Rapper Ludacris is mourning his father Wayne Bridges, who died from unknown causes yesterday morning in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ludacris, real name Chris Bridges, learned his dad was in a grave condition earlier this month, and paid tribute to him at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles a few days later.

In his acceptance speech for Best Rap Album, he said, "This goes out to my father, who's in critical condition right now. I appreciate your prayers.

"Mr. Wayne Bridges, I love you to death." Ludacris adds to AllHipHop.com, "He introduced me to all of my major musical influences and he will live on through me.

"He bought me my first Hip-Hop record when I was five years old and I fell in love with it from that day on."

Ludacris moved in with his father aged 14.