haven never seen Grammy-winning rap artist Ludacris like this. He was dressed down, plain-spoken and taking some time to talk to at-risk kids in New Haven.

"A lot come from a really poor environment, that don't mean you have to stay in the hood," said Ludacris. "Just because you was born in the hood, born in the street, doesn't mean you have to stay in the streets."

About 50 kids, many from rival gangs, packed into the Rose Center today to hear him tell them to make better choices.

Ludacris spoke about growing up in Atlanta and how he was not an overnight success. He went to college, studied music management and spent years selling albums out of the trunk of his car. But what really made the difference was avoiding trouble. It is a timely message given the recent rash of local violence.

"When I told him what was going on in New Haven with all of the homicides and the shootings, senseless shootings, he wanted to come up and speak to the youth to try to talk some sense into them," said Alderman Greg Morehead of New Haven.

It was Alderman Greg Morehead, a drummer who's played with Ludacris for years, who arranged for the intimate intervention. He hopes star-power will have staying power for those struggling on the streets.

"I feel like violence is really taking over in New Haven so I don't know, I really appreciate that he came," said Caree James of New Horizons.

"That's what we need, we need people like him to come talk to us about like situations they been and same stuff we going through," said Emory Forman of Wexler-Grant.

"It made a big difference on my situation," said Roberto McKay of New Horizons. "That made a big difference."