Ludacris And Big Boi To Co-Host Urban Ball

The two will celebrate Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration: more celebs are slated to appear at event Jan. 20th.
While rumors continue to swirl about which artists will play at President-elect Barack Obama's official inaugural ball, it sounds like two of the Illinois senator's biggest hip-hop supporters, Ludacris and OutKast's Big Boi, have already locked down some of the performers for their Urban Ball, MTV reports.

On January 20, D.C.'s Marriott Wardman Park Hotel will hold two American Music events. Luda and Big Boi will co-host the Urban Ball, which is reportedly slated to include appearances from David Banner, Bobby Valentino, Lil Jon, T-Pain, Cedric the Entertainer, the Cheetah Girls, Fantasia and Monica. A number of former NBA players will also reportedly be on hand, including Jalen Rose, Kenny Smith and Alonzo Mourning. Tickets for the ball will run you $350. Spokespeople for Luda and Big Boi could not be reached for comment at press time.

The lineup for the Legends Ball, co-hosted by Dionne Warwick and Yolanda Adams, is slated to feature appearances by Chaka Khan, George Clinton, Kirk Franklin, Harold Melvin & Blue Notes, the Temptations with Dennis Edwards, Isaiah Washington and Reggie Miller. Tickets for this event will cost $450.

Speculation has continued to swirl over which artists will play Obama's official ball, with Shakira's name the latest celebrity in a mix that already included an offer to perform from Beyoncé and a denial from the Obama camp that fellow Chicagoan Jennifer Hudson had been tapped to sing at the ball. One thing is for sure: MTV will be hosting its own "Be the Change Inaugural Ball," co-hosted by ServiceNation to celebrate the massive youth-voter turnout in this year's presidential election.