Ludacris just pulled in ridiculous bank to perform at an exclusive Xmas party for some millionaire -- in fact, TMZ has learned, the contract was worth nearly $100K ... and he wasn't even the only star there.


A rep for millionaire entrepreneur Jason Hope tells TMZ ... Luda was paid to perform a 45-minute set for party-goers at Hope's pad in Arizona -- and get this ... Snooki, Stephanie Pratt, Lo Bosworth, and a bunch of other celebs got money to show up too.

Altogether, were told Hope dropped nearly $200,000 to get the famous faces to attend --

-- Snooki got $17,500
-- Lo and Stephanie got $12,500 each
-- "Breaking Bad" star Aaron Paul got $16,000
-- Kardashian stepfather Bruce Jenner got $15,000
-- Giuliana and Bill Rancic got $15,000 total
-- Dean Cain got $5,000.

According to Hope's rep, the whole party ran the guy nearly $500,000 total. Who said money can't buy friends?

Fergie got cheeky in south Brazil yesterday with husband Josh Duhamel -- the same day Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Ludacris, Tyrese and the rest of the "Fast and the Furious 5" cast hit the beach in Rio.


"Fast Five" is scheduled to begin filming any day now in downtown Rio de Janeiro. But as for Fergie ... we're told the Black Eyed Peas tour just happened to hit Brazil at the same time ... just a few hundred miles south in Florianópolis.

Don't forget to floss.

Terrell Owens isn't playing in the Super Bowl, but dude has been hard at work in Miami -- judging a bikini booty-shaking competition with his boy Ludacris yesterday.


A good wide receiver always appreciates a quality tight end.

Ludacris and T.I. donated $10,000 each to Atlanta flooding relief ... so what about ATL native NeNe Leakes? She's too busy clubbin' in Hollywood to care.


We got the Real Housewife of ATL in front of Katsuya the other night. Her response to her city's plight: "I'm going to the gay club."

West Hollywood thanks you for your donation.

The rain's rolled out, but the misery is still setting in -- now rappers Ludacris and T.I. are helping their soggy hometown get back on its feet.


TMZ has learned The Ludacris Foundation has partnered up with Home Depot and Sam's Club to help victims of the Atlanta floods -- which City Hall officials say caused $61 million in damages and wrecked nearly 500 homes.

We spoke to a rep for the foundation, who told us Luda and T.I. are donating $10,000 each to the cause.

The Foundation's rep told us they are planning a large food bank and a gift card giveaway that could happen as soon as Friday.

He may be a social pariah everywhere else -- but when Kanye West made a surprise appearance at Common's benefit concert last night in Hollywood, he got a hero's welcome.



The crowd at the show -- which featured Common, Nas, Ludacris, De La Soul, The Roots, Mos Def, Talib Kweli and more -- just exploded when Kanye rushed out on stage. He stayed for a few songs -- including "Good Life" and "Run This Town" -- and had the crowd going nuts the whole time.

Kanye was able to perform without interruption.

Ludacris gave a special shout out to all his white fans at club LAX in Vegas last night, because, "If it wasn't for the white people, I wouldn't be selling 2 to 3 million records and sh*t ... I love y'all."


Nothing brings people together like straight cash money.

Turns out that hot chick Kanye West left an L.A. nightclub with Thursday has a thing for rappers ... and for taking off her clothes.



The long stemmed beauty Kanye left the club with that night is a model named Amber Rose, who once danced through Ludacris' "What Them Girls Like" video, a Young Jeezy video and a half-naked photo shoot for Smooth Magazine. Classy!

Maybe Kanye can quit the bitchin' long enough to smell this rose.

Dionne Warwick may be headed back to San Jose sooner than she thinks. Her unofficial inaugural ball has just been canceled because of slumping tickets sales. She couldn't see that coming?

Don't pass it off to age either. Ludacris was hosting a ball as well that got 86'd for the same reason.

We're told the suckers who shelled out money for the events will get refunds in 30 to 45 days.

What we're wondering: Will Dionne get kicked out of the hotel she was bragging about.

It appears that Barack Obama is going to have to distance himself from yet one more supporter.

Ludacris has just released a new rap where he calls Hillary Clinton a "bitch" and says John McCain "don't belong in any chair unless he's paralyzed" and also throws insults at Jesse Jackson and George W. Bush. The only logical explanation has to be that Ludacris is a McCain mole!

Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton issued a statement, condemning Luda for his ridiculous lyrics.

Click here... it's not over yet

What in the hell?! Akon and Ludacris have so much dough, their camels have steering wheels! Move! Get out the way!

The two hip-hop stars are just outside of Dubai for their first Middle East performance which launches MTV Arabia. Do those rims spin?