Born in Champaign, Ludacris moved to Atlanta, Georgia, at age nine, where he first began rapping. After a brief stint as a DJ, he independently released his first album Incognegro in 1999 to local success, but achieved national attention the following year when the album was repackaged and re-released as his major label debut, Back for the First Time. As an actor, Ludacris is best known for his role as Tej Parker in the Fast and Furious film series.

Joan Severns was elected as the city's first female mayor in 1979. Deb Frank Feinen, elected in 2015, was the city's second female Mayor.