Rumors crushed: Ludacris stays with Def Jam!

Rapper LUDACRIS will keep his Disturbing Tha Peace music label after singing a new contract with parent company Def Jam Records. The hip-hop Chris Bridges - has reached an agreement with the music industry giant to extend his label's current deal and keep the imprint running. The move comes after weeks of speculation that all of Ludacris' artists were to be dropped from Def Jam's roster.

But Def Jam Records chairman Antonio 'L.A.' Reid insists the rumours are unfounded and he is delighted to keep the label going. He says, "Ludacris has built Disturbing Tha Peace into one of the iconic names in hip-hop, one that will remain an important part of the Island Def Jam family." Ludacris co-founded Disturbing Tha Peace in 2000 with his manager Chaka Zulu when the rapper failed to land a record deal. It is now home to artists including Bobby Valentino and Steph Jones, Chingy, Playaz Circle and Shareffa.