Ludacris Remounts Trojan Horse In Nationwide Magnum Search

Along with promoting safe sex, Luda hopes to find the best rapper from four different regions.

"I remember being an up and coming artist and it wasn't easy, I wish there were opportunities like this one when I started out," Ludacris told us. The 34-year-old will be judging a nationwide Magnum condom sponsored contest, and he plans to find the best hip-hop track that embodies the Magnum "live large" spirit. I am thrilled to be part of Magnums live search for the next hip-hop artist, and it's great to be promoting safe sex. I'm passionate about spreading the word." This contest has taken place in so many cities Detroit, Miami, Bay Area are the others, New York is the final city, and I am part of choosing the finalists in this city at the high line bar room." The winner from each of the four regions, plus a wild card winner submitted via YouTube --will head to Miami to perform on stage at Spring Fest 2011, where they'll appear alongside Ludacris and a slew of hip-hop royalty. (Radar Online)

Along with a $5,000 cash prize and year-long supply of condoms, Magnum placed emphasis on making this contest bigger than those of previous years.

In maintaining their company's reputation for its product line of large contraceptives, Magnum, a division of Trojan condoms, sought to raise the bar with this year's competition. "We challenged ourselves to make this year's project bigger and better, expanding the scope to secure more of the 'voice of the people,'" said Jim Daniels, Vice President of Marketing for Magnum. "True to Magnum form, we've enhanced the competition to make the pool of entrants larger, the events larger, and the ultimate payout larger." (The Boom Box)

Last spring, Luda also became involved in Magnum's safe sex awareness campaign.

Contestants can visit MagnumLiveLarge.com to download a base track to which they can record their own Magnum-inspired lyrics. Visitors will vote for their favorite and a panel of judges, including Ludacris, will narrow judge the top ten based on creativity, melody, music, lyrics and entertainment value. The winner will get $5,000, as well as having their creation played on national radio and winning a trip to a hip-hop festival in Atlanta on June 19. The winner will also be brought on-stage during one of Ludacris' shows. (Billboard)

In 2009, Young Money's Drake was seen in an advertisement for Stay Strapped Condoms, informing fans of the importance of using protection during sex.

"Yo what's going on man," he said in the advertisement. "This is your boy Drake and I'm out in the H-Town. You already know. Get informed, not infected. Use strapped condoms and save lives. I approve this message. Yeah." (YouTube)