*Ludacris visited his former high school in south Atlanta Monday to speak to students about the importance of education and to witness the renaming of the school's gymnasium.

       "I've always wanted a street named after me, but this is better," the 30-year-old rapper said of Banneker High School's new Christopher Bridges gym, bearing Ludacris' real name.        

       One wall features a mural that includes Luda's face overlooking the words "Gym of Dreams." During the ceremony, organized by Malika James and local mentorship program Men of Destiny, Ludacris also received a red-and-white No. 69 football jersey.

       The 1996 graduate also took time to honor a project by students who stuffed a box with more than 1,000 anonymous letters on the topics of gang violence and rape into a black coffin in early February.      

       "I know a lot of us come from hard times, but it's extremely important that you use your street knowledge and book knowledge to get to where you need to be," he told a crowd of about 2,000.      

       R&B singer Monica was also on hand and joined Ludacris to plant two trees on the school's front lawn.      

       "This is a way to show them how to stay on track," Monica said. "There's a lot of peer pressure out there in the world. But the tree symbolizes a fresh start."